The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley

Frances Pauley, or Figgrotten as she likes to be called, is different than everyone else. In the beginning, Figgrotten does not care that she is different; she loves being outside, reading, and school. Figgrotten doesn’t have any friends except for the old bus driver who is the only person who seems to get her. Even her sister Christina doesn’t want to be friends with her. When a new student joins her class, Figgrotten feels like she is being forgotten. Alvin the bus driver tries to help her learn how to deal with her new feelings. When something horrible happens, Figgrotten feels like her life has gone crazy, and she has to deal with things she never expected. Her life seems to be changing so quickly that she doesn’t know how to handle the new feelings she has. With the help of some new friends, Figgrotten learns that it’s okay to be who she is and express her feelings.

This is a great story about how friendships are made and how important family can be even if you don’t always agree. It shows that it is okay to be different and that everyone should be themselves.