The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley

Gr 4–6—Fifth-grader Frances, who prefers to be known as Figgrotten, likes to observe nature and delight in her only friend, Alvin, the ancient school bus driver. Stevens makes clear that Figgrotten's solitude brings her joy and allows her to pursue her science investigations and other passions. As far as Figgrotten is concerned, she is just fine. Her school role as the smart one with the answers is mitigated by her observation that this is not always appreciated by her classmates, and she carefully cuts back on the hand-raising. But things do not stay the same. Various problems emerge—most significantly, Alvin suffers a heart attack and Figgrotten's older sister makes some really mean comments. To top it off, a new boy at school seems to have charmed their teacher Mr. Stanley, so Figgrotten has competition. Coping requires Frances to come out of her shell and modify her routine, but she remains true to herself by appreciating solitude while finding companions. The plot is not the point here, although it serves to make the characters' growth gradual and believable.