The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley

The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley
By April Stevens
Schwartz & Wade, 2018. J Fiction. 208p.

Eleven-year-old Frances, who secretly calls herself Figgrotten, is much more comfortable by herself than around other people. She spends most of her time in her “rock world” behind her home, observing the local crows, reading through an old set of encyclopedias, and enjoying the cold weather. Disconnected from her classmates and purposefully avoiding her older sister, Christinia, who is constantly embarrassed by Figgrotten’s habits and appearance, her only true friend is Alvin, the elderly and gentle bus driver.

But when Alvin becomes ill, Figgrotten has to decide whether she is going to let other people in and embrace the imperfect connections that other humans offer. For such a quick read, this title packs a ton in the way of memorable characters, heartfelt emotion, and quirky philosophical musings. Original and moving, this is a story about how to remain true to ourselves while building relationships with the people around us.

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