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Best Girl
Nealy Compton finds refuge from a difficult home life in a secret hiding spot under a neighbor's porch, but she must face the world after the neighbor's house burns down. By the author of Voyages, The First Hard Times.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1993
10 people want to read
About the author
Doris Buchanan Smith
30 books19 followersDoris Buchanan Smith (June 1, 1934 – August 8, 2002) was an American author of award-winning children's novels, including A Taste of Blackberries (1973).
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 22, 2008
Grade Level-3rd-6th
Genre-Contemporary Fiction (bibliotherapy)
In this book, Nealy faces many challenges as a child growing up. Her parents are divorced and she lives with her mother and older sister. She sees her father but only when he chooses to come around. Nealy’s mother is not always the kindest to her and it becomes worse when Nealy’s sister Noel Anne leaves home. Nealy’s mom calls her the “best girl,” and Nealy tries to keep it that way by doing her chores and keeping the house clean. To escape her home life, Nealy has a special place that she goes to where she keeps some of her most prized possessions. Her special place is under the porch of her neighbor’s house, Mrs. Dees. When Mrs. Dees’ house burns down she no longer has this escape that she has been accustomed to. Like others in the neighborhood, she wants to help Mrs. Dees, but Mrs. Dees is suspicious that Nealy may have been the one to start the fire. A volunteer, Hobby, befriends Nealy and they have a common goal to fight for those things they believe in, including saving trees that are supposed to be cut down. After Nealy discovers the person who stole the bike out of Mrs. Dees’ house, Mrs. Dees soon gains her trust in Nealy and lets her help in the clean up process. From these two new found relationships, Nealy discovers that “life tries to get in the way sometimes, but it’s important for you to be your own best self.”
Activity 1: I would have students do an art activity where they draw a picture of their special, safe, or comfortable place and write about why they feel safe in it. They could also include information about any of their favorite possessions.
Activity 2: Another activity to do with this book is to have students make a family tree on their own family so that they could see how family structures differ. To go along with their family tree, I would have them discuss a tradition or special activity with their family and write about it. For example, in the book Nealy talks a lot about a trip she went on with her grandma when they saw cranes. This time with her grandma was very special.
Genre-Contemporary Fiction (bibliotherapy)
In this book, Nealy faces many challenges as a child growing up. Her parents are divorced and she lives with her mother and older sister. She sees her father but only when he chooses to come around. Nealy’s mother is not always the kindest to her and it becomes worse when Nealy’s sister Noel Anne leaves home. Nealy’s mom calls her the “best girl,” and Nealy tries to keep it that way by doing her chores and keeping the house clean. To escape her home life, Nealy has a special place that she goes to where she keeps some of her most prized possessions. Her special place is under the porch of her neighbor’s house, Mrs. Dees. When Mrs. Dees’ house burns down she no longer has this escape that she has been accustomed to. Like others in the neighborhood, she wants to help Mrs. Dees, but Mrs. Dees is suspicious that Nealy may have been the one to start the fire. A volunteer, Hobby, befriends Nealy and they have a common goal to fight for those things they believe in, including saving trees that are supposed to be cut down. After Nealy discovers the person who stole the bike out of Mrs. Dees’ house, Mrs. Dees soon gains her trust in Nealy and lets her help in the clean up process. From these two new found relationships, Nealy discovers that “life tries to get in the way sometimes, but it’s important for you to be your own best self.”
Activity 1: I would have students do an art activity where they draw a picture of their special, safe, or comfortable place and write about why they feel safe in it. They could also include information about any of their favorite possessions.
Activity 2: Another activity to do with this book is to have students make a family tree on their own family so that they could see how family structures differ. To go along with their family tree, I would have them discuss a tradition or special activity with their family and write about it. For example, in the book Nealy talks a lot about a trip she went on with her grandma when they saw cranes. This time with her grandma was very special.
Displaying 1 of 1 review