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The Littlest Bigfoot #1

The Littlest Bigfoot

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Alice Mayfair, twelve years old, slips through the world unseen and unnoticed. Ignored by her family and shipped off to her eighth boarding school, Alice would like a friend. And when she rescues Millie Maximus from drowning in a lake one day, she finds one.

But Millie is a Bigfoot, part of a clan who dwells deep in the woods. Most Bigfoots believe that people—No-Furs, as they call them—are dangerous, yet Millie is fascinated with the No-Fur world. She is convinced that humans will appreciate all the things about her that her Bigfoot tribe does not: her fearless nature, her lovely singing voice, and her desire to be a star.

Alice swears to protect Millie’s secret. But a league of Bigfoot hunters is on their trail, led by a lonely kid named Jeremy. And in order to survive, Alice and Millie have to put their trust in each other—and have faith in themselves—above all else.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 13, 2016

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5768 people want to read

About the author

Jennifer Weiner

71 books24.7k followers
Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eighteen books, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and, most recently, That Summer. A graduate of Princeton University, she lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.

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5 stars
664 (21%)
4 stars
1,149 (38%)
3 stars
904 (29%)
2 stars
221 (7%)
1 star
82 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 475 reviews
Profile Image for Miranda Reads.
1,755 reviews165k followers
October 27, 2025
description

Alice...was pretty sure that her uniqueness would, as usual, be more of a problem than a cause for celebration
Alice Mayfair always said or did the wrong thing.

She doesn't have a dainty bone in her body. She'll never make her parents happy.
In seven different schools, over seven entire years, Alice had failed to make even a single friend.
And, unsurprisingly, she is shipped off to her eighth school at age 12...this time it's Experimental Center for Love & Learning, located in a remote wilderness.

And at first, it isn't too bad.

Alice shares a little bunk room with two other girls who seem nice (one is a world-class fencer, the other has allergies). She can go running and adventuring near the lake of her new school and things are looking up.

But all that changes when a mean girl joins them, and soon Alice's moment of happiness is whisked away.

All she wants is one, true friend and it feels like that'll never happen.

Meanwhile, Millie sits on the opposite of the lake, wishing with all her heart to be able to join the No-Furs.
"We are the forgotten. We are the unseen...We are the Yare, and we survive."
Millie is a bigfoot...well...technically. She's a bit little to be a big foot.

Unlike most of her clan, Millie wants to adventure into the outside world.
...Millie was the only one who had such dreams, the only one who wasn't terrified of humans
A chance encounter between Millie and Alice may just spark the greatest friendship of all time...but there is something sinister afoot.

Jeremy - a kid from a few schools over - just knows that Bigfoots are out there. He wants to find them and prove to everyone that they are real.

A viral photo of Alice catches his attention and soon he sets his sights on her school.

Will the girls find a way out of this mess? Or is everything ruined?

All in all - I really enjoyed this one!

The plot felt fresh, fun and exciting!

I loved how the author took tired tropes (ie poor little rich girl with no friends) and brought them to new life!

So many times, I've seen authors try to twist sympathy for the "poor little rich girl" but this time I actually felt it. Alice's crippling loneliness and self-doubt made her an extremely relateable character (despite the wealth).

Millie was wonderfully inquisitive and I truly enjoyed watching her adventure over to the No-Fur land.

I also (surprisingly) enjoyed Jeremy's perspective! I thought I'd be angry that he's trying to expose Bigfoot but his excitable curiosity made him a lovable main character.

All in all - I really enjoyed my time within these pages - and I cannot wait to read the next one!

Audiobook Comments
Read by Keith Nobbs, Emma Galvin and Jen Ponton - they made a great trio! Fabulously read!!

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12 reviews2 followers
August 16, 2016
My mom won a ARC of this book, and let me read it. Here is my review. I gave it 4.5 stars.
I am 11 years old and found that the perfect interest level, and a little bit easy for reading level (suggested for 8-12 year olds).
I really liked at the beginning when it told me about all of the previous schools that she got kicked out of, it was really funny. I also liked when Alice and Millie first met because it was funny and happy.
I found it a little bit hard to understand Taley at times.
It says book 1 on the side,...so I am really hoping that there are more books in this series.
Profile Image for The Library Lady.
3,877 reviews679 followers
June 26, 2017
Here's the thing: this book is being overrated because the author is, as the cover and blurb trumpet,"A New York Times best selling author."

That's for adults. As far as I know, Weiner hasn't written for kids before, and a lot of adult authors (paging James Patterson for one) really aren't good enough writers to write for kids. Yes, you read that correctly. Having a zillion best sellers does not make a writer good -- Danielle Steele is living proof of that one.

What's sad about this book is that the Bigfoot theme that inspired her is not as interesting as is Alice's story. A poor little rich girl, neglected by parents, has been to school after school and it's never worked for her. But at a hippy dippy un-school, she has a chance to find herself. THAT's the story that interested me here, not the cute l'il Bigfoot and her tribe, or the boy on the other side of the lake wanting to find proof of Bigfoot. I wanted more Alice, and I hated the 3 point of view stories combining together.

The writing is adequate. There's an incredibly trite turning point near the end, that anyone who has read a thousand other books like this (or seen "Revenge of the Nerds") will recognize, and a plot twist at the end that promises more of these books. Goody-goody.

And they will sell because this is Jennifer Weiner. I just sincerely hope that the editor who took this didn't turn down the next "Harry Potter" because of this woman's name recognition.
Profile Image for Fatma Al Zahraa Yehia.
603 reviews979 followers
February 27, 2025
Although the plot wasn't new to me, but the avoidance of the usual "whiny" narration for a bullied character as Alice was exceptional in a YA story. Her silent bitterness from her neglecting parents, her indifference and surrender to the rejection that welcomed her in every place she goes to, all of that was quietly well presented.

I think anyone by the last quarter of the story can easily find himself related in a way or another to the three main characters, who were not accepted by their communities.
The ending of (everyone-suddenly-found-out-he's-unique) could have been more realistic than that.

I think that listening to the story as an audio book makes all the difference for me. I wouldn't have turned a blind eye to the story's flaws if i have read it printed.
Profile Image for Kristen Harvey.
2,089 reviews260 followers
August 19, 2016
A cute story with some real issues at hand. One girl feels overly sheltered and her parents don't want her to mix with the humans. The other girl is constantly left at different schools and never feels that she fits in. When they meet, they finally feel like they've found their best friend, but will they be able to stay together? I absolutely loved this book... there's other issues, like bullying.. also thrown into the mix.
Profile Image for Sarah B.
1,335 reviews28 followers
November 23, 2021
This is just such a wonderful, sweet story and it's perfect for anyone who has ever felt like they just didn't fit in. I could relate so well to the main characters in here, Alice and Millie. Both are outcasts in their communities, especially poor Alice. She just doesn't know why but she never fits in and everyone dislikes her right away. She tries so hard but it just never works and that leaves her sad, depressed, confused and wanting to hide.

But everything changes when she meets Millie. Except Millie isn't human. She's a bigfoot! And she doesn't fit into her community either because she is just so fascinated by humans!

This is just a such uplifting story! Two young friendless people who find each other to become friends. When I had saw the description of this book I just had to read it right away. And I am glad I did as its perfect!

There is a lot more to the story too... Including a bigfoot hunter and mean bullies and also some bits on friendship (like how sometimes people make moves to be a friend but if you keep turning them down they stop). And the biggest one in here comes at the end: no one is perfect and they all have their little flaws they keep secret.

Very fast and relaxing read.

I have added this to my favorites list too!
Profile Image for Howard.
2,119 reviews122 followers
August 18, 2020
4.5 Stars for The Littlest Bigfoot (audiobook) by Jennifer Weiner read by Keith Nobbs, Emma Galvin and Jen Ponton. This was a wonderful YA story. It was really creative and fun. I really liked the narration.
Profile Image for Diane.
555 reviews9 followers
February 9, 2017
I received this as an ARC for review from a Goodreads giveaway. It's a book aimed at children aged 8 - 12 so it's a bit younger even than YA lit but I like the author's adult books so I thought I'd go for it. It's a story about a 12 year old girl, Alice, who is too tall, and awkward and has difficulty making friends. Her parents seem to ignore her and she's had to change schools many times because nothing seems to go right for her. She just doesn't fit in. It's also a story about Millie, who is from a tribe of Yare, or as humans call them, Bigfoot but Millie doesn't really fit in either. She's much smaller than average with fur a different colour. She questions things and is curious about the outside world, longing to be part of it instead of hiding away.

Alice is sent to yet another school, an experimental learning centre in upstate New York, a school by a lake outside a small town. While this school experience isn't too bad, she still doesn't connect with the other students and is bullied by one of them. She discovers Millie drowning in the lake one night and the two become friends, though Millie manages to hide who and what she is at first. By the time it all comes out, Millie and Alice are firm friends and have to team up to prevent the outside world, led by a 12 year old boy who is obsessed with finding a Bigfoot. The story is about accepting yourself and others, regardless of differences.

The story follows Millie and Alice separately for over half of the book, leading to the discovery, teaming up and ending feeling a little bit rushed and there's a twist at the very end that comes out of nowhere, and very clearly leads to a sequel which I found a bit annoying. This cliffhanger raises many questions to which I may never get the answers because I'm not sure I'll pursue future adventures of Millie and Alice. I think kids in the target age group may enjoy it, girls more than boys since it's about girls and their self esteem. It's written well enough and the two main characters are likeable. I've read some children's books that really sparkle but I don't think this grabbed me that much.
Profile Image for Tri-reader.
324 reviews4 followers
August 18, 2017
I love Weiner's books, but this one didn't appeal to me. I thought the Bigfoot plot was lame, the way they talked to each other, their names, etc. If the story had just been about Alice I would have liked it better.
Profile Image for Kim.
231 reviews
September 24, 2016
AMAZING! This book was so heartfelt and perfect for middle age kids (and adults). I want to say that I think the story will be great for boys as well as girls, but I think it will be a bit easier for girls to relate to. I have a 9 year old daughter and cannot wait for her to read this book. It sends such a great message to accept everyone for who they are and "everyone has a thing." This book made me feel so much for all of its characters. I wanted to hug Alice and Millie, I won't mention what I wanted to do to Jessica. I loved Jeremy and Jo's dedication and sense of adventure. The beautiful map in the cover of the book, is just gorgeous. The detail to add the illustrated leaves by each page number, is amazing. And the great book cover! Not to jinx it, but I think Newberry Award! If I had read this book at 9 years old, it would have been that book that I read over and over again. Dog-earring the pages and carrying it with me to reread a chapter whenever I had the chance. Jennifer Weiner is amazing to have written such a great middle grade book and her first middle grade book. She hit it out of the park. I hope schools chose this book to discuss bullying, 'mean girl' situations, and acceptance of one's self and others. The story flowed with no lulls and it constantly made you want to read all the way until the end. MOVIE, MOVIE, MOVIE! I think Jennifer Weiner had mentioned that this may be an animated movie, but I really think to do it justice...it should be a movie with REAL ACTORS (that fit each character, not that we try to get the character to fit the famous actor - casting is very important here). Something about it being a movie will come across as more real (does that make any sense?). Can anyone answer a question for me, towards the end of the book Jessica mutters 3 of the 7 words learners are not allowed to say at the Center. Does anyone know what those 7 words are? Love, love, loved it! 10 STARS all the way!
Profile Image for Lonna Pierce.
860 reviews18 followers
September 30, 2016
Whether describing the Amazon-like Alice with no-fur or Millie, tiny Yare (Bigfoot tribe,) this book overstates the case for celebrating differences. The "Experimental Center for Love & Learning," a hippie-holdover vegetarian school, was built right across the lake from a secluded Yare village. Alice and Millie meet, become friends, and have a plan for detante between humans and Yare when others crudely and rudely threaten to overwhelm them. Not believable and preachy, the weak ending foreshadows yet another sequel to come. No thanks.
Profile Image for Amy.
6 reviews2 followers
May 31, 2016
This book is a must-read to show middle grade students (grades 4-8) the importance of friendship, standing up for our differences, and acceptance. Love, love, love this book! Can't wait for installment #2!
Profile Image for Harold Walters.
1,991 reviews36 followers
August 15, 2016
A fun read for twelve year olds. .. especially if they feel out of place and long to find friends...even friends with furry faces, eh b'ys?
Profile Image for Wendi Lee.
Author 1 book480 followers
October 31, 2018
I picked this book up completely by accident, thinking that it was written by Jodi Lynn Anderson, for some reason. I know that doesn't make any sense at all, but this has been a really stressful week for me (and most of America).

Anyway, I realize now that Jennifer Weiner wrote this book, and she's a hugely prolific author of chick lit novels. I'm glad I didn't know about this at the time I started reading, because I have an aversion (perhaps an irrational one) to chick lit. But I truly enjoyed this middle grade book about three kids, two of them human, and one a mythical creature. All three kids are having a really hard time fitting in with the "normal" people at their schools and even at home. When Alice and Millie meet, their lives are changed forever. And I'm pretty sure we'll see more of Jeremy in the next book.
Even though Millie is a bigfoot, the novel is more realistic and contemporary than fantastical.

I really appreciated the tone and overall message of this book, especially now when bullying is so prolific.

And now I'm thinking about my own book prejudices, which I've been trying to smash this year (after a long haul in academia, you're kind of programmed not to take certain genres seriously, but I've discovered I love a lot of the books written in those genres!) I think I'll take a plunge and pick up one of Weiner's adult novels next!
1,157 reviews13 followers
January 8, 2024
I picked up this book because I do enjoy this author’s writing, and thought I would try this middle school book. I did enjoy it even though I usually do not read this genre. Alice is a very interesting little girl in that she has gone to a different school each year because she does not quite fit in with the other children. Her parents are super rich so they ship her off each year and tolerate her during the summer months. It seems that Alice has finally found a school that she likes and they like her. Alice rescues a creature named Millie, who is a Bigfoot, from a nearby lake. It is very interesting when they meet and the book really picks up from there. At first, I had no interest in reading the rest of the books in the series, but toward the end, I decided that I would like to see what happens to Alice and Millie as their lives progress.
Profile Image for Asuka Mai.
634 reviews31 followers
November 21, 2017
Selama ini taunya Jennifer weiner ngarang chicklit dan romance aja, ternyata ada middle grade fantasy juga. Tadinya aku pikir ceritanya bakal berkutat tentang nasib buruk Alice yang ga disayang ortunya, dan pindah sekolah sampe 8 kali, dimana ia selalu di jauhin temen dan dibully.

Alice cuma ingin satu "Punya Teman". Sampe suatu hari ia menyelamatkam Millie, yang ternyata bukan dari dunia nya.. Mereka pun berteman dan bersahabat..

Millie pun sangat menyukai dunia manusia.. Sampe pada akhirnya muncul masalah dari dunia clan Bigfoot.. Ia mulai dihunting..
Profile Image for Robyn.
2,379 reviews131 followers
August 9, 2020
It is always hard to fit in when you are not like the group, you might be big, or not so smart, or you could be a Bigfoot! Weiner corners this market in THE LITTLEST BIGFOOT. The main characters, Alice Mayfield, a lonely girl with no friends and who doesn’t like herself and believes she is too big finds Millie. Millie dreams of being a famous singer but has a big problem. She is a Bigfoot! Yep.. a Bigfoot by birth, even if she is small, and a singer by trade. Then there is Jeremy, he too is misunderstood and unappreciated by his family because he isn’t as smart or athletic as his genius and super athlete brothers. Then there is Jo, a wheelchair-bound computer genius and a Bigfoot hunter. All these kids collide for a memorable ending.

I am a big fan of Jennifer Weiner since I read GOOD IN BED years ago. Many of her books touch on female body dysmorphic behaviors and this one seems no different but more directed at middle school girls. Issues of bullying and trust are dealt with.

This is a middle school read, but I certainly enjoyed it. I had it on library hold for 13 weeks, so it must be popular.

4 stars

Happy Reading!
Profile Image for Krystal Roe.
16 reviews
September 22, 2016
I bought and enjoyed the audio version of the book. As the momma of two I always struggle with those hard days when the world doesn't see the perfection of my babies and they come home with sad hearts. So I purchased this with the thoughts of sharing it with them. What I forgot was how close to the surface my own Alice lives. This book is a love letter to the Alice in each of us. A second listen made me realize how deep and multi-dimensional the story is. The author dedicated the book to her daughter, but it's just as much for our children and for us. I loved this book!

In terms of the audio version, this is the first time I've listened to an audio book with multiple narrators (one for each of the three main characters: Alice, Millie & Jeremy). At first I was skeptical, but I found that each narrator brought another layer of depth to the story and made the characters come to life by helping to put you in the mindset of each character.
Profile Image for Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance.
6,434 reviews335 followers
September 3, 2016
Alice never seems to fit in at any of the many schools she's attended in her young life. Other girls find Alice too big and too gawky to befriend. Then Alice is sent out in the woods to a quirky experimental school and there she meets Millie. Millie is a Bigfoot who doesn't seem to fit in with her people; she's too petite and doesn't have much hair. Millie and Alice quickly become fast friends, but it must all be on the QT, as Bigfoots and humans have lots of preconceptions and fears about each other.

The Littlest Bigfoot is a gentle story of girls who don't fit in and the joy of finding friendship at last. There's lots of humor in the story, especially in the peek inside the Bigfoot community, and in the odd New Age-ish school. It's a fun read.
Profile Image for Joan.
3,945 reviews13 followers
September 26, 2016
The theme of Jennifer Weiner books are often accept yourself and this is no different for children. Alice is 12 years old and doesn't fit anywhere. Her parents don't spend time with her and send her away to school. She feels like an outcast. Millie is a bigfoot and wants to be a singer. Millie lives in a community of bigfoots. She is swimming in the river, when she starts to drown. Alice saves her and they become friends. Millie sneaks out on Halloween with Alice, against her parent's rules. She is photographed and a media riot starts at Alice's school. The school is about accepting everyone, no matter who or what they are. Alice finally has a friend and is now worried that she will lose her. The story ends on a cliff hanger so I am hoping there is another book.
Profile Image for Kristen.
1,356 reviews80 followers
November 21, 2017
I think this just shows how hard it is to write middle grade really well. I've enjoyed some of Weiner's adult fiction, but I didn't love this. The mix of fantasy with realistic fiction didn't work for me, and the fact that the story was told from 3 different perspectives meant we didn't get enough information on any perspective. I wanted either more of the world of the Yare or more of life in the Center. I'd be curious to talk to a kid who has read this to see what they think--maybe some of the things that bothered me (the too convenient ending and the lack of world building for the Yare) wouldn't be a problem for a reader who is the intended age.
Profile Image for Billie.
930 reviews97 followers
September 1, 2016
A slightly scattered plot that maybe needed more chapters from Jeremy's POV to really do what it needed to do, occasionally clunky prose, and far too many good intentions pushing it toward preachiness added up to a swing and a miss for this first middle-grade effort from Weiner. On the plus side, Alice and Millie were wonderful characters and their friendship was sweet and touching. Plus, Bigfoots! But, overall, the book just didn't quite work for me.
Profile Image for Valerie.
902 reviews5 followers
September 23, 2016
I enjoyed this book. I was not sure what I would think of Jennifer Weiner’s book geared at a younger age, but I really liked it. The book was filled with a lot of imagination and I think it was good to see how everyone has their place in the world.
17 reviews1 follower
March 2, 2018
The theme of this story is acceptance. There are three main characters in this story. One is a boy named Jeremy who is teased for his love of bigfoots, he dreams of finding one someday. The second character is a girl who is bigger than others her age, and it seems that people naturally just spot her flaws, without looking to get to know who she truly is. The last is a girl named Millie. She is a bigfoot (Yare, is what they call themselves) and she and the rest of her tribe, have spent their whole life hiding from humans for the fear that they will imprison the Yare. In the end all three of them learn that it is important to accept others differences, and cherish each other for their unique personalities.
1,019 reviews14 followers
July 13, 2017
This is a story for tweens on up. Just a cute story and I enjoyed it as an adult.
Profile Image for Carol.
138 reviews
February 20, 2018
there was a weird plot twist at the very end but it was ok overall
Profile Image for Joann M .
1,170 reviews33 followers
July 30, 2018
Cute story!!
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