Abigail Iris: The One and Only

by Lisa Glatt, Suzanne Greenberg, Joy Allen (Illustrations)

Readers of all kinds will fall in love with the precocious, adorable Abigail Iris!

Abigail Iris is sick of being One-of-Many―brothers and sisters, that is. She'd rather be an Only, like all her best friends, and not have to compete with siblings for time or attention. So Abigail is thrilled when she joins her friend Genevieve's family on a trip to San Francisco. She gets to stay in a fancy hotel, visit Chinatown, order room service―and she doesn't have to share anything with her pesky older siblings! Amid all the fun, though, Abigail discovers that having a set of parents to yourself might be nice some of the time, it just isn't right for Abigail all of the time. An adorable story for Onlies and One-of-Many alike starring a one-of-a-kind new character!

Genres: Childrens

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2009

About the author

Lisa Glatt is the author of the novels The Nakeds and A Girl Becomes a Comma Like That, as well as the short story collection The Apple's Bruise. Her poetry collections include Shelter and Monsters & Other Lovers. Lisa's work has appeared in such magazines as Zoetrope, Mississippi Review, Columbia, Indiana Review, Pearl, and The Sun. She was recently awarded a fellowship to the Civitella Ranieri Center in Italy. Lisa currently teaches at California State University, Long Beach and private workshops. Glatt is married to writer David Hernandez.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third-grader Abigail Iris is so jealous of her Only friends. They don't have to live on such a Tight Budget or share their rooms and they get Heelys instead of regular shoes. Abigail Iris loves her two older half-brothers and her older sister, but sometimes she would really love to be an Only child. She is super excited to get a chance at living the life with her Only friend Genevieve on a spring vacation trip to San Francisco. While on the trip she realizes that being an Only isn't as perfect as she dreamed. Having brothers and a sister may not be perfect, but it sure can be fun. Abigail Iris learns to love her own family and her place in it.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abigail Iris will be to young girls today like Ramona was to me when I was young. She is the new Ramona, precocious and fun, she is a 3rd grade version of Junie B. Jones. I just love her and her antics. This was a real fun book to read and I know that girls 7-10 will fall in love with Abigail Iris!

Glatt and Greenberg have written a great book and Joy Allen adds such fun with her illustrations. This could be a great classroom read-aloud! I can also see little girls anxiously waiting for their copy to come in at the library. It's just a quick fun read that will have them asking for more. Abigail Iris is charming, funny, full-of-life, and at times an annoyance to her siblings. When it's all said and done, will she want to be an only anymore?

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was such a cute book. The main character, Abigail Iris, is in the third grade, and I thought the authors did a great job of capturing how the simplest things can be the most exciting things at that age. For example, the main character is going on vacation with her best friend (and her best friend's family), and they are completely focused on and ecstatic at the idea of staying in a hotel and getting room service.

Some things I didn't like: (I read the advanced reader's copy, so things might have changed.) I had no idea what "Only" meant, or what "Heelys" were. They both come together at the end of the book, but not knowing what they meant from the beginning was distracting.

[Ingrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abigail Iris has a sister and two stepbrothers. In her family there are words like budget and sharing. Abigail Iris has several friends who are only children and whose parents are more well to do. She has always wanted to be an only child until she goes on vacation with one of her only friends. Although I think that young girls will like this book, I found the characters to be very stereotypical. Genevieve is very put out when she doesn't get her way and her rich parents are demanding, self absorbed and drive a gas hog.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abigail Iris is from a large(ish)family and often wishes she was an "Only" like her best friends. But she sees the other side of things when she goes on vacation with one of her "Only" friends.

This was an OK read. It was cute and all, but I didn't feel a lot towards Abigail Iris. In fact, I felt more emotion toward her friend than I did towards her. Not a bad easy chapter book though.

Good for 3rd grade.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abigail Iris has a big family, where she has to share everything. All of her friends are "onlies,"meaning they do not have to share and always get what they want. Abigail Iris is invited to spend spring break with one of her "onlie" friends on her trip to San Francisco. Not that great or interesting of a book. May provide a lot of discussion in terms of different types of families.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

The fact that this was written by 2 authors AND that it is their first children's book may explain the stilted style of this book. The dialog is especially awkward--people use contractions, but it feels as if they don't.

My 10 year old was intrigued by the cover--we'll see if she likes it.

[Stacy]

Exemplary literary fiction writers Lisa Glatt and Suzanne Greenberg bring their talents to YA fiction. I cannot wait to read this, and cannot wait until my little girl is old enough to fall in love with Abigail Iris!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book for 3rd/4th grade girls. Abigail Iris is one of many and envies her friends who are only children and don't have to share their room, their parents or the family finances.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great elementary chapter book. Abigail Iris is very Ramona-like!! Includes a road trip to San Francisco!

[Bridget R. Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abigail Iris is another one of those little girls who will be much loved by readers. Think Ramona, Clementine, and Anne (of Green Gables).

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abigail is a charming addition to the beginning chapter books for emerging readers.
Opinionated and still sweet Abigail is friendly and fun.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute little story about a third grader with a lot of spunk. A bit surface level, but could be really great for the right kid.