One Time

by Sharon Creech, Jesse Vilinsky (Narrator)

From Sharon Creech, Newbery Medal winner and New York Times bestselling author, comes a powerful coming-of-age story of a girl who discovers the endless possibilities her future may hold, with help from a brilliant teacher and a boy with a generous smile.

Perfect for fans of Love That Dog, this tale is about the transformative power of imagination and the journey to becoming who you are meant to be. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, at home or at school. It’s a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.

Gina Filomena has been told she has an overactive imagination. With her bright clothing and artistic spirit, she’s always felt different from the other kids in her class. That is, until she meets her new neighbor, a mysterious boy named Antonio with a wide, welcoming smile.

Add in a creative new teacher, Miss Lightstone, and a world of possibilities opens up for Gina, Antonio, and their classmates. With the help of Antonio and Miss Lightstone, will Gina find the answers to the questions Who am I? and Who do I want to be?

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Friendship, Young Adult, Family

4 pages, Audible Audio

First published September 8, 2020

About the author

I was born in South Euclid, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, and grew up there with my noisy and rowdy family: my parents (Ann and Arvel), my sister (Sandy), and my three brothers (Dennis, Doug and Tom).

For a fictional view of what it was like growing up in my family, see Absolutely Normal Chaos. (In that book, the brothers even have the same names as my own brothers.) Our house was not only full of us Creeches, but also full of friends and visiting relatives.

In the summer, we usually took a trip, all of us piled in a car and heading out to Wisconsin or Michigan or, once, to Idaho. We must have been a very noisy bunch, and I'm not sure how our parents put up with being cooped up with us in the car for those trips. The five-day trip out to Idaho when I was twelve had a powerful effect on me: what a huge and amazing country! I had no idea then that thirty-some years later, I would recreate that trip in a book called Walk Two Moons.

One other place we often visited was Quincy, Kentucky, where my cousins lived (and still live) on a beautiful farm, with hills and trees and swimming hole and barn and hayloft. We were outside running in those hills all day long, and at night we'd gather on the porch where more stories would be told. I loved Quincy so much that it has found its way into many of my books—transformed into Bybanks, Kentucky. Bybanks appears in Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird, and Bloomability. Bybanks also makes a brief appearance (by reference, but not by name) in The Wanderer.

When I was young, I wanted to be many things when I grew up: a painter, an ice skater, a singer, a teacher, and a reporter. It soon became apparent that I had little drawing talent, very limited tolerance for falling on ice, and absolutely no ability to stay on key while singing. I also soon learned that I would make a terrible reporter because when I didn't like the facts, I changed them. It was in college, when I took literature and writing courses, that I became intrigued by story-telling. Later, I was a teacher (high school English and writing) in England and in Switzerland. While teaching great literature, I learned so much about writing: about what makes a story interesting and about techniques of plot and characterization and point of view. I started out writing novels for adults (published as Sharon Rigg): The Recital and Nickel Malley were both written and published while I was living in England (these books were published in England only and are now out of print.) But the next book was Absolutely Normal Chaos, and ever since that book I have written mainly about young people. Walk Two Moons was the first of my books to be published in America. When it received the Newbery Medal, no one was more surprised than I was. I'm still a little bit in shock.

After Walk Two Moons came Chasing Redbird, Pleasing the Ghost, Bloomability, The Wanderer, and Fishing in the Air. I hope to be writing stories for a long, long time.

I am married to Lyle Rigg, who is the headmaster of The Pennington School in Pennington, New Jersey, and have two grown children, Rob and Karin. Being with my family is what I enjoy most. The next-best thing is writing stories.

© Sharon Creech

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -- Mary Oliver
Gina is starting the new school year with a new teacher (Mrs. Lightstone) and a new neighbor (Antonio). The new teacher gives them writing assignments that will not be graded. The comments of kids in the class are spot on with some stressing over how to do it "the right way." At least one declares it is stupid. As they practice their writing skills, they begin to fall in love with the process and enjoy sharing with one another. Meanwhile Gina's family deals with an abundance of pasta and ponders the mysteries of the family next door. A delightful book, although not my favorite of the many Sharon Creech has written. Reminds me of "Mrs. Bixby's Last Day."
I want to be improbable beautiful and afraid of nothing, as though I had wings. --Mary Oliver

Thank you to Harper Collins and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I met my now husband I was so excited that he may be related to Sharon Creech. He isn't. I married him anyway and now I'm a Creech of no relation to Sharon. I read Walk Two Moons and Chasing Redbird every other year or so, still.

When I was a pre-teen I read "The Wanderer" and when I finished I cried because it was so good. I told my grandma that I was crying because I was so happy that the book exists and so sad because I would never be able to read it for the first time again (likely a lot less eloquently than that but the same idea). She encouraged me to write to her and tell her that. I did and she wrote back, yes with a generic publicity thing about her upcoming books, but WITH a small note just for me. I wish I saved that dang piece of promotional material (Maybe my hoarder parents did (I'm allowed to say that they're my parents and they are aware of the amount of stuff they own). Mom? Think that exists at the house?).

So now. As a librarian who sometimes has a hard time not taking home every single book that I process (I'm in charge of confirming the catalog/record is correct before sending the books out into the world of borrowing and returning), I sometimes break down and if no one is specifically waiting for the book I take it home. This is one of those books.

One Time is lovely. It's another one of those books that I WISH I savored, but instead devoured like a gulp of fresh air after being under water for the entire length of the 25m pool. It reminds me of why I like to read juvenile literature, and why Sharon Creech is still important to me even though I'm not related to her and increasingly identify a lot with the parents and adults in the books more than the main characters.

Read it. You won't regret it. You might even learn about yourself along the way.

[Liesl · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? Whenever I pick up a book by Sharon Creech I know I'm going to come away from it feeling good, and inspired. This title reads like a bunch of short stories strewn together, and was a delight. I wish this had been available when I was in middle school, and that I too, had a teacher like Ms Lightstone; who didn't necessarily follow the rules when it came to teaching English. Reading about the creative process, and how she silently engages her students, made me want to write. The characters a quirky,delightful, and make you want to embrace your idiosyncrasies.

[Patti Sabik · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 Gina is an only child who has a very creative imagination. Antonio is her newly moved in next door neighbor and classmate. You would think there would be much to write about from these two characters, but the book really goes nowhere. At one point, Antonio is absent from school there is little to no plot development. This book was a big disappointment for me...very boring, no character development. I will not be purchasing it for my school library.

[Tanya #TeacherReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to be able to review this ARC from Netgalley because Sharon Creech is one of my favorite middle grade authors. Unfortunately, this is probably my least favorite book I have ever read from her. It did not feel like the plot even developed until three quarters of the way through and even then there was not that much substance. Gina is an imaginative only child and when Antonio moves in next door and is in her same class you would think the story begins, but not much develops. When Antonio is not coming to school there is little information or plot development. My students will enjoy the short chapters, but other than that there is not much to appeal to them. I don’t even plan on buying this for my classroom; it was a miss.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlikeable young characters. Boring story. The writing is not for me when it comes to this one.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Dear Miss Lightstone: I am Gina Filomena, age eleven. Sometimes teachers think I am not paying attention, but what they mean is that I am not paying attention to them. I pay attention to lots of other things like what is happening outside the windows, and the noises in the room, like the humming and the tapping and the snapping and the sniffling, and all the smells—some good, some bad. But I will try to pay attention to you. I will try. Your student, Gina F. When the new teacher asked us to write something about ourselves, that’s what I wrote. I did not write about the angels or the boy with the visions. No need to scare her.

Premise/plot: Gina stars in Sharon Creech's newest coming of age novel for middle schoolers. Readers get to know Gina, her family, her neighbors, her classmates, and one very special teacher. Though she's struggled with making friends and feeling like she belongs--especially in a school setting--she's in for a remarkable, unforgettable year.

It particularly celebrates the joys of reading, writing, imagining, and living.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I've read some of the more critical reviews of One Time, and the general idea for those that don't like it seems to be that it lacks plot and nothing actually happens. I can't disagree that this one focuses more on internal journeys--thoughts, feelings, emotions, being--as opposed to external ones. There might not be much doing in terms of action. A girl goes to school day after day, week after week, month after month, and by the end of the year knows more about who she is...end of story. The story also touches here and there with the notion of bullying and acceptance.

I think it worked for me--keep in mind I'm reading as an adult--because the focus was on books and characters who love to read and subsequently learn to love to write.

At first I did not know what to make of her. She did not begin with rules. Instead she asked us to help her sort books, and in the middle of that, she stopped to read the beginning of one. “Oh, this one is a favorite,” she said. “I’ll just read the first page.” Her voice took on a different tone, one that we would soon recognize as her reading voice—a fluid, resonant, rich tone. When she stopped, the room was silent. She looked up from the page. “What? You want more? Maybe later.”
While we sorted and stacked books that morning, she frequently stopped to read from another “favorite”—sometimes it was a poem, sometimes a chilling opening paragraph, sometimes a humorous passage. I was hypnotized. I’d only ever heard my parents read aloud to me, and it had been a few years since they had done so. My mother read so rapidly that my brain was always a few paragraphs behind. My father was blessed with many virtues, but reading aloud was not one of them, for he stumbled over long words and used the same voice for every character. But Miss Lightstone was a master. By the end of the first week, she had us in the palm of her hand. Well, most of us.

It was surprising how one sentence—the first sentence—of a book had the power to draw you in or push you back, but not everyone was drawn in or pushed back by the same sentence. We discovered this when we each read aloud our favorite openers.

“Maybe your brain is sludge today. That’s okay. Describe the sludge.”

[Mary Prather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading books for #middlegradesmarch always makes me happy. 😃

This book was funny, touching, and sweet. I read it in just a few hours and then wished I had a young person to share it with.

Gina and her class discover a lot about themselves in this book - and I wish all children could have a writing teacher just like theirs! Oh - and a “Silent Wednesday”, too.

Glad I picked this one up on a whim at the library. 📚

[Ms. Sethi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a wonderful read aloud for an elementary school classroom to foster a love of writing (and because it's a compelling story with twists and turns and so many fun characters!). Sharon Creech has done it again - she always manages to pull you in with quirky characters and fun family dynamics and amazing grandparents. I also loved that the ending gives us readers proper resolution about what happens to all of the characters, but without spoiling the mystery and possibility I love in a good book ending. It's a perfect balance for still concrete, budding analytical readers. The book also has some wonderful lessons about friendship, fitting in, and dealing with conflict that many elementary school students (and adults) might take to heart. I can't wait to recommend it to students!

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky read about the power of imagination and unlimited possibilities. Some things were left open-ended and too vague for my liking, but I think I would enjoy this book more as a child instead of a cynical adult.

[Ave · Rating 2 out of 5]

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[Elizabeth Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Creech is utterly reliable. Here's yet another sweet tale, this time following a quiet Italian girl, her quirky new neighbor, and a wondrous teacher who introduces her classroom into the wonders of language and story. How I wish writing and reading could be taught this way! At least Creech is doing her part by helping us imagine it.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I want to sit down and write.

Also, I want to be more like Miss Lightstone. (Who knows...maybe I already am...I'll have to check in with my students in 20 years.)

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creech wrote one of my favorite novels as a child, The Wanderer. Reading her latest novel, One Time, I felt the same little wonders as I once did with her past work. Gina has always been an imaginative and thoughtful child, and her new neighbor, Antonio, is the first kid she's met that's on the same wavelength. Practically telepathic with each other, they're both inspired by the writing prompts in their English class, oftentimes creating very similar stories. Even so, Creech leaves some pieces of each character up to interpretation-- in a good way that left me contemplative. Sweet, luminous, fantastic.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Creech does it once again. I loved the very imaginative Gina and Antonio with the smile that would light up a room. Their teacher, Miss Lightstone, sparked the class's love of writing. The final chapter explains that ONE TIME was about Sharon Creech's childhood. That made me love the book even more! Great read for 3rd grade to adult!

[Jillian Hazlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but the ending fell flat. I thought the story was building up to a twist where Antonio was transgender - he tells Gina he was never called a “son.” When he disappears and Gina’s father goes to his house, the only person there is a girl who calls herself “Princess Azalea.” Antonio is always regarded as different. I must have misunderstood, but I was unsatisfied that all these clues were dropped without any resolution.

The book also gave hints that Gina’s teacher, Mrs. Lightstone, would encounter conflict with the students’ parents over her assignments - fictional family trees, silent Wednesdays, ungraded writing. The principal even observes the class one day, but the conflict never came to a head. In the end... not much actually happened in this novel.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

EARC from Edelweiss Plus
This story about Gina's family, friends, and neighbors was SO good. I highly recommend this for student book clubs because of the discussions that can be held and because students can learn a lot from the methods Gina's teacher uses to help her student writers.

[Kary H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Sharon Creech did not disappoint. The story of Gina, Antonio, Miss Lightstone, and the other wonderful characters was both everyday and magical. Gina doesn’t fit in, but throughout the course of her time in Miss Lightstone’s class, Gina finds herself becoming herself. Famous works of literature are used as a springboard to the students’ own writing, and Miss Lightstone’s efforts are in stark contrast to the “pointy” teacher Gina had last year. The minor characters (her parents, the school secretary and her partner, the large neighbor family) were all memorable and lovable. Short chapters will make this an appealing read for reluctant readers. The icing on the cake? Mary Oliver poem references! I loved this book.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't try to reign in your imaginative spirit, go ahead and respond to those writing prompts and be patient, these are mainstays of Sharon Creech's latest book, which is targeted at Grades 4-6.
A quote from this story: "All of that emerged from bouncing off one word: reflection. It seemed magical, the way a word could open up paths in my mind and lead to places and people both old and new."There's Gina; observant, a writer, and a good friend to the new neighbor, Antonio, with his winning smile. They are in the same class at school, with Ms. Lightstone, a good listener, a bit unconventional, and great at encouraging her students to write.

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a shame that the cover is not shown because it is absolutely gorgeous.! What I loved about this book it was about the literacy of imagination. Yes people say education and literacy can not be taken away from you but neither can imagination and it is so important to have imagination to dream and have hope. Okay I will jump off my soap box. I identified with Gina the main character of the story because she was so unique in a beige colored world but a new friend Antonio and a fabolous teacher Ms Lightstone maks life bearable and shows how important it is to imagine.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging and enjoyable read, unique and creative, yet not one of my favorite’s by Creech. I found it whimsical and engaging, however I had a hard time imagining a middle grade student savoring it. I felt teachers would likely enjoy this book more than the target audience. I especially appreciated the new words I learned, like: harrigan, komorebi, and nemophilist. 😊

[Lynne Perednia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engrossing, lovely story about communicating and making connections through writing, as told by a young girl who enjoys the eccentricity of those around her.

Definitely recommend for a middle grade library.

[Angela Juline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most was wonderful...I loved the respect reading is given. But the last part was not satisfying even with a great last page.I will buy for the library mainly because I love Sharon Creech and I think most students will enjoy it.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so soft and mellow and adorable 💗

[Meg Dendler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Enchanting. Lovely. As always.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book because I loved Walk Two Moons. I did love Filomena, the main character, and the way the story unfolded. It took some thought for me to put it all together. Great for 4th, 5th and 6th graders.

[Jillian Mouton · Rating 5 out of 5]

abstract and meandering in the dreamiest way! plotless, but in a way that feels very true to life. a great read if you care more about vivid characters and imagery than plot :-)

[Scoutles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. I liked it. It had some really interesting parts, and over all it was inspiring. Once again good job Sharon Creech

[Gae · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

[Elizabeth Ricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book.