Just One Friend

by Lynn Hall

Desperate for friendship and peer acceptance, a "slow" sixteen-year-old girl inadvertently causes the death of a schoolmate and finally receives the attention and help she has long needed to better herself

Genres: Realistic Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Lynn Hall was the author of over fifty novels for juvenile and young adult readers, as well as over two dozen novels for younger readers. Her books focus on coming-of-age stories featuring dogs and horses.

Reviews

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Lynn Hall's not writing about animals, I'm not sure what to do with her. The story is about a mildly retarded girl, how badly she wishes her neighbor would think of her as a friend, and her attempts to create said friendship. I thought I would form an instant connection with the main character, but I never formed one at all. She was just too...childish, even if she couldn't help it. I'm going to dubiously give it 3 stars for now, just because I like Lynn Hall and don't remember actively hating it, but it's not among her best work.

[Gerardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very realistically done, especially from the point of view of Dory's learning disability. We with disabilities have lived through ver similar situations, thus was able to identify with her of how the unknown is lived in life.