First, thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this beautiful story. This is a story of the importance of imagination. It is also a story about the importance of making sure your friends know how you feel about them. It is also a story about respecting differences. I loved Gina Filomena’s story and how her teacher inspired not only her, but all of her students to write. Writing is a powerful tool. I cannot wait to share this book with other teachers. I have one wondering at the end about Gina and Antonio but I will not share that here because I do not want to give anything away! Sharon Creech did not disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley for this special book from Sharon Creech. We know that Sharon Creech knows about special teachers. You only have to read Love That Dog and Hate That Cat to understand. This time young Gina Filomena tells the story of her year with a new teacher, Miss Lightstone, who approaches things very differently from the terrible, pointy teacher the year previous. Gina has a great imagination which feels good instead of bad after meeting a new neighbor, Antonio, mysterious with a beautiful smile, who just happens to be in her class! There happens a world full of mystery and magic that connects to writing in this story when the class, and perhaps Miss Lighthouse, too, begins to answer the questions, "Who am I?" and "Who do I want to be?"
Other characters, classmates, neighbors, a very fun Auntie and Uncle Pasta (you must read to discover why the name) plus Gina's grandmother, Nonna Filomena who lives far away are made memorable, too. It makes a place one wants to be! I could not stop reading and my own wide smile appeared at the surprising end. Teachers, you will want this for a read-aloud!

Gina has an "overactive imagination" which cause her to be a bit of an outcast but when she meets a mysterious new neighbor with a brilliant smile and is immersed in her teacher's quirky class and writing instruction her life becomes full of possibilities.

Overall I enjoyed this but it seems more a "teacher" book than a student book.

Just like most books by Sharon Creech, this one is a winner. One Time is a sweet story about a quirky girl, an unexpected friend, and an amazing teacher that doesn’t always follow the rules. Oh, and PASTA!!

I just loved this slim novel about Gina, a fifth grader with a new and creative teacher, and how she and her class learned to be themselves. I got so many great ideas I'm going to use with my school-age programs (when we finally have programs again), one of the simplest of which is to simply start writing with, "One time..." There are a few weaknesses, which brought it down to a 4-star review, but the good definitely outweighed the questionable.

Gina is a fifth grader who is taken with her new neighbor, Antonio. It's Antonio's smile that gets her; it get bigger and better the longer he looks at her. Also, his imagination is free and he feels comfortable sharing both his smile and his imaginings with others. Through him and his family, she and her family come to better understand the other people in their neighborhood and at school.

Antonio is the new kid in Gina's class and Miss Lightfoot is a new teacher. The class is full of distinct characters, most of whom seem a little too sweet for 5th graders, IMO, but if you can get past that, it's a lot of fun to watch as they grow and come into themselves. Miss Lightfoot begins to hold Quiet Wednesdays, where the class is silent; they can read and write and do work on their own, but there is no talking. At first, the kids struggle, both with staying quiet and with writing, but Miss Lightfoot is patient and eventually they find their footing. She starts them off with one question on the board, "Who are you?" then another, "What could you be?" along with the first lines of some famous books.

Then, Antonio stops coming to class. Gina never sees him at home, either. For a while there are questions, and then another new kid joins the class, Gina stays home sick for a few days, and everything is changed. The last chapter of the book is about Gina and her classmates as adults and the reader finds out what they became.

There is no explanation for what happened to Antonio except that he moved away. It felt abrupt and strange, but his family is strange, so that shouldn't be a surprise. I felt for Miss Lightfoot and her headaches, which were the impetus for quiet Wednesdays, but it felt like a stretch for these to last all day, every Wednesday (the quiet days, not the headaches). Overall, I loved the caring between the students, teacher, and families.

My thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book felt really magical and I enjoyed how the author painted so many scenes in my head. I loved how the teacher, Ms Lightstone, was so creative and knew exactly was best for her students. It was such a creative book and took me into a new world. This book is perfect for readers ages 7-10.

Another winner from Sharon Creech. This book is perfect for children learning how to express themselves and think independently. Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo or the book Stargirl.

This is such a sweet book. Loved the characters and the idea of thought and imagination in everyone.

Give me a story with a powerful teacher, and I am just a mess. One Time is a fantastic story about Gina and Antonio. With the help of their beloved teacher, they are encouraged to grow and flourish. They no longer are stuck in the boundaries that everyone else wishes to keep them in. I loved it!

A lovely book about being, about writing, and one's community. Gina is an only child; imaginative and eccentric. When a new neighbor, Antonio, moves next door, Gina and Antonio connect through the writing prompts their teacher sets for them. One Time is a mellow book about the power of writing, and of being. 4/5 stars.

Imagination is a huge element of childhood. Sharon Creech does an amazing job weaving the imagination that is present in youth with the realities of the day to day of childhood. Gina is a child growing up in America with a Nonna in Italy. Her Nonna sends her fun gifts of colorful clothes that accentuate Gina's imagination and vibrant personality. One day a new boy moved in to the house next door. Antonio also has a vivid imagination. The two of them see things in much the same way, even though the rest of their classmates do not understand their connection or imagination. Challenges occur, as is always the case in life, and things change. Gina has to learn how to adapt and how to use her imagination in a manner that is conducive to the life in which she must live. As she journeys through little bits of daily life, and learns how to accept the person that she is, Gina discovers a place in this world. In the end, Sharon Creech talks about 20 years later, when Gina and Antonio were adults. It is easy to see that the spark of imagination that was once between the two of them, may prove to be more than either ever imagined.

"One Time" by Sharon Creech is a really great book for children in 5-7th grade. Gina is a creative kid with a flexible and - at times - overreactive imagination. She has always felt different, until she meets the new kid in class, Antonio.

Sharon Creech is one of my favorites and I always recommend her books to my (elementary and now middle school) kiddos. Unfortunately though, this one wasn't a favorite. Maybe it was the magical elements that I couldn't get into, but like some others have stated, it felt like the story didn't move along. Depending on my budget, I may have to hold off on purchasing this one at this time. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book

To be frank, this is a rather odd book. I couldn't really pinpoint what it was trying to say, the point it was trying to make. And it didn't feel like it was fully moored in the real world. There are all of these weird events, coincidences and impossibilities. While we do see the protagonist gradually feeling free to be herself and honor her truth, it's mostly just a collection of random events, not really a conflict or clear plot evolution. The overall writing is lovely, but the plot is confusing.

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.

I loved this book so much - I will buy copies for my English teacher friends as well as for my middle school writer's club. One Time is about the delightful Gina Filomena, an eleven-year-old middle school girl with a very well developed imagination. Gina had always felt on the outside, as do most middle school children. She wears colorful scarves and wristband that her Nonna Filomena sends from Italy along with stories of the Angel Lucia who rewards good behavior and gently retaliates for bad, or unkind behavior. Maybe because of the vivid stories, Gina sees angels in the trees and bright lights in the back yard. She learns to keep such things to herself until a new family moves in next door. There is a boy, who is her age, called Antonio. Antonio has a wonderful slow smile and sees elephants with blue frogs riding on their heads and porcupines eating red licorice. She finds him a little odd, but very interesting. Once school starts up again, Gina is relieved to find their pointy, mean English teacher from last year has been replaced by the colorful Miss Lightstone, who has a completely different way of teaching. Soon Gina and her class are thinking in new ways and writing - a lot! Antonio starts attending school and becomes popular in the class for his colorful writing and stories. He and Gina share an odd connection that is intriguing to both of them.

Mrs. Lightstone is the teacher we all wish we had, or could be. The interaction between her and the children is amazing and the way she helps them think in new ways is inspirational without being smarmy. Once the class gets the hang of thinking and writing with more open minds, Gina feels like she belongs and enjoys writing too and learns that a strong imagination is a good thing. I wish that Middle School could be like this for all students, but this book sure inspired me to try harder to make it so.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a DRC!
My middles will really enjoy this one - I liked that the teacher was encouraging to the students in developing their imaginations!
Gina and Antonio's friendship is super sweet, too!
Would definitely recommend for 5th and 6th graders!

According to her teachers, Gina Filomena suffers from an overactive imagination. But gina doesn’t see herself as overly creative or imaginative. She just wants to be herself—a lover of bright colors, magical stories, and quirky situations. At times, it feels lonely to be herself—especially when her friends don’t seem to understand her.

When a mysterious family moves in next door, Gina meets Antonio—a boy with a wide, welcoming smile whose imagination seems to equal hers. When he ends up in the same classroom with her, she has high hopes for the year.

But it turns out Antonio’s appearance doesn’t spark the biggest change in Gina’s life. Instead, Miss Lightfoot, Gina’s new teacher, starts a series of events when she writes ‘Who are you?’ on the chalkboard. The voyage of discovery will take more than one person by surprise.

Gina’s journey of discovery doesn’t stop in the classroom as she searches for the answer to who she is. And the mysterious Antonio? Readers will have to read to the end of the book to figure out what happened to him after he just as mysteriously disappeared.

Who Will Love This Book

Students will love this book because it addresses a question every kid struggles with—Who am I? Whether they relate more with Gina, Freddy, or Margie doesn’t matter. They will find themselves in Miss Lightfoot’s classroom.

Teachers will love this book because, hey, who wouldn’t love a classroom full of imaginative kids who struggle to become a writing community. I felt like I had picked up Nancie Atwell’s seminal textbook for teachers, In the Middle, in novel form. And that’s a good thing. I needed the reminder that creativity takes time, community comes with sharing, and kids are the best things ever.

One Time by Sharon Creech is a delightful story about friendship between a boy and a girl, but it's so much more. One Time is also about the magic in the every day, about our own imagination, and the impact that a wonderful teacher can have on a room full of very different students. She is definitely a beacon to these students, helping them to discover who they really are.

Identity is at the center of this novel - both who children show that they are and who they become.

The short chapters make this a great book to read aloud, either in a classroom or as a story to read with the family.

I love love love this book! It’s so imaginative and heartwarming without being “sappy”. Give this book to anyone, young or old, who is interested in writing. It may just be the source of inspiration they need. It will surely be a book that leaves a piece of it in you for sometime to come.