Maryellen wants to stand out, but with five brothers and sisters, it's not so easy. Giving herself a haircut doesn't go quite the way she expects - and when she draws a cartoon of her teacher on the first day of fourth grade, she draws more attention than she wants! At least her drawing skills help her make an interesting new friend. Together, they might be able to win the Geography Bee - but only if Maryellen can find a way to make her old friends overcome their prejudice.

The One and Only, the first volume of Maryellen's stories about growing up in the 1950s, tell how Maryellen learns to stand out and be her own person.