The Genuine, Ingenious, Thrift Shop Genie, Clarissa Mae Bean & Me

This is a good, Stargirl-type story for a younger reader. Marcie has been picked by the weirdest girl in school, Clarissa, to be her very best friend. Written in 1977, it's dated now, because Clarissa is a Goth foremother, wearing nothing but thrift shop clothing, a true original, reminiscent of Daniel Pinkwater characters such as Rat from the Snarkout books. Marcie's world is conformist, from friends to parents to school, and Clarissa fares about as well as Stargirl until a secret talent is revealed, and Marcie realizes that there's more to friendship than popularity.

I have been looking for this book since my babysitter read it to my sister and I when I was seven! I was entirely enchanted by this story and although I can't remember the details, I can say that it sits close to my heart. Without question I will be sharing it with my children and strongly recommend it to anyone with or without children!