Gretchen is the smartest girl in 3rd Street School and one of the two girls in the group. She has red hair and very large glasses. She insists that there is a logical explanation for everything and that science, not dogs, are man's best friend. Gretchen doesn't have any real girlfriends besides Spinelli so it stands to reason that the two are best friends, but that is uncertain. Gretchen has a great admiration for Gus and was one of the first kids to welcome him to 3rd street as an individual. Although she is smarter than her friends, Gretchen encouarges the gang to think for themselves and never brags about her intelligence. In fact, she is quite humble and blushes heavily when anyone pays her a compliment in this regard.Gretchen uses her brain to help her fellow man and abhors using science to hurt anyone although she happily helps TJ pull pranks on Miss Finster and Principle Prickly. The only time she used science against anyone was when King Bob asked her to design a pyramid which the two later enslaved the other kids into building in Pharoah Bob. Gretchen was first seen in The Break In and is now a fifth grader in Miss Finster's class. Show less «