Rating: I like it but some families may not

Oh my goodness, even if you don’t let your kid read Clarice Bean, you should read it for yourself. It is so masterfully written, full of character and spunk. I enjoy her so much.

So what’s not to like?

  • Lack of enthusiasm for school. You’ll get bits of Clarice complaining because why does she need to know spelling, etc.
  • Talking back to authority, especially Mrs. Wiberton and the neighbor.
  • Getting in trouble at school even when she is trying to be on her best behavior. Clarice concludes, “You might as well just be bad all the time” because even when she tries to behave she still gets in trouble.
  • Too much T.V. Clarice loves a particular show and switches it on quite often.
  • Lying to protect a friend.
  • A reference to astrology; she talks about her brother being a Pisces and something about his personality because it.
  • Sibling bickering (e.g., Clarice calls her brother a maggot)

So what’s to love?

  • Honesty. About desires, kids’ perceptions, relationships with adults.
  • Clarice observes her friend suffering deeply because his dad walked out on the family.
  • Clarice lies to protect that friend 
  • Humor. It’s so darn funny. And the characters are simply brilliant. But they’re honest, and at times a bit raw. For example, school experiences are punctuated with interchanges with Mrs. Wilberton, Clarice’s teacher, who Lauren Childs has done an amazing job helping us loathe. She is so bad at her job and yet she is so relatable.  It’s so good…..