Clementine - Sara Pennypacker

Summary: Clementine is having not so good of a week.

-On Monday she's sent to the principal’s office for cutting off Margaret’s hair.
- Tuesday, Margaret's mother is mad at her.
- Wednesday, she's sent to the principal... again.
- Thursday, Margaret stops speaking to her.
- Friday starts with yucky eggs and gets worse.
- And by Saturday, even her mother is mad at her.

Okay, fine. Clementine is having a DISASTROUS week. (image and summary from goodreads.com)

My Review: I gave a review earlier in Clarice Bean about how a strong first person voice can carry a story, and Clementine is another great example of this.  Pennypacker, like Lauren Child, has also captured the child voice incredibly well, the mannerisms of how they speak and phrase things, and the inherent humor.  

Clementine is a bit of a troublemaker, but it's truly not her fault, things just tend to happen to her because she has such a vivid way of seeing the world.  She doesn't cut off her friend's hair with malicious intent, no, it's to help fix what her friend already started by trying to cut her own hair--see? Clementine just happens to get caught as the one who instigated it in the first place.

Clementine's family are all great characters too, because they understand her, and know she has a big imagination.  Her dad in particular is a favorite, and he always allows Clementine to help him out with his duties and apartment manager, including a fun escapade known as 'The Great Pigeon War.' 

This is another story that could be seen as mundane--just a kid going to school and dealing with every day things (like her annoying baby brother), but the way Clementine speaks and views the world make it a very charming tale.  It's another of those books that I've read multiple times because the writing is just so clever.  Plus, we have cute illustrations by Marla Frazee that fit Clementine perfectly.

My Rating: 4 Stars

For the sensitive reader: nothing offensive (though kids might get some ideas in the cutting-off-hair department)