Clementine and the Family Meeting
Written by Sara Pennypacker
Illustrated by Maria Freeze
Reviewed by Marina R. (age 9)
Clementine is having a nervous breakdown! The family meeting! The sign is up on the wall and she just know she’s in trouble for something. Clementine is trying really hard to find out if she really is in trouble. Her classmates wonder if she has something to do with the disappearance of the class pet, a rat named Eighteen. No! She helped her science teacher, Mrs. Resnick, look for Eighteen, so that can’t be it. Is she in trouble for losing the hat her grandma made for her birthday? Is Clementine in trouble for something that happened at school? She is always getting into some kind of trouble! So why a big, serious family meeting? What do you think the family meeting is all about? You’ll have to read the book for yourself to find out!
I really like this book because it’s so hilarious, there’s no way you cannot laugh! For example, when Clementine and her classmate, Waylon, were at lunch talking about different science projects they could do, Waylon tried to walk through walls. He thought that would be a good science project, but that did not turn out so well. Clementine is different from other people. She is very creative, and I like that. One of the funniest parts of the book is when Margaret tried to put makeup on Clementine while they were on the bus. It did not help and did not turn out so well! Clementine was able to turn the situation around. She took an uncomfortable situation and made something positive from it. I think it’s great that she was able to do that, and I know it’s not very easy to do that.
I recommend this book to people who like comedy and funny things. I think everybody should read the Clementine series, especially if you are a third grader because you will be able to relate to her. I think this book sends a message that having another sibling might not be so bad.