Monday 27 June 2016

Troublemaker - Andrew Clements and Mark Elliott


Troublemaker
Andrew Clements

Mark Elliott (Illustrator)
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
A Division of Simon and Schuster
ISBN 9781416949329

ASIN B00710PYW6

This was the second book I have read by Andrew Clements in under a week. As soon as I finished Frindle I picked up this one to read. I really enjoyed Frindle but I loved this one. In many ways Clayton Hensley reminds me of myself. Not afraid to stand up to authority, not afraid to get in trouble, and not afraid to cross lines. But in this book after his older brother returns from a month in county jail things are about to change. 

Shortly after our story begins Clayton promises his big brother he will work at cleaning up his act. But when you have a reputation for making trouble, often people will not take your changes at face value. Clayton goes from being one of the wild ruffian's in the school to asking to not be sent to the principal's office overnight. The other kids especially his best friend do not understand the change. But Clayton has given his word and as hard as it is he is working on making changes. 

Soon Clayton finds himself examining what is doing, what he observers with new eyes. He finds he is thinking about other people's feelings, how the same would impact him. What it is like to be on the other side. Soon he realizes a lot of what he did for fun was really not fun for himself and especially others. These little examinations of conscience are helping him to make the changes he promised. And being a man of his word means a lot to him.

This was an incredible book to read. I just wish I had learned some of the lessons as young as Clayton did. I am really looking forward to reading this book with my kids over summer break. Another great book by a new found favorite author. An excellent read!

Books by Andrew Clements:
Bird Adalbert
Noah and the Ark and the Animals
Santa's Secret Helper
Temple Cat
Mother Earth's Counting Book
Billy and the Bad Teacher
Who Owns the Cow
Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers
Frindle 
(Adapter)Philipp's Birthday Book
Riff's BeBop Book
Real Monsters Go for the Mold
Things That Go EEK on Halloween
Real Monsters Stage Fright
Music Time, Any Time
Double Trouble in Walla Walla
Workshop
Gromble's Haunted Halloween
Hey Dad, Could I Borrow Your Hammer
The Landry News
Look Who's in the Thanksgiving Play
The Mouse Family
The Janitor's Boy
Circus Family Dog
The Christmas Kitten
The School Story
Things Not Seen 
The Jacket 
A Week in the Woods
Slippers at Home
Naptime for Slippers
The Report Card
The Last Holiday Concert
Slippers at School
Slippers Loves to Run
A Million Is a Lot of Dots
Lunch Money
Things Hoped For
Room One: A Mystery or Two
No Talking
Things That Are
Lost and Found
Extra Credit
Troublemaker
About Average
The Map Trap
The Friendship War
The Losers Club
...

Pets to the Rescue Series
Ringo Saves the Day!
Brave Norman
Tara and Tiree, Fearless Friends
Delores and the Big Fire

Jake Drake Series
Jake Drake Know-It-All
Jake Drake, Bully Buster
Jake Drake, Teacher's Pet
Jake Drake, Class Clown

Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School Series
We the Children
Fear Itself
The Whites of Their Eyes
In Harm's Way
We Hold These Truths

Reading program Books
Karen's Island
Three Wishes for Buster
Bill Picket: An American Original, Texas Style
Hurricane Andrew
Ham and Eggs for Jack
Life in the Desert
Desert Treasure
Inventors: Making Things Better, Steck-Vaughn
Milo's Great Invention

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