Whenever the kiddos and I finish a book, we always ask the same question: Okay, now how many stars should Mommy give it on Goodreads? This time we were divided like no other time. I said 3, they said 5! So we are settling on 4 stars, though no party here is leaving satisfied. The kids really liked this one. They were really, really into it. I thought it was a bit awkward and in need of editing. I've read some of the reviews and it seems that a lot of Andrew Clements fans agree that this is his weakest offering. I think we'll try another by Clements soon. The kids certainly are on board! Andrew Clements never fails to produce a book well worth reading. This title would make an excellent read-aloud to elementary and middle-school students to start discussion and promote reflection about the direction they want their lives to take as well as the destructive nature of humor at the expense of another person. I would have given it five stars except for two issues. The first is the brief explanation of why big brother Mitch wants Clay to shape up (he just finished 30 days in jail), and why Clay offers no resistance to the idea. This moment could have been expanded to give it more impact. My other problem with the book is near the end when Clay describes several trouble-making acts he sees and decides not to do. It's funny and shows his increased maturity, but it could spark a lot of ideas in the unrepentant and unreformed trouble-making reader. Nevertheless, I recommend it to teachers for use in the classroom and to counselors for use in groups or one-on-one therapy. Boys especially will love the concept.
What do You think about Trouble Maker (2011)?
I love Andrew Clements books for kids. They always have a great lesson!
—TierneyFigg
