Customer Reviews

Troublemaker

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Clay is a troublemaker and a frequent visitor to the principal's office. His file is so thick with incident reports that the school secretary calls it her masterpiece. However, when Clay's brother Mitch is released from jail after serving a month for contempt of court, Mitch sets out to change Clay's ways. While it's not easy giving up throwing food at lunch, Halloween and hanging with his troublemaker friends Clay learns to trust his brother's words of wisdom.

Andrew Clements has written another terrific story for middle graders. Readers will get a glimpse as to why someone might bully and make fun of others. The secondary characters are well drawn and Mrs. Ormin the school secretary is my favorite. Mitch is believable as the reformed troublemaker older brother and we can see why Clay idolized him both before and after his jail sentence. The writing is smooth and the illustrations (although not final when I read the arc) work well with the story. Recommended for 3-6 graders.

Clay is one of those students "who is not living up to his potential." He idolizes his older brother and wants to follow in his mischievous footsteps. At first I worried that this book might be a "bad influence" by giving kids ideas for making trouble (and it does, but nothing a mischievous child hasn't already thought of). But it also sets a good, if someone simplistic example. Clay's admiration for his older brother Mitch may get him into to trouble in the beginning, but it also puts him on the right path to making better choices.

What I liked about the book: It provides a good message in simple and humorous terms. The writing is typical Clements and will appeal to students and educators alike. Mark Elliott's illustrations have a feel as though they were done by a talented student, which will have great appeal for readers.

What I don't like about the story: The message is a little oversimplified. Though I think the simplicity of the story makes it perfect for its targeted audience it might also give the impression that changing one's behavior can happen virtually overnight. It has the feel of an "after school special" where everything is solved in a couple of hours.

Overall this is a good read and I recommend it for Clements fans and anyone who wants to impart a message about how your choices tend to follow you.

Recommended for 3rd grade and up.

Mrs. Archer's rating: 4 of 5

I encouraged my 9-year-old to buy this book via Scholastic Book Fair at his school and was willing to pay for the hardcover version based on the reviews and Scholastic's reputation for bringing quality reading to appropriate ages.
Imagine my surprise when my son told me there were bad words in the book. Furthermore that the book brought to life a family that is riddled with a son recently released from jail and school children making fun of the adults and the learning system. Now I get the underlying message, but a 9 year-old takes away the immediate impression that it's okay to call authority figures a "jackass" and to look for ways to gain popularity through revenge -- the greater message is easily lost.
My suggestion: either write the book for 9-12 age group by toning down the negative and emphasizing the positive or write and market it for a more mature audience.
This book misses it's target.

Clayton Hensley loves getting in trouble and even has a growing folder of misconduct in the principal's office. In art class he is sent there for showing his fellow students a drawing he made of Principal Kelling looking like a donkey.

Clay can't wait to share the story with his big brother, Mitchell, who is returning from prison. Clay idolizes Mitchell and hopes his latest run-in with school authorities will make him laugh. To his dismay, Mitchell reprimands him for his behavior. Even more surprising is Mitchell's admission that Clay needs to change, because he does not want Clay to follow in his footsteps.

Change doesn't come easy for Clay, as he has spent his entire academic career getting into trouble. First he has to deal with the short haircut and clothes that Mitchell gets him. Then there's his friend, Hank, with whom he did most of his pranks. He needs to figure out how he will handle this friendship and wonders if Hank will still accept him.

Clay also discovers that a bad reputation sticks with you. The police come to his door on Halloween night, wanting to know if he threw eggs on a house and car and if he sprayed graffiti on a door. Apparently the spray paint job is a picture of a donkey that looks like the principal, which is why fingers are pointing at Clay.

After all this time toeing the line, it seems unfair that he is accused, and he wants to prove his innocence to Principal Kelling. In the past, Clay would have rebelled. Punishment didn't bother him back then, but now he wants to change his reputation for the better. Will the principal believe him?

Andrew Clements has written a very relatable book, as it's easy for people to get pigeon-holed. I've heard parents say that their child is the "shy one" or the "smart one" or the "tough one." Those labels follow him or her around, and soon teachers use those terms, too. Thus, the child takes the label to heart, thinking that if everyone calls him or her that, then surely he or she must be that person. It takes a very determined individual to change a reputation. You are creating a new self-image --- an image that isn't given to you, but rather one that you choose.

--- Reviewed by Kathleen M. Purcell

One of the things that I especially love about working at an elementary school is the variety of children I get to meet. This can be both enjoyable and incredibly frustrating, but never boring, and I learn as much from them as they do from me (hopefully). Clay is one of those students who is more than capable of doing well in school, but chooses not to. In Clay's case, his admiration for his older brother, leads him into mischief, including the donkey drawing of his principal. When Mitchell returns home changed, Clay is naturally confused and angry, he doesn't see any need to change. But as Clay struggles to change and slowly realizes that one's reputation is not easily repaired, he starts to realize that his choices have consequences, sometimes serious ones.

Now, I admit, the story does seem a bit oversimplified. In real life, changing one's behavior can be and often is very challenging and doesn't happen over night. But I think Clements makes his point, that the choices we make follow us as we travel down life's road. I can think of more than a few students whose behavior could lead them down some very painful roads and it makes me sad. The writing is good, typical Clements, and the illustrations provide a nice compliment. Recommended for readers who like a good school story.

troublemaker is not as good as other books but it just has something that i really like about it

My kids love Andrew Clements. I have a 9 boy) and 12(girl)year old who have read all of his books. Andrew Clements is an author that children love to read. He keeps it interesting so they want to read and not put the book down. His books are insightful, interesting, captivating and fun to read. I would stronly recommend him as an author and this book. "Fear Itself" is another great book by him. It is part of a series and I would recommend it as well. Basically, you can't go wrong with Andrew Clements as an author!

Do you think the saying is true, once a troublemaker, always a troublemaker?

Clayton, 6th grader at Truman Elementary School is always getting into trouble. And he thinks it is funny. The more he gets in the trouble the happier he is. The most recent incident that has brought him to the principal's office is a portrait that he has drawn of the principal as a donkey or jackass. Clayton wants to be just like his big brother Mitchell, who had a huge reputation at school for being a troublemaker. But as the story unfolds Mitchell has come home after spending some time in jail for some serious trouble. While Clayton wants to follow in his brother's footsteps, Mitchell has different plans for his younger brother. He has come to the understanding that being a troublemaker is the wrong path to choose in life. Mitchell now understands the difference between good and bad behavior and how making the right choices in life are very important. Now he must make his younger brother, Clayton, understand this too. But it isn't easy.
Troublemaker by award winning author Andrew Clements is another popular story about real life with actual situations and authentic characters that children can relate to. He is also the author of the very popular book, Frindle, as well as Extra Credit, Lost and Found, No Talking, Room One, Lunch Money and many more. Mr. Clements taught in the public schools near Chicago for seven years before moving East to begin a career in publishing and writing. He lives with his wife in central Massachusetts and has four grown children.
I believe this is a book that every principal should have in his/her office to hand out to kids who've lost their way. Troublemaker is a wonderful story and a very empowering book for troubled kids. It is not only a story for troublemakers but for those kids who know troublemakers. Recommended reading for grades 4-6th.
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