Customer Reviews

Utterly Me, Clarice Bean

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a creative writing teacher and mother of three utterly adventurous and book loving children, ages 6 through 10, I thoroughly, UTTERLY loved reading this book aloud to my children. I was concerned that my son, age 6 and complete Star Wars/Superhero addict, would not enjoy a story about a plain, ordinary girl, but he surprised me and became completely engrossed in the story. We enjoyed every moment of the book from beginning to end, and decided we must get all the books in the series. Most enjoyable for me was the fact that the narrative, cleverly and appropriately written from the perspective of Clarice, was so accurate and delightful - totally funny, outrageous and completely reminiscent of young girlhood angst. My children were so delighted and fell completely in love with Clarice. I HIGHLY recommend Clarice Bean to any book lover. It's a much wittier version of Ramona Quimby. I give it a very enthusiastic THUMBS UP!!! Hurrah, Ms. Lauren Child. My family and I have become your devoted fans.

Clarice is the girl many of us were at her age. We believed we were ordinary; we didn't appreciate our families or our lives in general. And we had a fantasy life that would make great theatre. What I really appreciated about Utterly Me, Clarice Bean is that Clarice always gives life her best.

Clarice and her best friend Betty Moody love the mystery series with heroine Ruby Redfort, so it seems natural that they would use the Redfort books for a school project.

Now that seems simple enough, but then Betty goes missing - and Clarice and the school's problem child are paired together for the book project. Clarice doesn't initially like the pairing, but as she and Karl work together, she realizes that he's got great ideas and is really pretty nice.

The problems begin when Betty returns and becomes jealous of the relationship that has developed between Clarice and Karl. When the project trophy disappears, Karl is accused of stealing it. Clarice is determined to solve the mystery and clear Karl's name. Is she successful in solving the mystery? And what about the friendship between Clarice and Betty?

I enjoyed the characters, the life-like feelings of a child about her life. The illustrations are entertaining. On some pages the writing streams and swirls around the page. This is a grand book for children between the ages of 7-10. Armchair Interviews suggests parents, grandparents read this together with the important children in their lives. It will be a wonderful time spent together.

Utterly Me Clarice Bean
Utterly me Clarice Bean is by Lauren Child. Clarice and her best friend Betty are assigned a book report about a book they read that was educational. They could not figure out what book they would use for there book report. They are obsessed with Ruby Redford, a book about an 11 year old under cover spy. I Think Lauren Child is trying to say that sometimes you have to look hard for something that's right in front of you. The main characters in the book are Clarice, Betty and her teacher {I don't remember her name}.

My favorite part in the book is when they write a letter to Patricia F Maplin Stacey the auther of Ruby Redford. The beginning is just introducing her friends and family. The book is very funny. I think if you're the kind of person who likes to laugh and likes something different and your like 8+ in age you will love this book.
-Alexandra,10

What caught my eye the most is the colorful and cutely drawn cover of the book. One look of the cover, and it reminded me of another similar book, with something of the same title. I didn't really think that this was another of that book I heard, but it turned out to be. I remembered another Clarice Bean book, and it turned out to be the "I WILL NOT EAT A TOMATO", which was read to me when I was in elementary school, and it was nominated to be one of the books for a book compition.

The story itself is a really cute one, and the illistrations that go along with it keeps me from being bored, and it also teaches me a lesson not to always judge people from their past actions, they might be right the second time around.

My favorite book is Utterly Me, Clarice Bean, by: Lauren Child. It's about a girl who has to do a book project and her friend/book project partner, Betty Moody, goes to Russia and tells Clarice about it but Clarice forgets and thinks something bad happened to her since she is missing school. Will Clarice Bean turn in her project in on time? Will she do it by herself? To find out read Utterly Me, Clarice Bean.

Review by C.A.

This was a gift to my daughter. I think I was into it more then her.

I liked the descriptions of Clarice Bean, her family, friends and school mates. Everybody probably has known such people in their life times.

Clarice loves to read Ruby Redfort ace detective with her detective helper Hitch. Her friend Betty Moody loves the books as well and one day in school, they get an assignment to do a presentation about a book. Clarice at first is stumped for a choice; especially, when Betty mysteriously disappears.

In a stroke of imagination, she decides on the Redfort books and to her surprise she gets teamed up with the class troublemaker Karl Wrenbury since Betty is missing.

Mystery abounds as somebody floods the boys bathrooms, where did Betty go?, who stole a trophy, will the arch-nemesis Grace Grapello spoil the book project, Clarice's mother is acting strange and why is her brother Kurt a stranger to cleanliness becoming clean and talking to people?

This is a good book for a young girl. The wandering style and imagination of Clarice is fun. Especially with the wavy sentences and fun artwork.

If you are reading it; you have to try and imagine the character talking and read the same way! It will add to the story.

Overall it's a fun read. However, I found my girl getting confused at times when the story switched to a passage of Ruby Redfort.

On to the next book!

I remember seeing this book in a book store when I was 6, (think it was barnes and nobel) but I didn't think I would like it. but today, I went to target, and got this book to read now, and also Clarice Bean spells trouble for christmas. GR8 book, luv it!

Clarice Bean loves hanging out with her friend, Betty Moody, and reading Ruby Redfort books. Like her favorite junior detective Ruby, Clarice keeps an eye out for unusual happenings and anything else that might capture her wildly wandering attention.

When the class is assigned to do a book project, Clarice expects to work with Betty. Nothing seems to go right: Betty goes away for some mysterious reason; their teacher doesn't like Clarice's book choice; and worst of all, Clarice must partner with Karl Wrenbury for the project.

Will Betty ever come back? Will Karl ruin the project? Will nothing turn out properly? It is so utterly stressful!

Young girls are sure to enjoy Clarice's wandering style. Swirling sentences, amusing doodles, and utterly packed with adverbs, this chapter book is entertaining. Adults may find the excessive use of adverbs and certain writing affectations to be annoying, but grade schoolers aren't likely to notice or care.

Because this reviewer is both an adult and a writer, it is difficult to award this book more than "4-Balloons," but it is more important to keep in mind the intended audience. Girls are sure to identify with and love Clarice Bean. Lauren Child's "Clarice Bean" books make reading fun, which is utterly important.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
12/05/2006

4.5 Balloons for WUAT Kids; 5 Stars for Amazon

This story is about a young girl named Clarice Bean, who reads Ruby Redfort mystery books. When the school's reading contest cup is stolen, Clarice decides to be like the book character, Ruby, and solve the mystery. Read the mystery book about who steals the cup, and see what happens!
I loved this book because it was funny, the letters were printed in cool ways, and I think even some teenagers would like to read it!

Helps make reading fun. I also think it's cool how she looks up to Ruby Redford and I think we can all learn something from this book! This book is funny and cute!

-Sixth Grader

Newport Beach, Ca