Clementine is 8 years old and in the third grade. Clementine has a knack of getting into trouble. After all, it is not her fault that Margaret’s hair was cut off. Clementine was only trying to get the glue out. It is NOT Clementine’s fault that she used her mother’s permanent markers. She only wanted to color in Margaret’s hair to make it look more beautiful. It is not her fault that she ended up in the principal’s office and answered the phone. She was trying to be helpful. Despite these misunderstandings, Clementine is smart. Why else would she be in the gifted math class? However, she is disappointed that no one has yet given her any gifts.
Clementine is the mastermind behind the great pigeon wars. She has, singlehandedly, been able to get the pigeons from the front of the building to the side of the building through the use of an oversize poster of her deceased cat, Polka Dottie.If she has come up with these great ideas, then why are her parents saying “good riddance?” Could it be possible they no longer want Clementine? Do they only want her brother, whose name is not a fruit? Read the book to find out the answers to these questions.
Reminscent of Beverly Cleary's Ramona, this delightful book is the first in a series and sure to please readers in grades 2-4. This book received a starred review from School Library Journal.
