Andrew Clements: Our New Favorite Author

We have fallen in love with the writings of author Andrew Clements.

He was born in NJ and worked as a teacher in the Chicago public schools for several years. He went on to write music and jingles in New York City!

We've enjoyed each and every one of his books that we've read! The characters, children and adults, are interesting and thoughtful as they grapple with lots of different types of of everyday things: sibling rivalry, classmate interaction, teachers and parents, excelling at some things, failing at others.


Frindle: A good natured kid makes up a new word for an every day item. The school bans the new word and parents are furious when kids have to stay for detention. How far do we go to protect our first amendment?

Troublemaker: This 5th grade class clown is requested to "cool it" by his older brother, whose temper got him sent to jail recently. He has to learn to think about his actions; what may seem funny to one person, is hurtful to another.

Extra Credit: A 6th grader from the midwest has to do some extra credit in order to prevent from repeating the grade; she choses to write to a pen pal in Afghanistan. Cultural issues are in play as each kid tries to explain to the other about their environment.

Lost and Found: What happens if the previous school combines the files of identical twins when they send them to the new school? Your new school thinks that there is only one of you! You and your identical twin can take turns going to school! And no one at school will know... right?

Room One: A mystery or Two: We have just started this book; about a kid living in the countryside in Nebraska, who comes across a girl and her family, living in an abandoned farm house. Why are they there? What are they running from? Can't wait to find out.

Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School series

Jake Drake series

http://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Clements