Description
Clara Humble may seem like your average fourth-grader who doesn’t look before she leaps, but she has a secret: she thinks she might have superpowers. Which is convenient, because things aren’t going so well for Clara. Students from rival R. R. Reginald are moving into her school for the term, and Clara’s favorite neighbor, Momo, is moving to a faraway retirement home.
Together with her best friend, Bradley, the winsome and overconfident Clara becomes convinced that her knack for making liquids spill, overhearing her parents’ conversations, communicating with her pet chinchilla, and maybe even mind-controlling teachers could be used to put a stop to these injustices. Sure, these “powers” may not be as impressive as built-in Wi-Fi or the ability to barf data clouds—both hacks possessed by @Cat, the bionic superhero of the comic book series Clara is creating—but they’re Clara’s best bet.
Told in Clara’s clever, funny, and strikingly authentic voice, this novel kicks off a new series by inviting readers into this memorable character’s inventive mind to share in her misadventures. Annotated with Clara’s comic sketches, it’s a fast-paced read with a spot-on perspective of life as a 10-year-old that kids will surely relate to.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 8 to 12
- Grade:
- 3 to 7
Awards
- Winner, Ontario Library Association 2016 Best Bet
- , Toronto Public Library's 2017 Summer Reading Club Recommended Read
- , Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens
Editorial Reviews
"Clara's supposed super powers make for quite an interesting storyline. The characters are well-developed, and the story is interesting... Recommended."
— Canadian Review of Materials
"Humphrey succeeds in establishing a likable heroine, a spunky comic book fan with a wild imagination... A solid start to a new series. Clara Humble proves she doesn't need superpowers to win over young readers."
— School Library Journal
"Will be understood by middle school readers."
— Resource Links
"Author Anna Humphrey has done a wonderful job of telling a story that many children will be able to identify with: things happen that we have no control over and we need to learn how to cope. This book is sprinkled with adorable illustrations that depict Clara's comic strip and how she sees the world around her. This book will help students know they are not alone in how they feel and what they are dealing with. Recommended."
— School Library Connection
"A good antidote to the feeling most kids (and adults!) will find familiar: that the world is out of their control... A promising beginning to a new series about a spirited character who is discovering her real strengths."
— Kirkus Reviews
"Beautiful and fun... A worthy addition to the growing field of doodle-illustrated middle-grade novels."
— Booklist
"Humphrey's new series starring Clara Humble as a plucky young cartoonist tackles the big challenges facing kids like friendship, anger, competition, and change with honesty and humor...delightful...hilarious super hero hijinks that kids will love."
— The Midwest Book Review
"A funny and touching story through which young readers may explore their own feelings of helplessness and frustration."
— Canadian Children's Book News
"Subtly thought-provoking... Humphrey - and Clara - have staked out their own comic territory."
— Quill & Quire
Out of print
This edition is not currently available in bookstores. Check your local library or search for used copies at Abebooks.
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