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Synopsis

Utterly Me, Clarice Bean by Lauren Child

When someone steals the winner's trophy for the school book project, Clarice emulates Ruby Redfort, ace girl detective and star of Clarice's favourite books.

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Reviews

The delightfully wacky Clarice Bean is the star of this absorbing story bubbling with exuberance and vitality. -- Good Book Guide 20090301
Lauren Child's first Clarice Bean book, Clarice Bean, That's Me, was published in 1999 and shortlisted for the Smarties Award. Her delightfully wacky young heroine and her madcap family were an instant hit with young readers; fans of the Bean household will be captivated by her latest escapades in this full-length novel. Once again Child's vivacious prose leaps off the page, accompanied by her trademark sparky black-and-white illustrations. The print jumps boldly from upper to lower case, fonts are juggled with gay abandon and Child delights in swirling the text around on the page to suit the plot. The result is a story bubbling with exuberance and vitality. Clarice can't concentrate at school and her teacher, the dreaded Mrs Wilberton, is on her back. The trouble is, Clarice can't think of anything but the adventures of her favourite girl detective, Ruby Redfort, and spends every spare minute devouring the stories. When the class is asked to do a school project on a book, Clarice and her best friend Betty decide to write about their beloved Ruby. But before they can get under way mysterious things start to happen. Why does Grandad keep disappearing off to the shed? Who is moving the coats around at school? And what has happened to the school project trophy? Then Betty herself disappears with just a tattered postcard as a clue. Can Clarice use all those detective skills picked up from Ruby Redfort and find her missing pal? The story is full of hilarious characters, who are way out yet instantly identifiable - many parents will know only too well what it's like to cope with a soap-loathing Kurt or an eccentric Grandad who won't abide by the rules. Lauren Child has said she doesn't believe in underestimating children - her latest book is funny and absorbing yet full of a witty sophistication which will not be lost on her young readers. Ages 7-10 (Kirkus UK)

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About The Author

Lauren Child is the multi-talented prize-winning creator of the characters Charlie and Lola, Clarice Bean and Hubert Horatio Bobton-Trent. She has won the Smarties Gold Award, Smarties Bronze Award, Kate Greenaway Medal and been shortlisted for the Children’s Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. Lauren lives in London.

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