Clarissa - Book Review

 When a Child Knows Better

Clarissa is a middle-grade fiction featuring an 11-year-old girl named after the book title. The book begins with Clarissa Gentle in a bad mood. Something happened in her school that upsets her. Plus, her father doesn’t seem to care for her anymore. 

Almost three years prior, Clarissa’s mother died giving birth to her brother, Edmund. Since then, the Gentle family has never been the same again. No more family play time together. Clarissa’s father focuses his attention on his work and seldom talks with the children anymore. The girl feels lonely. She cannot hold a conversation with her brother, either, as Edmund doesn’t talk yet. To cope with loneliness and relieve her frustration, Clarissa hangs out with the Oak tree. Her tree friend listens and converses with her.

Clarissa Begins Her Adventure

In one of their conversations, the Oak tells Clarissa to dig in the ground beneath it. She obliges and finds an odd-looking key. Although unsure of its purpose, Clarissa keeps the key with her wherever she goes. She tries it on every keyhole she finds.

One day, her father allows Clarissa to go into the museum basement provided she does not touch anything. But, her curiosity prevails. She found a strange box in there and tried to open it with her key. Surprisingly, the box opens, and in it is a lit candle. Clarissa takes the box home without her father’s knowledge. 

Since then, more mysteries unfurl. Follow Clarissa in her adventure, and learn with her the value of the strange box. What would her father’s reaction be when he discovers the box is taken out of the museum?

The Book and the Author

Clarissa is a feel-good book. The story is light and simple and yet it teaches some important lessons about family, relationships, and the environment. The author, Giulietta M. Spudich is no doubt, a good storyteller for young people. Her writing style captures the mindset of older children and pre-teens. She skillfully injects poetry and the value of nature preservation in a subtle manner. And, this is what I like the most in her work.

Moreover, the book is neither too long nor too short. Clarissa’s length is just within the attention span of children and pre-teens. Spudich also sees to it that no loose end is left hanging. And, technically, the book is proofread well. I didn’t see any typographical or grammatical errors in it. For this reason, I give Clarissa a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and I recommend it to readers 8 - 12 years of age.