The School Story

Readers will grin from beginning to end of this enchanting story.

Author: Andrew Clements Pages: 196 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Published Date: 06/01/2001 Genre: Fiction - School HC Price: $16.00 Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 9-12 Read Aloud: 9+ Read Alone: 9+

Common Sense Note

This book should prompt many fruitful family discussions, and inspire young authors to reach for their dreams.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Matt Berman

A kid getting a novel published--too ridiculous to be believable, right? Just ask Gordon Korman, whose first novel, which he wrote as a seventh-grade English project, was published when he was twelve. It sold very well, and he had five more published before he graduated from high school. Publishers are looking for good school stories--who better to write one than a kid?

Former teacher Andrew Clements had already rocketed to the upper reaches of the best middle-grade authors list on the strength of his first novel, Frindle, and two follow-ups, The Landry News and The Janitor's Boy. This story is longer and a bit more complex than the others (though still well within the reach of middle and upper elementary children), but it shares with them a deep understanding of the world of school (and now of publishing), exceptionally clever stories, wickedly sharp characterizations, and a perfection in plotting that makes them akin to caper novels.

Clements doesn't shy away from explaining the adult world in a way kids will understand. Natalie's mom has a fire-breathing boss, and Zoe's machinations soon have the unintended consequence of embroiling her in inter-office politics. Aspiring young authors will appreciate the thorough treatment of the publishing process, including marketing and publicity. And while there's not as much focus on the working of the school faculty here as in his previous novels, Clements's amusing asides about the quirks of the school secretary will ring true for many kids.

With never a misstep, Clements takes readers to a world where events unfold, not as they do in real life, but as they should. Readers will grin from beginning to end of this enchanting story, except when brushing away the occasional tear during the more poignant moments, such as when Zoe realizes that Natalie's story, ostensibly about a girl who is caught cheating at school, is really "like a good-bye poem from Natalie to her father," who died when she was young.

The author's prose, filled with witty tidbits such as pleasing mirror-image portraits of the two heroines, is so clear that illustrations aren't really necessary. But illustrator Brian Selznick has added his own clever touches. In Frindle, every picture had a pen somewhere in it: here there is a book in every picture, except for the thumbnail portraits of the characters and some famous authors.

The ending is pure magic, as Zoe manipulates events to a glorious conclusion that only she has envisioned. Andrew Clements has found a niche that he fills better than anyone, and any child can tell you that there is an infinite variety of school stories to be told. Let's hope he writes many more.

From the Book
And now, four years later, when she read Natalie's book, Zoe saw things. Not about the girl in the book, because Angela wasn't much like Natalie at all. It wasn't that part. It was when the girls' father got involved in the story. Because it was the girl's father who stood by Angela all the way through ... When Natalie talked about her book, she said the story was about Angela and her friends. But Zoe knew there was more to it. It was about a girl and her dad. The book was like a good-bye poem from Natalie to her father.

Plot Summary:

Twelve-year-old Natalie Nelson has just written a novel and wants to get it published. Her mother is a children's book editor and, while Natalie wants her mom to be her editor, she wants the book to be published on its merits, not because she happens to be an editor's daughter. Natalie's best friend Zoe comes up with the perfect solution--use a pseudonym.

But Natalie knows all about the slush pile in her mom's office, and is sure no one will read her manuscript. So Zoe decides to become her agent, and together they enlist the help of an idealistic young English teacher to set up a fake literary agency.

Zoe, daughter of a powerful attorney, is as talented at scheming and manipulation as Natalie is at writing, and part of the pleasure and hilarity of this story is watching her simple but elegant plans unfold. But the girls are messing with an adult world, and soon find themselves neck-deep in negotiations, contracts, and publishing world politics.