Troublemaker

by Andrew Clements Narrated by Keith Nobbs

Overview

Once a troublemaker, always a troublemaker? A reputation proves challenging to change in this “rock-solid school story” (Publishers Weekly) from Andrew Clements.

Clayton Hensley is accustomed to trouble: There's a folder of incident reports in Principal Kelling's office that's as thick as a phonebook and growing daily. Most recently, Clay's art teacher told the class to spend the period drawing anything they wanted, and Clay decided to be extra “creative” by drawing a spot-on portrait of Principal Kelling...as a donkey.

It's a pretty funny joke, but Clay is coming to realize that the biggest joke of all may be on him. When his big brother, Mitchell, gets in some serious trouble, Clay decides to change his own mischief-making ways...but he can't seem to shake his reputation as a troublemaker.

From the master of the school story comes a book about the fine line between good-humored mischief and dangerous behavior-and how everyday choices can close or open doors.

Editorial Reviews

A. J. Jacobs

Clements once again proves he can pull off writing about middle schoolers' emotions without being cartoonish or cloying. Frindle is still my favorite, but this is a worthy addition to the Clements canon.
—The New York Times

Publishers Weekly

Clements (Extra Credit) delivers another rock-solid school story that will resonate with middle graders. Like his older brother, Mitch, sixth-grader Clay is habitually in trouble, and he can't wait to tell Mitch about his latest coup—a realistic portrait of Principal Kelling as a donkey. But his 19-year-old brother, who's just finished a 30-day jail sentence after losing his temper in court, is not amused, and he orders Clay to straighten out ("You're gonna do all the stuff that I never did—and do things right, the smart way"). Clay promises to do so, but learns that his well-established reputation is hard to shake, backsliding is easy, and taking his life in a new direction might mean leaving old friends behind—or being pranked himself. Though the story is largely Clay's, Clements offers the perspectives of other characters, demonstrating how Clay's tussles with his conscience have an impact on the environment around him. Clements's empathy for Clay is clear—he's not a bad kid, just someone whose mischievous tendencies have always been encouraged. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. (July)

From the Publisher

"Clements is a genius of gentle, high-concept tales set in suburban middle schools."—The New York Times

"Another rock-solid school story that will resonate with middle graders."—Publishers Weekly

School Library Journal

Gr 4–6—Clayton Hensley wants to be exactly like his older brother, who just got out of jail for wielding his own brand of trouble. When he uses his free art period to draw the principal as a donkey, he makes sure he's the talk of the school, showing off on the way to the office. But, when Clay reveals the drawing to Mitch, he's in for a surprise. Not only is his brother not proud, but he's also disappointed. Mitch wants Clay to turn his life around. The problem is, Clay isn't sure he can do it, or if he even wants to. Being good isn't any fun at all. Or is it? Clements forms interesting parallels between choice, habit, and repute, asking the questions: Can people change their reputations? And, is having fun at the expense of someone else really fun? Occasional pencil drawings of Clay's antics highlight the best parts of the story. Clay will encourage kids who want to forge a new path, placing their own brand on doing the right thing. An inspiring and comical read.—Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix Public Library, AZ

NOVEMBER 2011 - AudioFile

With each school-based book, author Andrew Clements delves into both the psyches of students and unvisited arenas of school life. This story travels the halls between the art room and the principal’s office as sixth-grader Clay—who emulates his tough-guy older brother, Mitch—faces vandalism charges and the difficult notion of change. Narrator Keith Nobbs transitions easily among the roles of Clay, brother Mitch, principal Kellin, and secretary Ormin. Nobbs’s nonchalant manner moves the narrative parts of the story along. His voice expresses surprise and anxiety as Clay realizes that Mitch is steering him in a whole new direction, remoteness as Mitch describes his prison experience, and rich-voiced friendliness as Kellin, the principal, gives a kid another chance. A.R. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

Clay learns that it's easy to get into trouble but far more difficult to get out of it in this breezy Scared Straight–type novel for the elementary-school set.

Clay has finesse. He can create mischief with such cheerful aplomb that he can charm even the principal's assistant, who has been documenting Clay's misdeeds since kindergarten. A clever boy and a talented artist, Clay is bursting with enthusiasm for his pranks. Clay loves and emulates his older brother, Mitch, who was the pre-eminent troublemaker before him. However, Mitch, unlike Clay, has taken his misdeeds to a level of aggression that fun-loving Clay does not. The day Mitch is to come home from prison, Clay undertakes a master antic to impress him and is devastated when Mitch slaps him and demands that he shape up or else end up like himself. Thus begins a makeover, as Mitch gets Clay a new wardrobe and stipulates new rules by which to live. Clay is certain that he looks like Mr. Potato Head with his new haircut, but he's dedicated to pleasing his brother. School provides terrific opportunities for mischief that Clay finds hard to resist, especially the launchable lunch food. But the hardest part of this new life is the rift growing between him and his best buddy, co-trickster Hank. Clements here enters into provocative territory and pulls it off like the pro he is. Kids will easily relate to Clay, and the secondary characters come alive as well.

With easygoing prose enhanced by occasional sketches, this slender school story does its job with no trouble at all.(Fiction. 8-12)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171119768
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	07/26/2011
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

Read an Excerpt

Troublemaker

Clay Hensley frowned at the paper on the table. It wasn’t a very good drawing. He’d made tons of better ones . . . like that picture he’d made of the old man sitting on the bridge? Now, that was good—even won a prize. This drawing? It was okay, just a simple portrait. It wasn’t going to win any prizes—but then, it wasn’t supposed to. It was supposed to do something else. Soon.

Out of the corner of his eye Clay saw Mr. Dash get up from his desk. The class period was almost over, so the art teacher was beginning his inspections, same as always.

Clay squinted and kept working on the portrait, shading a little here, erasing a little there, trying to get the expression on the face just right—actually, trying to get the whole head to look right. It wasn’t easy.

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