Review – Double-Dare Clare
Posted by shelburns on December 18, 2008
This is the 3rd book in the Clare Series.
Title: Double-Dare Clare
Author: Yvonne Prinz
Review Copy Provided by: Chronicle Books
Summary of the Book: Eighth grade has been pretty awesome for Clare, especially with her new BFF Allison around. And now it’s going to get even better! Winter break is coming up and Clare nad Allison have got big plans to spend some quality time together.
That’s of course, until Paul, Clare’s old friend, rolls back into town. Paul’s all right, but only in a dorky, totally un-dateable kind of way.
Or at least that’s what Clare thinks. Apparently Allison has some sort of weird X-ray vision thing that sees through Paul’s other dorkiness right to his tender, loving heart. Paul and allison together? Gross.
It’s a good thing Clare has Elso to rescue her – imaginary or not, she’s Clare’s oldest friend. And friends always stick together…Don’t they?
My Review: Another well written story for young girls, by Yvonne Prinz. Each book in this series just gets better. I continue to fall in love with Clare as she grows and changes, just like teenage girls do. I love this series for pre-teen and teenage girls. If you love other girl characters like Junie B. or Ramona, then you will love Clare. In this story, Prinz brings back Clare’s friend Paul, who has been away at school. Her new best friend, Allison ends up falling for Paul, which is not in the Winter break plans. Clare gets pushed to the side while Paul and Allison get to know each other. How many times does this happen to teenage girls and their BFFs? Prinz really has a finger on the pulse of teenage girls, their issues, and what they have to deal with. She continues to write from Clare’s point of view, which makes the story so much more real and believable. Again, Clare does more growing up in this story. She has gone from having just an imaginary friend, to a “real” best friend, and now, a boyfriend!
“Dear Elsa,
So, you were right. Joshua became more than a friend tonight. I think I may have finally done something right in the boy department.”
“Who could have guessed that Christmas vacation would be such a life-changing experience for me? I would have been happy with presents and chocolate.”
Clare still has Elsa, when she really needs her, but she is learning how to be self-sufficient and believe in herself. I’m sure that most pre-teen and teenage girls will fall in love with the Clare Series just as I have. This series would make a great gift for girls on your list this year.
I hope that this is not all that Prinz has in store for Clare.
Thank you, Yvonne Prinz for the great interview post prior to these reviews, and thank you to Caroline from Chronicle Books for sending this series my way.
