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.

Title:  Not Fair, Clare

Author:  Yvonne Prinz

Review Copy Provided by:  Chronicle Books

Summary of Book:  It’s the first day of eighth, but Clare isn’t nervous.  Who cares if all the other girls look like they just got back from Camp Total Makeover?  With her new BFF Allison by her side, Clare’s ready for just about anything.

But Clare’s rival, so-popular-it-hurts Ginny Germain, wants Allison in her clique – and Allison doesn’t seem to mind.  In fact, she fits right in.  Soon, Allison’s eating lunch at Ginny’s table and getting invited to all the parties.  And Clare’s not.

Now Clare feels so invisible, she might as well go back to hanging out with her friend Elsa (who’s used to the whole “invisible” thing, ’cause she’s imaginary).  But these days, even Elsa’s too busy for her!

Without Allison and Elsa around, Clare is beginning to realize that having a best friend – real or imaginary – is the most important thing of all…

My Review:  Clare is now in the 8th grade and doesn’t need Elsa as much as she did before.  One reason is because she has Allison.  In this, the 2nd book in the series, Clare has grown up, with breasts and all.  Once again, Prinz takes us into Clare’s world and the world of many teenage girls growing up today.  With Elsa, Clare never had to deal with jealousy, losing a friend to the “in” crowd, or boys.  Now she does, and Prinz writes the story so well.  Real world issues are brought to light in this book: lying to your parents to go to a party, sticking up for your friend so she won’t get in trouble, pesky young neighbor kids, and boys.  In this story, Prinz brings in a young girl, Patience, who adds such humor to the story, but yet, causes the reader to see another side of Clare.  A caring, empathetic, loving Clare. 

“On the fifth day I’m curled up in my chair, watching Patience sleep with her arm wrapped around a stuffed penguin, when Simon walks through the door of her hospital room.  I’ve missed three Macbeth rehearsals, which is bad.”

Clare learns more about herself in this story, as Prinz brings to light one of Clare’s talents: acting.  Again, Prinz has built on a great character that pre-teen and teenage girls can grow with. 

Title:  Still There, Clare

Author:  Yvonne Prinz

Review Copy Provided by:  Publisher

Summary of Book:  Clare and Elsa have been best friends for as long as they can remember.  some might say that they’re really diffetent; some might even call them opposties.  But something keeps them very close.  Unfortunately, there is one differnece between the two that is starting to worry Clare.  A lot.  You see, Clare is a real, live human being.

Elsa? Not so much.

Now that Clare is almost thirteen, she’s pretty sure that the kids at school are going to think she’s a tiny bit C-R-A-Z-Y for having an imaginary friend, which is never a great way to start the school year.  And it certainly isn’t the best way to make new, non-imaginary friends.  Oh, and Elsa’s not too thrilled about the whole “poof!-you’re-gone” scenario, either.

Clare knows she has an important decision to make, but how do you say goodbye to your very best friend?

My Review:  This book is the first in a, so far, 3 book series.  I had never heard of Yvonne Prinz before being asked to read this book, but I will be sure to read other works she does.  I enjoyed reading this.  What girl hasn’t had an imaginary friend?  What girl doesn’t worry about what others will think of her, especially when she turns 13?  Clare is one of those characters that I see many pre-teen girls relating too.  Prinz writes honestly about issues that pre-teen girls deal with.  I love the way she uses Clare’s imaginary friend, Elsa, as a sort of alter-ego.  Elsa is and does all the things that Clare wishes she could be and do.  When Elsa goes away, Clare writes to her, as a young girl would write in a journal or diary. 

“Dear Elsa,

Hope you had a good flight.  How is Paris so far?  My life has been a disaster since you left.  I seem determined to destroy what’s left of my pathetic friendships by embarking on a self-destructive rampage…Hope you’re having a good time in Paris.  Come back if you’re not.

Love,

Clare”

Clare’s story is one that girls and possibly boys won’t be able to put down.  It is a fun read and had me laughing out loud in some places.  Prinz writes in the first person, so you really get into Clare’s character and can empathize with her and live through her as you read.  I recommend this to pre-teen girls who grew up with Junie B. Jones, but are ready to read about a character closer to their age. 

Thank you so much, Yvonne, for agreeing to this interview.

WFAR:  Please tell us a little about yourself.

YP:  I was born in Edmonton, Alberta to Dutch Parents. I grew up in Canada but I had a pretty strong wanderlust and I traveled a lot. I waited tables, sold bus advertising, drove a forklift, worked in a record store. I ended up in San Francisco and met my husband. We opened Amoeba Music in Berkeley in 1990 and I started thinking about writing the first Clare book shortly after that.

WFAR:  When did you start writing?

YP:  As a young girl I was always writing stories. I was awful at Math but I adored anything to do with literature and reading. I devoured my parents books.

WFAR:  What have you written besides the Clare Series?

YP:  I just finished a movie called “Our Daily Bread”, my first screenplay. I had a blast writing it. A director in Vancouver named Andrew Williamson asked me to write it after he bought the rights to the Clare TV series. I also have two books coming out published by Harper Collins; “The Vinyl Princess” about a sixteen year-old girl who collects vinyl records and works at a record store in Berkeley; and “All You Get Is Me” about a girl who moves with her dad from San Francisco to a bio-dynamic farm. That one is called “All You Get Is Me”. I also have an adult novel making the publisher rounds called “The Girl Stands Alone”. I also write reviews for an online music magazine (caughtinthecarousel.com). That’s my nerdy music side coming out.

WFAR:   How did you come up with the idea for the Clare Series?

YP:  Well, I wasn’t thinking about a series at the time. I set out to write a story about a real girl in a real life and I pretty much based Clare on who I was at that age: A quiet, darkly funny, rather unpopular girl with a keen sense of observation, apparently there’s a lot of us out there.

WFAR:  I’ve heard that there is talk of a possible television series for the

Clare Series.   Can you tell me about that, your feelings, any details, etc?

YP:  This is the second time that the rights have been sold for the Clare Series. Keatley Entertainment in Vancouver now has them and they’re working with the Canadian Family Channel. Scripts are being written for two episodes and if all goes well, a pilot will be shot. I like the people at Keatley and it’s always a thrill to go down a road like this.

WFAR:  Clare has an imaginary friend.  Did you have an imaginary friend growing up?  If so, what was he/she like?

YP:  I had a few of them. One of them was a tow truck driver and one of them was very similar to Elsa in my books. They’re still around. Like Clare, I have separation issues.

WFAR:  What’s next for you as an author?  Are there more Clare stories in the works?

YP:  I’m doing a lot of editing right now…blech! I’m also quite involved in the movie as a pretend producer. I recently marched off to New York to ask Ally Sheedy The Breakfast Club) to play the lead and she said YES! As for writing, I have a couple of ideas in the works but I’m not sure if I’ll write a book or a screenplay, maybe both. As for another Clare book? I never say never.

WFAR:  What is your favorite piece or book that you have written?

YP:  “All You Get Is Me” (Harper Collins, 2011). It’s such a beautiful setting; very bucolic, fields, forests and swimming holes, Plus, my character “Roar’s” (short for Aurora) struggle was a dream to write.

WFAR:  What do you like to do when you are not writing?

YP:  I totally goof off. I like going to movies, I read books, I wander around.

WFAR:  How do you feel about book bloggers reviewing your books?

YP:  Thank God for book bloggers. I love them. They’re the new librarians, quietly powerful.

WFAR:  What are some of your favorites?  Author, food, color, book, any others…

YP:  Authors? For kids, I love Lemony Snicket. I’m drawn to his dark humor. For adult literature I really love Cormac McCarthy. I recently read Edgar Sawtelle and I thought it was brilliant.

I’m a huge eater and I love to cook for friends so my favorite food is anything eaten with good wine and good friends.

I love Blue, as in Blue Skies for Everyone!

WFAR:   Is there anything else that you would like readers to know?

YP:  Visit me at my myspace page at www.myspace.com.stillthereclare or facebook at “The Clare Series” or http://www.stillthereclare.com/. Watch for the TV series and learn more about the Vinyl Princess at www.myspace.therealvinylprincess.com

Look for reviews of all three books in the next three days!

I love challenges that let me have freedom to choose what I read.  This is one of them. 

The 2009 Themed Reading Challenge runs from Feb 1, 2009 – Jul 31, 2009.  You can read from 4-6 books w/3 levels of participation:

I have chosen the 3rd level of participation.  Here are my themes and books:

1. Books with a female main character
2. Books written by a female
3. Books with a double letter word in the title

•  
  • A Crooked Kind of Perfect
  • The Book of One Hundred Truths
  • The White Giraffe
  • May Bird Warrior Princess
  • The Space Between Before and After
  • Everything on a Waffle

Although I can change books at anytime, these books are in my TBR pile and I need to get them outta there to make room for others.  Won’t you join us in this challenge?