About Average

Clements adds to his canon of school stories with this thoughtful novel about an earnest and introspective girl who longs to wrap up her sixth-grade year "in a blaze of glory, a flash of triumph, a burst of superstardom." That's not likely, given that, although Jordan is a hard worker, she's a C student and, according to a list she draws up, the number of things she "stinks" or is "okay" at (violin, chess, a lineup of sports) far outstrips what she considers herself "great at" (only babysitting and gardening). Her self-esteem is further eroded by mean girl Marlea, who gets hold of Jordan's list and uses it to humiliate her. The narration largely consists of Jordan's internal monologue, as she obsesses over her insecurities and her annoyance with Marlea. Clements (Troublemaker) works in some constructive observations about counteracting bullying (Jordan combats Marlea's nastiness with "industrial-strength niceness"). There's no neat reconciliation (a natural disaster takes precedence and gives Jordan a chance to shine); rather, Jordan learns not to let herself be bothered by Marlea, robbing the bully of her power. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. (July)

Gr 3-6--Jordan Johnston wants to find a way to be extraordinary instead of average by the end of sixth grade. She's a C student even though she tries hard, she's not short or tall, and she feels just plain ordinary. Her list of things she is "okay at" (singing, running, telling jokes, and soccer) and "stinks at" (softball, bowling, crossword puzzles, and tennis) is longer than the things she is "great at" (babysitting and gardening). Her list gets into the wrong hands, and Marlea uses it as fodder to make fun of her. Jordan attempts to stop the bullying by responding with kindness. The third-person narrative about Jordan is interspersed with chapters featuring Joe the Weather Guy worrying about a possible late-spring storm. Tensions rise as a tornado hits the area, allowing Jordan to display her extraordinary talent. Clements offers a cast of believable characters as well as solutions for dealing with bullies. Pencil illustrations sprinkled throughout each chapter add to the story. While the natural disaster seems a bit forced, Clements's fans will be hooked.--Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH