Still There, Clare
Enter the world of almost-13-year-old Clare and her best friend Elsa. Clare and Elsa are opposites: Clare's idea of style is a Superman T-shirt and torn jeans, while Elsa sports outfits with matching accessories. Clare is a long-distance runner who can't always find the right words, while Elsa walks slowly but talks fast. Clare's sense of humor is dark and ironic, Elsa's is bright and witty. But the most unusual thing about Clare and Elsa is the fact that Elsa is imaginary. Clare invented her years ago, when she was the lonely daughter of two career-track lawyers. Now, as Clare turns 13, her mother has quit her job to become a stay-at-home parent ("I think she follows other mothers around the supermarket and buys whatever they buy," scoffs Clare). Clare decides that it's finally time to try life without Elsa. But will Elsa let her go?
Read an excerpt from Still There, Clare
Read the Teacher's Guide here
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Still There, Clare is Ancient Forest friendly, printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper!
Reviews
"One for the (young) ages - two, actually" -- Globe and Mail (read review here)
"Prinz's breezy story succeeds on many levels: it's funny; the characters, including the adults, are appealing and interesting.... Suggest this to reluctant readers and their friends who want a sweet, satisfying read about a summer transformation." -- Booklist "Fast and fun, Clever and Cool" -- Flamingnet.com "Reading Still There, Clare is like spending a summer with charming new friends. A dreamy, smart and funny book." -Jaclyn Moriarty, The Year of Secret Assignments "With its combination of humor, sadness, and preteen angst, this story will appeal to many readers." -- School Library Journal "I really enjoyed this story of 13-year-old Clare's problems, and her friendship with her imaginary friend, Elsa. Yvonne Prinz does a wonderful job developing her, and I enjoyed 'growing up' with Clare as she let Elsa go." -- Anita Mapes, A Thirsty Mind, Lakeway, TX "Reading Still There, Clare is like spending a summer with charming new friends. A dreamy, smart and funny book." -Jaclyn Moriarty, author of The Year of Secret Assignments
"Clare's story will be a cannot-put-it-down hit with girls." -- Linda Cooley,
Foreword Magazine "A just-right heading-for-maturity story that deserves major attention. This is funny, rueful, authentic fiction for girls and sensible boys. Go buy it now."
-- John Burns, the Georgia Strait "Prinz has a smart-mouthed, subtle style and does really clever things with her imaginative premise. The characters in this first novel are bound to win a following for the planned sequels....You've got to love a kid who in packing away her childhood toys puts the heads of her Barbies in one box and the bodies in another." -- Quill and Quire Magazine
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