Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Confessions of a Class Clown by Arianne Costner - ESSENTIAL

Confessions of a Class Clown by Arianne Costner
, 271 pages. Random, 2022. $17. 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

13yo Jack makes it his life’s work to make everyone around him laugh – even when he would be better off at home, at school, and with his friends being a bit more restrained. His goal is to go viral and be a social media start like his idol, Paxton Poker. Jack has a great idea for the school talent show, but he needs an accomplice – and it seems like everyone he thought was his friend don’t actually want to be anywhere near him. He’s such a funny guy – what’s their problem? Maybe Jack doesn’t actually know what it takes to be a friend. 

Only one bone to pick with this – the setting is supposedly Utah, but there is nothing Utah about the book except a mention of Park City – poor use setting. But Costner nails the personality of a boy who still thinks the “class clown” label is an honor. Jack is white, but a couple of secondary characters Black and Hispanic. BTW – Chapter 3 has the most perfect teacher reaction to a class disturbance that I have ever seen. A master class for any teacher at any level. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

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