abigailbat's review
3.0
Korean-American third-grader Clara Lee dreams of being Little Miss Apple Pie and riding on a float at the Apple Blossom Festival, but in order to be chosen, she has to make a speech in front of the whole school and she doesn't have the nerve. When Clara Lee has a good-luck dream about her grandpa, she knows that good luck will follow her in whatever she does and she signs up for the Little Miss Apple Pie competition. But will her good luck last?
Clara Lee is a likable character and the book's peppered with details about life in a Korean-American home. I'm happy to report that the main issue of the book is NOT race, but rather it's a chapter book about a third grader who happens to be Korean. I'd try this book on fans of Clementine and others of that ilk.
Clara Lee is a likable character and the book's peppered with details about life in a Korean-American home. I'm happy to report that the main issue of the book is NOT race, but rather it's a chapter book about a third grader who happens to be Korean. I'd try this book on fans of Clementine and others of that ilk.
jessalynn_librarian's review
4.0
This is one of those stories that's great for kids who can read chapter books, but who don't want something too long and still enjoy the support of illustrations (which are sweet and straightforward). Although Clara Lee is a third-grader, the content makes it perfect for younger kids as well, those kids who are strong readers early on and enjoy realistic stories. Clara Lee has a great relationship with her grandfather and a not-so-great one with her younger sister, and she starts tracking her Good Luck and Bad Luck as she musters her courage to try out for being Little Miss Apple Pie in the annual festival. She's got a great, casual conversational tone that engages the reader, and her friendships and relationships with her family members ring true.
Source: review copy from publisher, although I got a library copy to look at the final illustrations.
Source: review copy from publisher, although I got a library copy to look at the final illustrations.
quietjenn's review
2.0
2 1/2. It's cute enough, I guess, but there are an awful lot of cute/spunky/precocious/whatevs early-chapter girl books and, compared to the best of them, Clara Lee didn't stack up. At times, it felt very lessony - like, "Okay, kids! Now we're going to learn about being a good friend!" - and a great part of the voice felt inauthentic. More like what grown-ups think kids this age sound like, as opposed to what they actually sound like.
I did super like Clara Lee's interactions with her grandfather and the illustrations work well with the text. I'll buy it for the library, probably, and kids will probably check it out. I'll only recommend it to them after all the Clementines, Ivy and Beans, Ruby Lus, Mallorys and Graces were checked out, though. But, before Junie B. Jones, since her I hate.
I did super like Clara Lee's interactions with her grandfather and the illustrations work well with the text. I'll buy it for the library, probably, and kids will probably check it out. I'll only recommend it to them after all the Clementines, Ivy and Beans, Ruby Lus, Mallorys and Graces were checked out, though. But, before Junie B. Jones, since her I hate.
leslie_d's review
4.0
"Jenny Han’s Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream is absolutely delightful. It is a sweet little chapter book for the 8-10 crowd with a sassy protagonist who will easily charm any reader."
[...]
"Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream is certain to be a pleasure for any reader looking for a non-white protagonist, and/or a multi-cultural home. Clara Lee is a second generation Korean American. Korean Americans will likely find familiarity, and those unfamiliar with Korean culture will be enchanted—and informed. Jenny Han has a light and delicate hand in providing insight and perspective without undermining its integrity."
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/clara-lee-and-the-apple-pie-dream/
[...]
"Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream is certain to be a pleasure for any reader looking for a non-white protagonist, and/or a multi-cultural home. Clara Lee is a second generation Korean American. Korean Americans will likely find familiarity, and those unfamiliar with Korean culture will be enchanted—and informed. Jenny Han has a light and delicate hand in providing insight and perspective without undermining its integrity."
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/clara-lee-and-the-apple-pie-dream/
farkle's review against another edition
4.0
Kid books can be such a good break from anything grown-up. This story of a Korean American girl and her family reminds me of my first forays into diverse books (a la In The Year of the Boar & Jackie Robinson, thanks mom!) and what a lasting impact that has had on my life. Definitely a good one to add to the list.
beadeeh's review against another edition
4.0
Jenny Han and I only fight over love triangles, so I had high hopes here-- the protagonist is 9, so we dodge that Achilles heel. This is a high quality book for 7-10 year olds and goes to the top of the kiddo's to-read pile.
frankisib's review against another edition
3.0
A good 3rd grade read . I liked Clara Lee and loved the way the "American as Apple Pie" issue was handled. I look forward to more books about this character (I think I read that it would be a series.)
greenbeanteenqueen's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a big fan of Jenny Han, especially her first novel, the fantastic tween novel Shug. So when I saw she was heading back to MG territory, I was thrilled!
Clara Lee is a younger tween read, but perfect for young tweens looking for an easy chapter book to read. Clara Lee's voice is fun and she surrounds herself with a memorable cast of characters. Her relationship with her Grandpa is sweet and I loved when Clara Lee would try to spell the words Grandpa was trying to read-too cute. She has an annoying little sister Emmeline, who must be the star of everything and tries to steal the spotlight. The sister dynamic will resonate with anyone who grew up with a sister (older or younger)-Jenny Han has it spot on! And Clara Lee's frustration with her parents will be something readers can easily relate to.
Clara Lee isn't perfect-and that's what I like about her. Sure, she's full of optimism and has a lot of spunk to her, but she also gets upset with her parents after they punish her, as well as getting into a disagreement with a friend at school. Life is never easy or fair, but Clara Lee learns to deal with it the best she can.
The book has a nice message without ever getting too preachy and messagey. In fact, it's so well written into the story that I think tweens won't feel like they're getting a book with a "lesson" but instead will just enjoy a fun story. I wish the book had been a bit longer. I really liked Clara Lee and wanted to spend just a bit more time with her. There are also some side characters I wish we could have gotten just a bit more of. I really hope this turns into a series because I'd love more adventures with Clara Lee!
Book Pairings: Clara Lee would pair perfectly with other spunky tween heriones like Clementine, Judy Moody, Ivy & Bean, and Piper Reed. Although the book is much shorter, I think readers who enjoy the Allie Finkle series would also enjoy Clara Lee.
Clara Lee is a younger tween read, but perfect for young tweens looking for an easy chapter book to read. Clara Lee's voice is fun and she surrounds herself with a memorable cast of characters. Her relationship with her Grandpa is sweet and I loved when Clara Lee would try to spell the words Grandpa was trying to read-too cute. She has an annoying little sister Emmeline, who must be the star of everything and tries to steal the spotlight. The sister dynamic will resonate with anyone who grew up with a sister (older or younger)-Jenny Han has it spot on! And Clara Lee's frustration with her parents will be something readers can easily relate to.
Clara Lee isn't perfect-and that's what I like about her. Sure, she's full of optimism and has a lot of spunk to her, but she also gets upset with her parents after they punish her, as well as getting into a disagreement with a friend at school. Life is never easy or fair, but Clara Lee learns to deal with it the best she can.
The book has a nice message without ever getting too preachy and messagey. In fact, it's so well written into the story that I think tweens won't feel like they're getting a book with a "lesson" but instead will just enjoy a fun story. I wish the book had been a bit longer. I really liked Clara Lee and wanted to spend just a bit more time with her. There are also some side characters I wish we could have gotten just a bit more of. I really hope this turns into a series because I'd love more adventures with Clara Lee!
Book Pairings: Clara Lee would pair perfectly with other spunky tween heriones like Clementine, Judy Moody, Ivy & Bean, and Piper Reed. Although the book is much shorter, I think readers who enjoy the Allie Finkle series would also enjoy Clara Lee.
elllie's review against another edition
3.0
The Apple Blossom Festival (IN THE FALL!!!) was hard for me to get past (editor, you should have insisted upon a change to like, the Apple Pie Festival or just the Apple Festival), but the story itself was sweet and good for a 3rd grader.