Still There, Clare by Yvonne Prinz--Book Review

An entertaining and clever story of a young girl's journey toward maturity is what girls will find in Still There, Clare by Yvonne Prinz.

School is almost out and soon Clare will turn thirteen. That's way too old to be clinging to her imaginary friend, Elsa. But how can she let her go when Elsa is the only one who understands her? The two friends agree to a temporary separation and Elsa takes off for Europe. When Clare finds out that Paul, her only other friend is going off to spend the summer with his grandparents, she's sure life can't get much worse. But then it does. How will Clare ever make it through the summer?

Young Adult fiction doesn't get any better than Still There, Clare, the first book in the Clare series. Clare is funny, sarcastic, and filled with a jumble of emotions she has no idea what to do with. Wishing to be part of the "in" crowd, struggling to find friends, and having no clue what to do with her ex-lawyer mother who is trying to become Martha Stewart, Elsa is the one she has always turned to; but now she's not there.

Readers will laugh with Clare, cry with her, feel her pain, and understand exactly what she is going through. Who hasn't wanted to put a curse on the most beautiful, most popular girl in school? Who hasn't had a crush on an older man and been disappointed?

Reading Still There, Clare was like being transported back to my junior high years. Prinz has a knack for getting in touch with the young girl within and readers will enjoy sharing Clare's journey.

Funny, clever, and right on, Still There, Clare will be a huge hit with the young girl in your life. I'm saving this one to give to my girls when they're older.


Title: Still There, Clare
Author: Yvonne Prinz
Publisher: Raincoast Books
ISBN-10: 1-55192-828-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-55192-828-9
SRP: $9.95 (US)