Troublemaker

Once a troublemaker, always a troublemaker?

There's a folder in Principal Kelling's office that's as thick as a phonebook and it's growing daily. It's filled with the incident reports of every time Clayton Hensley broke the rules. There's the minor stuff like running in the hallways and not being where he was suppose to be when he was supposed to be there. But then there are also reports that show Clay's own brand of troublemaking, like the most recent addition: the art teacher has said that the class should spend the period drawing anything they want and Clay decides to be extra "creative" and draw a spot-on portrait of Principal Kellings...as a donkey.

It's a pretty funny joke, but really, Clay is coming to realize that the biggest joke of all may be on him. When his big brother, Mitchell, gets in some serious trouble, Clay decides to change his own mischief making ways...but he can't seem to shake his reputation as a troublemaker.

From the master of the school story comes a book about the fine line between good-humored mischief and dangerous behavior and how everyday choices can close or open doors.

Author: Andrew Clements
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 07/26/2011
Pages: 160
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.63lbs
Size: 8.34h x 5.70w x 0.73d
ISBN: 9781416949305
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.7
Point Value: 3
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 145085 / Troublemaker


Award: Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award - Winner
Award: Kentucky Bluegrass Award - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 05/23/2011
Kirkus Reviews 06/01/2011
Booklist 06/01/2011 pg. 90
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 07/01/2011
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2011 pg. 45
School Library Journal 07/01/2011 pg. 94
New York Times Book Review 08/21/2011 pg. 9
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2012 pg. 66 - Superior,Well Above Average

About the Author
Andrew Clements (1949-2019) was the author of the enormously popular Frindle. More than 10 million copies of his books have been sold, and he was nominated for a multitude of state awards, including a Christopher Award and an Edgar Award. His popular works include About Average, Troublemaker, Extra Credit, Lost and Found, No Talking, Room One, Lunch Money, and more. He was also the author of the Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series. Find out more at AndrewClements.com.

Mark Elliott has a BFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts. He has illustrated a number of book covers, and his work has been exhibited at the Society of Illustrators and the Art Directors Guild. Mark lives on a sheep farm in the Hudson Valley region of New York.