BOOK REVIEW: The School Story

TITLE: The School Story
AUTHOR: Andrew Clements
ILLUSTRATOR: Brian Selznick
PUBLISHER: Aladdin Paperbacks
DATE OF PUBLICATION: August 1, 2002 (first published 2001)
FORMAT: Paperback, 224 pages
GENRE: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 978-0689851865

SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS:

Natalie's best friend, Zoe, is sure that the novel Natalie's written is good enough to be published. But how can a twelve-year-old girl publish a book? Natalie's mother is an editor for a big children's publisher, but Natalie doesn't want to ask for any favors.

Then Zoe has a brilliant idea: Natalie can submit her manuscript under a pen name, with Zoe acting as her literary agent. But it's not easy for two sixth graders to put themselves over as grown-ups, even with some help from a couple of real grown-ups who are supportive but skeptical. The next best-selling school story may be in their hands -- but can Natalie and Zoe pull off their masquerade?

MY REVIEW:

I read this book aloud to my daughters.

The book was outstanding!! We all loved it! Zoe and Natalie were loveable characters, and the plan they concocted to get Natalie's manuscript published was very entertaining. The book was brilliantly written, extremely enjoyable, and very empowering for children.

I loved the warm, genuine friendship between Zoe and Natalie: Two friends who would do anything for each other and stick by one another.

We haven't yet read anything else by Clements, but we will definitely look into his other novels!

MY RATING: 5 stars!!

This book qualifies as:
#8 for my 2011 100+ Reading Challenge