
By Andrew Clements, Mark Elliott (Illustrator)
Can a notorious prankster change his ways before it's too late?
Clayton Hensley is known for his pranks, like drawing the principal as a donkey. But when his brother lands in serious trouble, Clay decides it's time to change. Can he overcome his reputation and make better choices, or will his past mischief haunt him? As he navigates the fine line between harmless fun and real consequences, Clay must decide what kind of person he wants to be. This school story explores how the choices we make can open or close doors, challenging Clay to redefine himself before it's too late.
Once a troublemaker, always a troublemaker? A reputation proves challenging to change in this “rock-solid school story” (Publishers Weekly) from Andrew Clements. Clayton Hensley is accustomed to trouble: There’s a folder of incident reports in Principal Kelling’s office that’s as thick as a phonebook and growing daily. Most recently, Clay’s art teacher told the class to spend the period drawing anything they wanted, and Clay decided to be extra “creative” by drawing a spot-on portrait of Principal Kelling…as a donkey. It’s a pretty funny joke, but 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.
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