Confessions of a Class Clown

by Arianne Costner

Jack's hilarious online videos might get thousands of views . . . but is fame worth the price of friendship? The humor of I Funny meets the multiple perspectives of Because of Mr. Terupt.

Meet Jack Reynolds. Making people laugh is his life's work. Jack's wacky MyTube channel is really starting to take off. The only problem is, for the truly epic posts, he needs a collaborator. And, well, he doesn't exactly have any friends. So Jack has to swallow his pride and join the new afterschool club, Speed Friendshipping. But who would make the best partner in comedy?

- Brielle, Miss Perfect candidate for student body president?
- Mario, whose mom won't even let him have a smart phone?
- Or Tasha, the quiet, mysterious girl with a shaved head and a crocheted hat for every day of the week?

One of these kids could help catapult Jack to internet fame . . . or even become a true friend. But what will it cost him to go viral?

With an unfailing knack for the middle-grade voice, Arianne Costner, author of My Life as a Potato, explores themes of friendship, belonging, and the ways social media can put pressure on today's kids.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Friendship, Juvenile, Fiction, Chapter Books

288 pages, Library Binding

First published March 1, 2022

About the author

Arianne Costner lives in the middle of the desert with her husband and four children. She is a former English teacher who believes that writers should crack up at their own jokes. When she isn’t writing, she can be found playing the piano and composing music. Her favorite kind of potato is the tater tot, with mashed potatoes coming in close second—as long as they’re not gluey. Check out her middle grade books, MY LIFE AS A POTATO and CONFESSIONS OF A CLASS CLOWN

Reviews

[Jessaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted a light read, and I got one. I always like class clowns when I was growing up, but I’m not so sure now. The kid in this book became very tedious in his jokes after a while, but at least it all turned out well in the end. In the opening pages of the book, this kid walks into his classroom on his tiptoes. Also, his back was hunched over, and he had his elbows on his back and so he just had short little arms. I laughed. Then I tried to show my husband what a T. Rex look like, because that is what the kid was imitating. I got up off the couch and stood on my tiptoes, but I lost my balance. I tried it again, but I lost my balance. I learned since that if you’re blind and hard of hearing, you don’t have good balance, well, it doesn’t help that I’m 83 years old. I went into the bedroom, leaned up against the bed, stood on my tiptoes, hunched my back over, and then I tried to put my elbows behind my back and fell flat on to the mattress. I am not giving up. I will learn how to balance myself again.

[Karah Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I wish I had this book when I was a kid!

There are a lot of layers here, and I'll try to explain them without being too reductive. Yes, we start our story with Jack (a self-identified class clown) and the wacky antics he performs in a quest to become a video influencer on an app called MyTube (part TikTok, part YouTube). And Jack is very witty, very silly, and very charming.

We also get a cautionary tale about social media addiction, cyberbullying, and the fickleness of online popularity, as you can probably imagine from the premise.

But what really got me about this book was the way it explores how challenging it can be to make and keep friends, how easy it is for people to misunderstand each other's intentions, and how you need to invest in friendships to foster them. With a little help from Jack's guidance counselor, this book is almost like a guide for making new friends, complete with techniques to try and mistakes often made, all sweetly and cleverly folded into a story about Jack's surface-level popularity masking the secret that his friends "always ditch him". I feel like this book would have been a game-changer for me as a pre-teen and teen.

So to summarize: come for the jokes, stay for the life skills! What a wonderful book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute middle school-age book. The main character, who at first seeks popularity, realizes the importance of true friendship. I think younger kids would like this.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Jack Reynolds is the sort of kid that teachers put in the back of the classroom-- surrounded by all of the good kids, as a buffer. He's always trying to make people laugh with him so that they don't laugh at him. He's even posted videos on MyTube, including one of him "T. Rex-ing" at the JoAnn Fabric store. (A location chosen because he didn't care if he got banned from the store. Which he did.) Lately, he's been palling around with Zane, a football player who is pretty popular. They've had some fun, but recently Zane hasn't seemed amused by Jack's antics. When he realizes that Zane is not going to participate in an epic talent show prank, he needs to find someone else to help him. Enter the Speed Friendshipping Club, run after school by the well meaning guidance counselor, Mr. Busby. Jack knows it is lame, but there ARE powdered sugar jelly doughnuts. He's a little surprised at some of the people who are there, including Mario, who is a whiz at hacky sack, Tasha, who has a shaved head and always wears funky crocheted hats, and Brielle, who is pretty and popular, and has a make up tutorial on MyTube that gets a lot of likes. Jack connects with each of them for different reasons, although making videos for MyTube always features largely. Mario's mother is very strict about his internet usage, so when he and Jack post a food fight style video that gets a lot of likes, not only does Jack have to take the video down, but his parents ground him from his smart phone until he can get his grade up in math. Tasha is good at math, and the two get along well as she helps him study for his next test, which he needs to ace in order to get a C for a final grade. Jack finds out that Tasha's older brother died of cancer, that her parents are divorcing, and that her mother is renovating their house because she wants to flip it. They get along, but Jack accidentally spills a red Slurpee all over a dress she wants to enter into a competition. Brielle isn't as confident as Jack orginally thinks, and he approaches her to help with videos when his phone is taken away, since she makes them as well. The two have a lot of fun at the mall, but when he tries to get back into Zane's good graces, he makes fun of her in a really mean way. Will Jack be able to enter the talent show with a decent act that doesn't involve squirting ketchup on anyone, and will he finally understand a bit more about what it means to be a good friend?

Like this author's My Life as a Potato, Confessions of a Class Clown has an strong cast of appealing, nuanced characters. In between chapters, which are from Jack's perspective, we get glimpses into the feelings of Mario, Tasha, and Brielle. This slowed down the story a little, but the characters were so interesting that I sort of wanted a whole book about each of them. The most fascinating part of the characters was that each had a public persona, but a private one that often didn't match at all. I think that is very common in middle school students, but is not something I have seen portrayed often in books.

The middle school experience centers on two things: self-identity and friendships. Like Peirce's Big Nate, Jack is a lot more important in his own head. He's a slacker, doesn't do well in school, and isn't all that nice to people. He's not mean; he's just trying to figure out who he is, just like most middle school students. He's kindhearted, and means well, and when he stops his marshmallow throwing and video posting obsession long enough to listen to his classmates, he makes some friends and end up enjoying himself in the process.

It's easy to write tragedy. Humor is harder. Humor, when it also encompasses essential middle grade concerns and delivers important life lessons while throwing in lines about having to groom gerbils, is a very difficult feat. Costner accomplishes this with finesse, and clearly understands the way that tween minds work. From having the right socks to convincing a teacher he's serious about her class, Jack's painful middle school journey will get a lot of likes from readers who enjoy Richardson's Stu Truly, Greenwald's Charlie Joe Jackson, and Uhrig's Double the Danger and Zero Zucchini.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book.
Confessions of a Class Clown was my first middle school book review. As a grandma and avid reader, I am always trying to challenge my grandbabies to read and find books we can read and discuss together. Guys! This is a great book!!! Jack is the middle-school class clown. He is always doing whatever it takes to get the laugh. He is working so very had to get his MyTube up and running and is trying to plan the greatest talent show prank. You can follow him as he 'best friend" dumps him and he tries speed-friendshipping to find a new friend (and possibly the best doughnuts!). This book is a great book with good themes for the kids in my life including failing and budding friendships, social media and navigating being the "class clown!" I can hardly wait for this to hit the shelves so I can share with the grands!

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Friends should make you feel better about yourself, not worse. “ Jack Reynolds has made making a fool of himself his life’s work.
But when being the class clown finally backfires on him, how will he ever convince his friends that he really is a nice guy? Does humor always have to be a someone else’s expense?
I enjoyed watching Jack grow up and figure things out. This is a fun middle grade read.

[Bookclubmamas · Rating 5 out of 5]

My family and I enjoyed this book and others from this author. Always fun and family friendly with a good message

[Sam Subity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Arianne Costner's writing since her debut middle grade "My Life as a Potato" a couple of years ago, and this hilarious follow-up did not disappoint. Main character Jack Reynolds is a class clown and budding MyTube star until one of his jokes goes horribly awry and he has to figure out how to fix it. You can tell the author was a teacher because she really gets the way kids of this age think and act. I particularly enjoyed the periodic breaks in the story where we get to see what's going on from other characters' perspective, as it's insightful and often very funny how two kids see the same event two completely different ways.

[Maria Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opening lines from the book …
T-rexing is an art understood by many yet mastered by few. It starts with the squat. Most people skip this important step. To convincingly play a T. rex, you gotta crouch a little, with your legs spread apart, and lean forward on your toes.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK…

1) Jack is a total goof-off, the kind of kid that would have annoyed me as a kid. But I found his character to be quite likable. And very believable. I think the likability might have something to do with the story being written in first-person. We get to see his thought process behind all the attention-seeking.

2) This book is centered around the fun of a talent show! Jack, of course, is trying to get together an act that will get him the attention he craves as a class clown. He just needs to find a partner. And that “talent search” is part of the fun of the book.

3) I love the connections he makes at the friendship club. First, there’s Mario, but when things go wrong, that potential friendship begins to peter out. And then there’s Tasha of the knitted hats and Miss Perfect Brielle. It was particularly interesting how the author gives us glimpses into the thoughts of each of these characters in these special interlude chapters.

4) It was fun to read about Jack’s pranks and shenanigans, like the clothespin game he talks Brielle into playing (although, in real life, I would have hated such a game. It was fun to read about, though!)

5) This wouldn’t be a middle school book without some betrayal drama. First, there’s the problem involving Jack’s former friend. Which is connected to the betrayal Jack takes part in against Brielle. I love how it all comes down to Jack and how he has to work to fix things.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I really enjoyed this book. I was in no way like the class clown. I was much more of a Tasha/Brielle. But I love this peek into why some kids will do anything for attention.

[Arianne Costner]

This book is dear to my heart because of the messages inside: social media cannot capture reality, human connection is vital for the soul, and people are infinitely more layered than the impressions they give off. It is my hope and prayer that CONFESSIONS OF A CLASS CLOWN can lead to discussions in classrooms and in homes! Thanks for reading! :)

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some things don't seem to pair well naturally. Take peanut butter and pickles. No way, right? But these two ingredients have been a sandwich staple since the Great Depression, showing they stand the test of time!

Chocolate chips inside a grilled cheese sandwich? Well, now, that may not even be legal in some states!

How about hot dogs and applesauce? Don't be too quick to judge! This was introduced on TV in the early 1970s by one of America's favorite families (the Brady Bunch) and is a potential spin-off of pork chops with applesauce.

But I digress. The point I'm making is that middle-grade author Arianne Costner has pulled off a seemingly impossible pairing herself: a humorous, engaging, heartfelt novel that also tackles the issue of social media-driven students as well as the ups and downs of middle school friendships.

In Confessions of a Class Clown, Jack is a middle-schooler with a mission in life: to make people laugh and get views on his MyTube channel. His jokes are a hit at school - but his social life is lonely. He doesn't exactly have friends.

This leads him to join an after-school club focused on speed friendshipping and introduces various other characters who then take the story through multiple perspectives. It is the perfect setting to introduce middle-grade readers to some fantastic communication tips and lessons in creating more meaningful interactions with others through interpersonal skills. As school counselor Mr. Busby points out, "There's nothing more interesting than people!" and while the students are leery of this club at first, they come to understand that getting to know their classmates is entertaining - and, just maybe, rivals the wow factor of getting likes and smooths out the mean comments of trolls.

This would be a great community-building read-aloud for the beginning of the year. Costner's writing makes this all flow naturally. Seamlessly. And even seemingly effortlessly. But there is nothing simple about creating a book that will appeal to a WIDE range of readers (even the reluctant ones) while illustrating valuable lessons that will impact and stick with students as they see things through the characters' eyes. Walking this tightrope could land you in pure fluff on one side or preachiness on the other, but Costner finds the perfect balance. The result is a light, entertaining read with satisfying depth. Kind of like blending melted chocolate with avocado for a sweet treat chock full of nutritional goodness. Confessions of a Class Clown

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just as there's always a story behind someone who behaves like a bully, there's more to a class clown than meets the eye. In this timely middle grade novel that I'd rate a 3.5, seventh-grader Jack Reynolds has achieved a modest amount of fame through his school pranks and posting videos on MyTube. But when Zane, his partner in crime, seems to be distancing himself from Jack, Jack goes in search for someone else with whom to enter the school talent contest. He doesn't plan to do anything legitimate but to hijack the event with his performance. In desperation, Jack decides to attend Speed Friendshipping, an afterschool activity intended to help students make connections. There, he forms some unlikely relationships and starts to mature. The narrative is interspersed with stories from Tasha, Mario, and Brielle, three students Jack has never really taken the time to get to know. As it turns out, they all have challenges in their lives, but they're willing to give Jack a chance. Interestingly, it is Brielle, who is running for student government president, who turns out to be just as gifted at pranking as Jack. Jack learns a hard lesson about friendship, humor, and forgiveness when he and Zane--friends again, briefly--post a video that is a parody of some of Brielle's makeup posts. It's funny all right and gets plenty of attention. But it's also cruel. Although the ending won't surprise readers, this very real depiction of the meanness and bullying that exist online and how desperately so many individuals seek attention that way will touch readers' hearts. Surely, readers will realize that there's so much more to them than their online presence and they need not define themselves by the anonymous unflattering remarks intended to tear them down. And maybe, like Jack, they'll realize that it's fun to laugh but not at someone else's expense. This is a fast and humorous read, for sure, but it also is filled with compassion and heart. Some readers might even find themselves in one of its characters.

[Kourtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I hear the phrase "middle grade" I think of a cute junior high story with a slight bump in the road. I also read it with a "will I let my kids read this when they are older" mentality. With all that in mind, I didn't expect Confessions of a Class Clown to have me rolling in all the feels. Friendships tested? Social media pressure? It's all here, and it's all real.

Starting out, we meet Jack. Not only is he the quintessential class clown, but he also has a popular YouTube-esque channel of pranks, called MyTube. He gets an idea that he will do a prank during the school talent show. The only problem is that his friend who he did pranks with is no longer speaking to him. Unsure, he pops into a "Speed Friendshipping" - which is like speed dating but for making friends. The POV changes after each speed friendshipping and we find out more about those that attended, such as Brielle (little-miss-perfect type who is running for class president, and has a MyTube channel for makeup), Mario (mom won't let him have social media and is growing out of his friendships), and Tasha (crafts her own hats and wears them daily - why is her head shaved?).

As I read, I could feel all the emotions everyone was going through as though I was back in my teenage years again. The feeling when you are confronted with that person who doesn't want to be your friend anymore. Trying to fit in. Trying to find someone who understands you rather than just be next to you during lunchtime. It was like my freshman year of high school all over again with an added pressure of social media. It's interesting to see that the emotions are still the same, but with a twist. I wish I could shield my kids from this, but I know I can't. At least there are books like this that I can give to my kids to let them know that they are not alone out there, no matter what they are feeling in the moment.

Will I let my kids read this book? Absolutely! Did I want a series to come out about these kids? Yes. Will I let my kids do social media? I have no idea. I'm just going to enjoy how young they are right now and be happy that I don't have to deal with these big kid emotions just yet.

I received a free digital copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack, class clown of Franklin Middle School, can’t seem to keep friends for very long and his MyTube presence isn’t getting the attention he thought it would. On top of all that, he’s failing math and his parents have taken away his phone! Maybe an afterschool Speed Friendshipping group will provide new friends or at least some partners for more attention-getting funny videos. That’s the backdrop for Costner’s humorous middle grade novel but neither my summary nor the publisher’s do the cast of characters justice. Jack, Brielle, Tasha, Mario and Zane are full fleshed out middle grade kids, all likable, relatable and with some reason for trying out the counselor’s afterschool friend-making group. Beautiful Brielle seems to have everything going for her but is searching for not only friends, but something less frivolous than make up tutorials and selfies on her well-followed MyTube account. Mario, too, needs a friend but is also hoping his parents allow him to join the rest of his grade with his own smart phone. Tasha just wishes her mom would settle somewhere long enough for her to develop a few friendships that will last long enough for her to talk about her recent loss. And Zane provides a whole lot of “what not to do” but in a less endearing way than Jack. The humor reminds me of Double the Danger and Zero Zucchini and other Betsy Uhrig works and the heartfelt friendship and social media lessons fit in nicely with works by Gordon Korman. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Main characters are from diverse family configurations and represent a variety of body types and skin tones. Recommended for grades 4-7.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, such a great book!

The story follows Jack, the middle school class clown, who loves to post his pranks and funny videos on social media. He is always trying to think of the next big idea to get tons of “likes” and to go viral. Making people laugh is easy for Jack but keeping friends is not as easy.
With the talent show coming up, Jack is left looking for a new partner. Reluctantly, he stops in at the after school club “Speed Friendshipping” to possibly find a new partner. After a series of events, Jack eventually gets in trouble and gets his phone taken away. Throughout the story he learns many great lessons. He begins to realize that friendship is more important than internet fame and how many “likes” you get on social media.

My kids and I absolutely LOVED this book!!! It hooked us from the very beginning. I definitely felt tons of emotions while reading this one. We laughed so hard, felt sad at some parts, and smiled the whole book.
As a homeschool mom and educator, I highly recommend this book. It is a very humorous and heartwarming story. A great read for all upper elementary and middle school aged children. It touched on many current topics that you could talk with your kids or students about. You will want this book for your home, library or classroom!

Thank you so much to Net Galley for allowing us to preview it. Definitely will be buying this for our home library when it is published!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Books through NetGalley.
Jack has been the class clown for years. He has found his niche on MyTube where he shares videos of his pranks and stunts. Readers see his latest friendship end as the book begins. He decides to join the speed friendship club to find someone to help him with his major stunt for the talent show. From this point, Costner weaves the various characters' lives in while still maintaining her first person narrator, Jack. To do this, she interjects Short Takes that offer information from various characters about their lives. Readers can compare and contrast this with how Jack sees them and their relationship. Again, readers learn how much deeper we all need to look at our friends and classmates to see beneath the labels.
Costner's writing style works for middle grade readers. They will identify with the various family issues and the friend concerns. They'll also recognize the labels they have either place on others or been identified with. The tenderness and compassion comes through along with the humor as Jack figures out how to be a better friend and help his friends find their way too.

[Hope Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack seems like the guy that everyone likes. He comes across as not having a care in the world, of not caring when all eyes are on him, and of being Mr. Confidence himself. Jack is enamored with prank videos, and is trying to increase his MyTube fame and go viral. His best friend suddenly ghosts him, and Jack is left without a sidekick. In an effort to find someone else to help him with his videos, he joins the after school Speed Friendshipping group, where he has to face other's perceptions of him and test his perceptions of others.

I didn't care for this book for the first couple of chapters. I thought Jack was very obnoxious and it was going to be rather silly, irreverent book. I'm glad I stuck it out and read a few more chapters. As the narrators changed in the chapters, the story began to be developed, and along with it, the students' characters. Through the stories, each student discovered the need for real friends, and what they needed to change in themselves to have real friends. This ended up being a very good book - I will be purchasing it for my elementary school library, and promoting it!

[Elizabeth Finn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super cute easy read for kids! Will definitely be adding it to my classroom. Jack is a hilarious and relatable character who is learning to mature and find a new group of friends. Hilarious “MySpace and YouTube” references throughout the book!

“Meet Jack Reynolds. Making people laugh is his life's work. Jack's wacky MyTube channel is really starting to take off. The only problem is, for the truly epic posts, he needs a collaborator. And, well, he doesn't exactly have any friends. So Jack has to swallow his pride and join the new afterschool club, Speed Friendshipping. But who would make the best partner in comedy?




Brielle, Miss Perfect candidate for student body president?
Mario, whose mom won't even let him have a smart phone?
Or Tasha, the quiet, mysterious girl with a shaved head and a crocheted hat for every day of the week?

One of these kids could help catapult Jack to internet fame . . . or even become a true friend. But what will it cost him to go viral?

This middle school novel explores themes of friendship, belonging, and the ways social media can put pressure on today's kids.”

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Costner writes the kinds of children's books that kids actually want to read. They're upbeat, funny, engaging, and fast-paced while also teaching valuable life lessons. CONFESSIONS OF A CLASS CLOWN is what it sounds like—a light-hearted, humorous novel about the ups and downs of middle school. It also has some depth to it, especially as the "short takes" sections delve deeper into the characters' lives to reveal what is going on beneath their surfaces. The story definitely sends a message about the dangers of overusing social media and it's not a subtle one. It is an important one, though, as the kids in the book discover the joys of real, in-person interaction; the freedom of not caring about online likes and follows; and the dangers of mocking and being unkind to other people. While the book may not have has much substance as other middle-grade novels, I feel like this is one kids can read, enjoy, and get something out of while being entertained at the same time. It certainly made me smile.

[Lindsay Wilcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute! It’s the fourth book of my self-assigned summer reading, so I was definitely picturing a specific student as Jack while I read. I didn’t have to picture him in my mind, though, since this book has illustrations! More books should have pictures like these.

I’m not quite sure that middle school boys are as thoughtful and introspective as Jack is, but I loved seeing his antics succeed and fail, and I appreciate the lessons he learned along the way. The ending was very sweet. I’d recommend this especially for kids who don’t like reading. The story is just complicated enough to keep it interesting without requiring comprehension skills higher than an actual middle-schooler.

Notes: There’s a reference to “adult content” buried in the middle of the book. It’s subtle enough that any readers who are still uninformed might miss it, and it’s not critical to the plot, but I was very surprised! It was handled very well; I was impressed after I stopped being shocked. My recommendation stands.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

7th grader Jack is all about having a good time. He plays pranks, tells jokes, and makes skits for his MyTube channel, to the detriment of his teachers and classmates. But if he’s honest, he doesn’t really have any friends, just kids laughing at his antics and occasionally using him for collab material. He attends “speed friendshipping” club as a joke, but ends up liking some of the attendees. They make some videos together, but eventually Jack has to decide whether viral videos can coexist with real friendships, and if not, which is more important.

Overall a good job of presenting the downsides of social media, though it occasionally gets heavy handed. A good exploration of different issues a kid might go through and the different things kids are hiding behind their school and social media facades.

There is a very brief mention of something inappropriate in a “mature” video game, but the description is almost nonexistent. Most kids will likely skip over it, but some may have questions about it. 5th+

[Leigh Buckner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Reynolds loves to make people laugh and it can be at anyone's expense. His "hilarious" antics get him into trouble at school. When his parents put him on phone restriction, he quickly realizes how much he loves the "views" and "likes" from his social media videos.

The school talent show is approaching and he wants the best act in the school. When his friend ditches him, Jack has to find a new friend real fast. Jack find himself at an afterschool friendship club trying to make new friends. As the book progresses, Jack finds through his new friends that maybe he isn't the best friend to others after all.

This story is a wonderful read for upper elementary and middle school students. As a teacher, I highly recommend this book. I thought of numerous converstations that this book would allow as you are reading aloud to your class. Guidance counselors would also find this book helpful in dealing with peer relationships.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audio.
Jack is a middle school class clown. He is just self aware enough to realize that friends don't last long for him. The latest one is Zane, who ditches him whe running for class president. Jack loves the spotlight and decides to enter the talent show even though Zane will not enter an act with him any longer. The only catch is that Jack has no one else to partner up with. He decides to join the new friendship club. He ends up getting to know other kids, and learning how to be a better friend. The kids are obsessed with growing their MyTube accounts, the parents are cautious. Sprinkled in are loads of tips on how to friend: ask others about themselves, talk it out when you make mistakes, etc.
This book has the slapstick appeal of an awkward class clown who love the limelight along with the character development of various middle school students who project a persona to the world that is different than what they are feeling inside.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack is your typical class clown who only cares about growing his Mytube subscibers list. Or at least thats how other's view him. Jack is a middle child who is trying to find his own path through middle school using creativity and comedy. His life changes when he attends a speedfriendshipping event because the school counselor offers doughnuts at the end and his best friend just dumped him. There we meet Mario, the kid with no phone, Brielle, the perfections, Tasha, the fashionista, and Mei-Ling, the Asian girl. Just like Jack, the class clown no one really lives up to their stereotypes and when Jack figures this out it is the start of something truly amazing. There are cute pencil sketches sprinkled throughout the novel to help bring things to life. The talent show at the end is a not to be missed event.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack is your typical class clown who only cares about growing his Mytube subscibers list. Or at least thats how other's view him. Jack is a middle child who is trying to find his own path through middle school using creativity and comedy. His life changes when he attends a speedfriendshipping event because the school counselor offers doughnuts at the end and his best friend just dumped him. There we meet Mario, the kid with no phone, Brielle, the perfections, Tasha, the fashionista, and Mei-Ling, the Asian girl. Just like Jack, the class clown no one really lives up to their stereotypes and when Jack figures this out it is the start of something truly amazing. There are cute pencil sketches sprinkled throughout the novel to help bring things to life. The talent show at the end is a not to be missed event.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack is trying to go viral on MyTube with different funny videos and plans to do an epic performance for the talent show, but he needs a partner. So, he goes to Speed Friendshipping to find someone and get a doughnut. He hangs out with a few people, but something always ruins it. Maybe it's his actions that lose him friends. He isn't trying to be mean; he's trying to be funny. For fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, James Patterson's funny middle grade books, and Wink. I'm glad it wasn't just humor but also about making and keeping friends, and it also includes the popular idea of becoming famous from the internet. It's probably why I liked it more. All the secondary characters were easy to remember and differentiate too. A few illustrations throughout gives readers a look at Jack and his classmates.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arianne Costner writes with clear understanding of the challenges faced by middle school students. She is insightful without being overly dramatic or judgmental, which adds to the appeal of this book to a variety of readers ages 9 and up. Through the voice of her main character Jack and “short takes” with the voices and perspectives of multiple supporting characters’, Costner’s story works through issues of self-esteem, the struggle for acceptance, regret, and forgiveness. She expertly illustrates the experience of neglecting doing what is right to be accepted and popular. She successfully interweaves her characters’ stories in a way that emphasizes the value of each human being and importance of true friends. The smattering of illustrations and pace of the writing make this an approachable book for reluctant readers.

[Angelina Jordon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up in hopes that as I read it aloud with my little sister we would have a really good time laughing and enjoying ourselves. But unfortunately, this book didn’t achieve that. It was a pretty good plot line, focusing on friendships, but the main character is a jerk most of the story which causes it not to be a very enjoyable read til maybe around the end of the book.
It mostly had shallow humor like burps and weird dance moves so there was no unexpected or clever humor(which is my personal favorite and what I was hoping for.)
The kid also lies and sneaks around his parents and teachers backs so if you are looking for a good book for your kid to read, maybe this one isn’t the best recommendation.
I feel kinda bad for being harsh and negative but all in all this book was long and boring. The storyline was okay though. Not fun, but okay.

[Lisa McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confessions of a Class Clown by Arianne Costner is a fun romp of a book. Jack is a middle-school class clown, always trying to make other students laugh. He states that making a fool of himself is his life's work. He is always trying to hit it big with a comedic viral video on MyTube, but needs help from a friend to make that happen. He wants to enter the school talent show with an epic comedic act. But despite being able to make friends easily, he has trouble keeping friends. So he decides to try the new after-school speed-friendshipping program to find a partner for the talent show. This book is full of humor and heart, two of my favorite things in books!

[Jeremiah Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this ARC.

This story hooked me from the beginning. As a teacher, I have had my fair share of class clowns (and I secretly love them). Jack wants to become internet famous, and it seems he will do what he needs to make that happen, even by going to the friendshipping event! Throughout the book, Jack comes to learn the real meaning of friendship, and the downside of social media. This book will resonate with 5th graders and up, and it will keep them laughing and smiling. It will be sure to warm the hearts of teachers too. You will want this book for your classroom, library, and home.