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Clarissa
A fire is coming. It starts with a girl and a key.
Clarissa's family is grieving. She shares her deepest sadness with an oak tree. When the tree gifts her a mysterious key that unleashes a long-forgotten fire spirit, she finds her strength and heals her family.
"A poetic, beautifully written exploration of finding inner strength." - Kirkus Reviews
Clarissa's family is grieving. She shares her deepest sadness with an oak tree. When the tree gifts her a mysterious key that unleashes a long-forgotten fire spirit, she finds her strength and heals her family.
"A poetic, beautifully written exploration of finding inner strength." - Kirkus Reviews
148 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2020
10 people want to read
About the author
Giulietta Maria Spudich
15 books112 followersHi, I'm Giulietta M. Spudich. My mother is Italian, thus the name! I'm a published author, currently focused on writing for kids all the way up through Young Adults. I have a few books for older readers too. I finished the 'Writing for Children and Young Adults' course from the Golden Egg Academy, London in 2022. I'm a member of the Society of Authors and the SCBWI. Give me a fantasy novel and a cup of coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 9, 2021
This is such a good and fun fantasy book, perfectly incapsulating beautiful magic, involving nature and the elements - which is just so light and whimsical to read. But it's also such a good story about family and grief, and the strength on listening to others and standing together, and just building stronger relationship
This is definitely a beautiful book for any children, definitely good for elementary and middle school ages :)
(I received the book through Booktasters in exchange of an honest review :) )
This is definitely a beautiful book for any children, definitely good for elementary and middle school ages :)
(I received the book through Booktasters in exchange of an honest review :) )
November 22, 2023
When a Child Knows Better
Clarissa is a middle-grade fiction featuring an 11-year-old girl named after the book title. The book begins with Clarissa Gentle in a bad mood. Something happened in her school that upsets her. Plus, her father doesn’t seem to care for her anymore.
Almost three years prior, Clarissa’s mother died giving birth to her brother, Edmund. Since then, the Gentle family was never the same again. No more family play time together. Clarissa’s father focuses his attention on his work and seldom talks with the children anymore. The girl feels lonely. She cannot hold a conversation with her brother, either, as Edmund doesn’t talk yet. To cope with loneliness and relieve her frustration, Clarissa hangs out with the Oak tree. Her tree friend listens and converses with her.
Clarissa Begins Her Adventure
In one of their conversations, the Oak tells Clarissa to dig in the ground beneath it. She obliges and finds an odd-looking key. Although unsure of its purpose, Clarissa keeps the key with her wherever she goes. She tries it on every keyhole she finds.
One day, her father allows Clarissa to go into the museum basement provided she does not touch anything. But, her curiosity prevails. She found a strange box in there and tried to open it with her key. Surprisingly, the box opens, and in it is a lit candle. Clarissa takes the box home without her father’s knowledge.
Since then, more mysteries unfurl. Follow Clarissa in her adventure, and learn with her the value of the strange box. What would her father’s reaction be when he discovers the box is taken out of the museum?
The Book and the Author
Clarissa is a feel-good book. The story is light and simple and yet it teaches some important lessons about family, relationships, and the environment. The author, Giulietta M. Spudich is no doubt, a good storyteller for young people. Her writing style captures the mindset of older children and pre-teens. She skillfully injects poetry and the value of nature preservation in a subtle manner. And, this is what I like the most in her work.
Moreover, the book is neither too long nor too short. Clarissa’s length is just within the attention span of children and pre-teens. Spudich also sees to it that no loose end is left hanging. And, technically, the book is proofread well. I didn’t see any typographical or grammatical errors in it. For this reason, I give Clarissa a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and I recommend it to readers 8 - 12 years of age.
Clarissa is a middle-grade fiction featuring an 11-year-old girl named after the book title. The book begins with Clarissa Gentle in a bad mood. Something happened in her school that upsets her. Plus, her father doesn’t seem to care for her anymore.
Almost three years prior, Clarissa’s mother died giving birth to her brother, Edmund. Since then, the Gentle family was never the same again. No more family play time together. Clarissa’s father focuses his attention on his work and seldom talks with the children anymore. The girl feels lonely. She cannot hold a conversation with her brother, either, as Edmund doesn’t talk yet. To cope with loneliness and relieve her frustration, Clarissa hangs out with the Oak tree. Her tree friend listens and converses with her.
Clarissa Begins Her Adventure
In one of their conversations, the Oak tells Clarissa to dig in the ground beneath it. She obliges and finds an odd-looking key. Although unsure of its purpose, Clarissa keeps the key with her wherever she goes. She tries it on every keyhole she finds.
One day, her father allows Clarissa to go into the museum basement provided she does not touch anything. But, her curiosity prevails. She found a strange box in there and tried to open it with her key. Surprisingly, the box opens, and in it is a lit candle. Clarissa takes the box home without her father’s knowledge.
Since then, more mysteries unfurl. Follow Clarissa in her adventure, and learn with her the value of the strange box. What would her father’s reaction be when he discovers the box is taken out of the museum?
The Book and the Author
Clarissa is a feel-good book. The story is light and simple and yet it teaches some important lessons about family, relationships, and the environment. The author, Giulietta M. Spudich is no doubt, a good storyteller for young people. Her writing style captures the mindset of older children and pre-teens. She skillfully injects poetry and the value of nature preservation in a subtle manner. And, this is what I like the most in her work.
Moreover, the book is neither too long nor too short. Clarissa’s length is just within the attention span of children and pre-teens. Spudich also sees to it that no loose end is left hanging. And, technically, the book is proofread well. I didn’t see any typographical or grammatical errors in it. For this reason, I give Clarissa a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and I recommend it to readers 8 - 12 years of age.
November 12, 2021
Believing in magic and witnessing it are two different things.
Giulietta M. Spudich book Clarissa is a captivating YA Fiction book that narrates the story about the girl Clarissa her daily battles, her aspirations, and her perspective towards the world.
The story starts with Clarissa and her pet cat Shadow who like to be in each other company with Clarissa's brother Edmund. Clarissa feels lonely after her mother died and she finds solace talking to Oaktree and sharing her desires. When Clarissa and her brother often visit the museum along with father as he works there. When a potion from the museum goes missing, then Clarissa acts bravely and saves the day.
The story deciphers the belief in the magic and the truthfulness of humans.
Clarissa is young and mindful to use her attributes and her power.
The book is divided into 21 chapters that are right in length for a reader to keep the curiosity level high.
The author has stupendously added elements of nature, humanity, and love and weaved a story that makes you believe in magic and also gives hope for another day.
The cute part of the story is Clarissa writing letters to her mother and brother Edmund's reactions to the event.
Final Word: Clarissa is a fast-paced book for the YA section that drives you through the magical land and makes you believe in the magic. Humanity is the highest virtue and is well celebrated in the book by the author Giulietta M. Spudich. Author has brilliantly captured nature elements and family bonding in the storyline. This book of 140 pages in 21 chapters is a light read and can be read by age 8 and above.
Giulietta M. Spudich book Clarissa is a captivating YA Fiction book that narrates the story about the girl Clarissa her daily battles, her aspirations, and her perspective towards the world.
The story starts with Clarissa and her pet cat Shadow who like to be in each other company with Clarissa's brother Edmund. Clarissa feels lonely after her mother died and she finds solace talking to Oaktree and sharing her desires. When Clarissa and her brother often visit the museum along with father as he works there. When a potion from the museum goes missing, then Clarissa acts bravely and saves the day.
The story deciphers the belief in the magic and the truthfulness of humans.
Clarissa is young and mindful to use her attributes and her power.
The book is divided into 21 chapters that are right in length for a reader to keep the curiosity level high.
The author has stupendously added elements of nature, humanity, and love and weaved a story that makes you believe in magic and also gives hope for another day.
The cute part of the story is Clarissa writing letters to her mother and brother Edmund's reactions to the event.
Final Word: Clarissa is a fast-paced book for the YA section that drives you through the magical land and makes you believe in the magic. Humanity is the highest virtue and is well celebrated in the book by the author Giulietta M. Spudich. Author has brilliantly captured nature elements and family bonding in the storyline. This book of 140 pages in 21 chapters is a light read and can be read by age 8 and above.
March 11, 2021
Clarissa, the novel renders a tale so enigmatically beautiful, curt, and profound.
Once you read Clarissa, you do not want it to stop. And much more, when the story is about to conclude, you don’t want it to end! And when you finish reading, you want to read it repeatedly.
The novel made me ponder many times what makes it enticing. To that, I commend Giulietta M. Spudich, the author, for beckoning me to give time to chew on the spark this book has to me.
The characters are lovable: Clarissa, her brother, her father, her friend, and her family. The antagonists are in place. I am a fan of talking trees; I love the oak and the willow. The fire spirit is an extraordinary and profound character to me. Its presence and details affix with me until now.
The novel touches many overwhelming issues. It pursued poignantly struggles with individual grieving, turmoil, and coming of age; father, daughter, and family expectation and misunderstandings and the realities of greed and the destruction of the environment.
Later on, as I keep on musing about the novel, I discover the deal with what makes me do not want the story to end. It is all because I am not yet ready to say goodbye to the characters. I still want to linger.
Hats off to Giulietta! I love it and I hope to read more tales from you.
Once you read Clarissa, you do not want it to stop. And much more, when the story is about to conclude, you don’t want it to end! And when you finish reading, you want to read it repeatedly.
The novel made me ponder many times what makes it enticing. To that, I commend Giulietta M. Spudich, the author, for beckoning me to give time to chew on the spark this book has to me.
The characters are lovable: Clarissa, her brother, her father, her friend, and her family. The antagonists are in place. I am a fan of talking trees; I love the oak and the willow. The fire spirit is an extraordinary and profound character to me. Its presence and details affix with me until now.
The novel touches many overwhelming issues. It pursued poignantly struggles with individual grieving, turmoil, and coming of age; father, daughter, and family expectation and misunderstandings and the realities of greed and the destruction of the environment.
Later on, as I keep on musing about the novel, I discover the deal with what makes me do not want the story to end. It is all because I am not yet ready to say goodbye to the characters. I still want to linger.
Hats off to Giulietta! I love it and I hope to read more tales from you.
April 22, 2021
Clarissa is a wonderfully written book.
The shrewdness and quick thinking exhibited by Clarissa is remarkable.Her maturity and level of understanding at such a young age is surely something to be appreciated.
The plot is excellent,though it comes under the genre of 'children's books',it is more deserving to be placed under young adults.
Readers of all ages can read this book without giving a second thought.The father's reappeared belief of 'existence of magic and fantasy' is joyful.He is a perfect representation of the fact that busy adults still have the inner child within them.It is always present,it can never be extinguished.This book proves that the child within them can be unleashed under perfect and fitting circumstances.
The wisdom offered by the wise Oak tree and the fire spirit is meant for all of us.
The lesson we learn from Dr.Vidal is that 'one must never trust a person by their appearances and behaviour,their true character will be revealed only under tough and hard circumstances.'
'Clarissa' is an excellent book with the perfect mix of emotions,plot twists and advices.The elements of the plot are added in precise measurements.
I recommend this book to readers of all ages and genre lovers.You're surely in for a surprise on how much a book with less than 150 pages can offer.
The shrewdness and quick thinking exhibited by Clarissa is remarkable.Her maturity and level of understanding at such a young age is surely something to be appreciated.
The plot is excellent,though it comes under the genre of 'children's books',it is more deserving to be placed under young adults.
Readers of all ages can read this book without giving a second thought.The father's reappeared belief of 'existence of magic and fantasy' is joyful.He is a perfect representation of the fact that busy adults still have the inner child within them.It is always present,it can never be extinguished.This book proves that the child within them can be unleashed under perfect and fitting circumstances.
The wisdom offered by the wise Oak tree and the fire spirit is meant for all of us.
The lesson we learn from Dr.Vidal is that 'one must never trust a person by their appearances and behaviour,their true character will be revealed only under tough and hard circumstances.'
'Clarissa' is an excellent book with the perfect mix of emotions,plot twists and advices.The elements of the plot are added in precise measurements.
I recommend this book to readers of all ages and genre lovers.You're surely in for a surprise on how much a book with less than 150 pages can offer.
June 23, 2021
I loved the story. It was so imaginative for middle graders and the ageless. A tale of a an eleven year old girl that befriends an oak tree to tell her secrets to after her mother's death and how her father has not been the same since and she very much wants her 'ole dad back. The oak tree speaks to her and becomes a friend. There's a mysterious key she finds in the museum where her father works and through that key, discovers a fire spirit who helps her find out about an evil plot. Clarissa needs to protect her loved ones and those in danger.
It's heartwarming too and contains some special family times. An enjoyable read and well written.
It's heartwarming too and contains some special family times. An enjoyable read and well written.
September 11, 2021
In my opinion, «Clarissa» is such a beautiful and nice story for middle graders. It teaches them how to love one another and live in harmony. It educates them on the meaning of life and the struggle to make the world a better place for all.
And we learn an important lesson from this book: “Don't judge the book by its cover.... and don’t trust people on the strength of their outward behaviour!
I definitely recommend that everyone go and pick up a copy of Clarissa for his kids or his students..
Thank you so much Giulietta M Spudich for this amazing book.
Sara slim
_
From the book:
We have many old and priceless items. If someone can break it once, they can break it again.
And we learn an important lesson from this book: “Don't judge the book by its cover.... and don’t trust people on the strength of their outward behaviour!
I definitely recommend that everyone go and pick up a copy of Clarissa for his kids or his students..
Thank you so much Giulietta M Spudich for this amazing book.
Sara slim
_
From the book:
We have many old and priceless items. If someone can break it once, they can break it again.
December 17, 2020
Beautiful story about girl, trees, nature and friendship
I have received free copy from the author for and honest review and I have to say I am glad I did. It's a beautiful chapter book about girl's friendship, magic and oak tree. I love all stories which bring children closer to nature and this one definately does. I would recommend it.
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February 21, 2021Thank you to Booktasters and the author for sending me this copy!
From the very first chapter, I found this story super sweet and lovely. It's nicely paced got the age range, I fell in love with Clarissa and her personality. I loved the relationship between Clarissa and Oak. It's all very sweet and well-written. A curious kid, talking trees, and a cat, perfect recipe for me.
Clarissa is super interesting, I loved her curiosity and sense of adventure paired with the way that the author wrote Clarissa's surroundings, it's a delight to read. I loved that everything was related to something, in a way that there are no missed plots or information they were very easy to follow and enjoyable to read.
Fire was such a dynamic addition that I enjoyed to bits, I loved he explained that he isn't bad nor good, I liked the conversations that went on between him and Clarissa. The plot twist was very well-written too and took me by surprise.
I absolutely loved the storyline of the father, I loved how he changed after Clarissa's mother and how Clarissa noticed it. I loved the way he handled the fire spirit situation so maturely. And how you can tell that Clarissa got her curiosity from him and how his job almost encouraged that side of her.
Overall, this was a pleasant easy read for the age range, with a great pace to keep the attention of the reader.
From the very first chapter, I found this story super sweet and lovely. It's nicely paced got the age range, I fell in love with Clarissa and her personality. I loved the relationship between Clarissa and Oak. It's all very sweet and well-written. A curious kid, talking trees, and a cat, perfect recipe for me.
Clarissa is super interesting, I loved her curiosity and sense of adventure paired with the way that the author wrote Clarissa's surroundings, it's a delight to read. I loved that everything was related to something, in a way that there are no missed plots or information they were very easy to follow and enjoyable to read.
Fire was such a dynamic addition that I enjoyed to bits, I loved he explained that he isn't bad nor good, I liked the conversations that went on between him and Clarissa. The plot twist was very well-written too and took me by surprise.
I absolutely loved the storyline of the father, I loved how he changed after Clarissa's mother and how Clarissa noticed it. I loved the way he handled the fire spirit situation so maturely. And how you can tell that Clarissa got her curiosity from him and how his job almost encouraged that side of her.
Overall, this was a pleasant easy read for the age range, with a great pace to keep the attention of the reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2021
I haven't read the book (at the time of writing it's only been published for like a month?), but the author's bio and the book's summary were enough to catch my interest (a rare thing), and it has to stand for something that I have two daughters and I know that both would enjoy and be interested in this book. Granted, this book is not aimed at my tastes, but this would make an excellent gift for a young woman in a melancholy time (Because everyone knows books are the best gift and should be given often, now that I think on it, you almost need these in like an emergency home kit...). I look forward to this and new creations to see where Giulietta's imagination are going to take us!
March 20, 2021
A really sweet story about a girl who misses not only her mother, who died recently, but also the father her dad used to be before. It's a very short book so three is not much time for world building or really getting to know the characters.
However, because if this it starts right in where the action is about to begin and things move quite quickly. I loved the idea of talking to a tree or the fire and and listening to their stories. Clarissa is really brave despite her fears and its clear how much she cares for the wellbeing of everyone around her, even the trees. The cover and chapter page art are so pretty.
However, because if this it starts right in where the action is about to begin and things move quite quickly. I loved the idea of talking to a tree or the fire and and listening to their stories. Clarissa is really brave despite her fears and its clear how much she cares for the wellbeing of everyone around her, even the trees. The cover and chapter page art are so pretty.
March 16, 2021
What. Even.
I didn't know what I was getting myself into because I forgot to read the synopsis. Honestly, I had no idea it was a children's book, and I had no idea a children's book could make me tear up, but here we are.
The letters were actually really adorable, and so was Clarissa's relationship with the tree. It had a pretty satisfying ending. I cannot find anything wrong with it, so, yeah. It was amazing.
I didn't know what I was getting myself into because I forgot to read the synopsis. Honestly, I had no idea it was a children's book, and I had no idea a children's book could make me tear up, but here we are.
The letters were actually really adorable, and so was Clarissa's relationship with the tree. It had a pretty satisfying ending. I cannot find anything wrong with it, so, yeah. It was amazing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 22, 2023This was... okay? Cute, I suppose, a bit simplistic, I think my problem was that it had been classed as middle grade and it's either the lowest middle grade or reasonable children's fiction.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews