Andrew Clements did it again.  He never disappoints. About Average is a short, but interesting book about bullying. He was bullied in school, so writing a book about bullying was very personal for him and resulted in very believable characterization for the reader.

In this book the main character, Jordan, is being bullied. Jordan is just ordinary. She was being bullied because she was average.  We learn about her, her popular bully Marlea, and Jordan’s goal to stand out of the crowd.  This is the story of how an average, 6^th grade, girl becomes everyone’s hero.

Andrew Clements likes to use many descriptive words to draw you into the story. He uses a lot of imagery in this book.  For example, “It was a sunny spring morning, but there was murder in the air”.  Another example is “Drip by drop by droop, heat melts my empty mind.   I am dissolving.” 

The book had a good moral to it; always be yourself.

Andrew Clements has written many books. He is my favorite author.  This book is a great one to start with, if you are new to this author.  If this topic does not interest you, maybe you can check out some of his other realistic, school-based, fiction or his science fiction series.