Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream

Don't think this book is only for girls. My 8 1/2 year old son just finished it and really enjoyed this book. He says it is funny and relatable.

Good read for my 3rd graders. This is going in our media center to be enjoyed by all students right away

Not to heavy, good beginning chapter book for those kids just transitioning to chapter books. Positive ending with a little reality thrown in.

Met expectations, fast delivery.

Very boring book. My daughter thought is was really boring.

Clara Lee has always dreamed of one day being Little Miss Apple Pie in her town's Apple Blossom Festival parade. But to get the position you have to give a speech, and that is a little intimidating. When Clara has a scary dream her Grandpa tells her is good luck, and then a string of good things happens, Clara decides to maybe try some things that worried her before like climbing the rope in gym...and giving a speech in front of the entire school about why her town is so great so she can be in the running for Little Miss Apple Pie. Clara really hopes she'll get Little Miss Apple Pie, but then a string of bad things happens, she's afraid her luck has run out, and she worries that though she was born in this town perhaps with her Korean blood maybe she's not American enough to win.I sometimes have issues with contemporary fiction for kids because often the problems seem so juvenile and so easily fixed, but then I have to step back into childhood memories and realize that these things are quite realistic for the age group. Clara Lee did make me roll my eyes at times, but she's a very believable little girl with believable everyday problems. I liked how she wrestled a little with her cultural identity as I work at a school full of kids who will identify with Clara's questions. Included in that group are lots of Koreans and Korean Americans who will love having a literary character they can identify with. So I appreciate this for providing a character kids can identify with. I wasn't sure I would have had the book end the way it did. Still a decent contemporary fiction pick for lower grades.

This was adorable!!!!I read this to my sons in a few days during our Korean study. We wanted to learn a little about how life might be like for someone who is a Korean American. This talks about Clara Lee, a second generation American girl who is close to her Korean grandfather who lives with her family. He braids her hair for her and teaches her a few things about her culture.In the process of life, Clara Lee has some close friends at school. She wants to have a chance to possibly become Little Miss Apple Pie at the festival in town coming up!!! This shows a struggle of what I even know some Korean Americans have had in the country...

I loved this sweet story about a third-grade Korean-American girl. Clara Lee goes by her first and last name because, "It just sounds better that way. Like peanut butter and jelly, like trick-or-treat, or fairy and princess, those words just go together. Just like me, Clara Lee." Clara Lee has a lot of personality, and this realistic fiction novel offers a fun look at her family, school and friends. The illustrations keep the story moving along perfectly, and bridge the gap for kids who are just transitioning in to reading longer chapter books. Do you remember looking up to high school students, who seemed like the most grown-up, sophisticated, worldly individuals? Clara Lee's fondest dream is to win the Little Miss Apple Pie contest, and ride in a parade float, standing proudly next to the high school student who wins the Miss Apple Pie title during their town's yearly Apple Festival.In order to win, she's got to deliver a speech in front of the whole school, which makes her very nervous. She has a bad dream the night before, which her grandfather tells her is actually a sign of good luck. Greatly cheered by this news, she goes on to have the luckiest day ever: she gets her favorite seat on the school bus, she manages to do well in gym class, her friend gives her gingersnap cookies (her favorite!) and she finds an awesome candy necklace, which she decides will be her "signature look" from now on. Kids will enjoy the hand-lettered list Clara Lee creates documenting all of her lucky occurrences. When her luck starts to run out, Clara Lee begins to worry. With an obnoxious "mean girl" classmate reminding Clara that "American as apple pie" usually means blonde and blue-eyed, NOT Korean-American, she's genuinely concerned. Does she still have a shot at winning the contest? Happily, the answer is "yes" and she's able to ride the float wearing her best Korean dress.I'll be recommending this charming book for 8-12 year-old readers who enjoyed Megan McDonald's Judy Moody series or the Clementine books by Sarah Pennypacker.