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Clara Humble and the Not-So-Super Powers
Clara Humble may seem like your average fourth-grader who doesn’t look before she leaps, but she has a secret: she thinks she might have superpowers. Which is convenient, because things aren’t going so well for Clara. Students from rival R. R. Reginald are moving into her school for the term, and Clara’s favorite neighbor, Momo, is moving to a faraway retirement home.
Together with her best friend, Bradley, the winsome and overconfident Clara becomes convinced that her knack for making liquids spill, overhearing her parents’ conversations, communicating with her pet chinchilla, and maybe even mind-controlling teachers could be used to put a stop to these injustices.
Told in Clara’s clever, funny, and strikingly authentic voice, this novel kicks off a new series by inviting readers into this memorable character’s inventive mind to share in her misadventures. Annotated with Clara’s comic sketches, it’s a fast-paced read with a spot-on perspective of life as a 10-year-old that kids will surely relate to.
LEVELING
Grade Range: 3–7
Fountas & Pinnell: R
Lexile: 830L
COMMON CORE
SL.4.1,1b,1d,2,4,6
RF.4.3,3a,4,4a,4c
W.4.4,6,8,9,9a,10
RL.4.1,2,3,4,6,7,10
L.4.3,3a,3b,4,4a,5,5a,5b,6
Together with her best friend, Bradley, the winsome and overconfident Clara becomes convinced that her knack for making liquids spill, overhearing her parents’ conversations, communicating with her pet chinchilla, and maybe even mind-controlling teachers could be used to put a stop to these injustices.
Told in Clara’s clever, funny, and strikingly authentic voice, this novel kicks off a new series by inviting readers into this memorable character’s inventive mind to share in her misadventures. Annotated with Clara’s comic sketches, it’s a fast-paced read with a spot-on perspective of life as a 10-year-old that kids will surely relate to.
LEVELING
Grade Range: 3–7
Fountas & Pinnell: R
Lexile: 830L
COMMON CORE
SL.4.1,1b,1d,2,4,6
RF.4.3,3a,4,4a,4c
W.4.4,6,8,9,9a,10
RL.4.1,2,3,4,6,7,10
L.4.3,3a,3b,4,4a,5,5a,5b,6
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2016
2 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Anna Humphrey
29 books113 followersAnna Humphrey is the author of Rhymes with Cupid (HarperTeen, 2010), Mission (Un)Popular (Disney/Hyperion Books for Children, 2011), Ruby Goldberg's Bright Idea (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2014) and Clara Humble & the Not-So-Super Powers (OwlKids Books, 2016)—all books for young readers. She lives in Kitchener, Ontario with her husband and kids.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 3, 2017
With all the new superhero books and movies coming out this year, I couldn't wait to read this with my kids. It's about a young girl who thinks she has superpowers. Her story is supplemented with comic panels she writes about a superhero cat.
When it comes to everyday superheroes, Clara Humble shows a lot of promise. She wakes up at 7:14 AM every day. Without an alarm clock. She might even have mind control powers and the ability to spill liquids on command.
My kids loved reading about Clara and her not-so-super adventures. They quickly got lost in the story and always asked for one more chapter.
Personally, I loved how Clara convinced herself that she had superpowers. She almost had me convinced, too!
Clara's experience feels remarkably accurate for a girl her age. Kids convince themselves of strange things all the time, and it's not unusual for friends to get on board with outlandish ideas. And Clara's attempts at "fixing" her situation are hilarious. She's a charming and funny character that you can't help but love.
Content: A few instances of taking the Lord's name in vain, rivalry/bullying between kids from different schools.
Source: The publisher sent me a copy of this book.
More kids' and YA reviews at Batch of Books
When it comes to everyday superheroes, Clara Humble shows a lot of promise. She wakes up at 7:14 AM every day. Without an alarm clock. She might even have mind control powers and the ability to spill liquids on command.
My kids loved reading about Clara and her not-so-super adventures. They quickly got lost in the story and always asked for one more chapter.
Personally, I loved how Clara convinced herself that she had superpowers. She almost had me convinced, too!
Clara's experience feels remarkably accurate for a girl her age. Kids convince themselves of strange things all the time, and it's not unusual for friends to get on board with outlandish ideas. And Clara's attempts at "fixing" her situation are hilarious. She's a charming and funny character that you can't help but love.
Content: A few instances of taking the Lord's name in vain, rivalry/bullying between kids from different schools.
Source: The publisher sent me a copy of this book.
More kids' and YA reviews at Batch of Books
December 26, 2016
3.5 stars: Who doesn't want super powers? This book is an awesome story that kids, I'm sure, will love. The voice is authentic and the situations that Clara finds herself in are definitely going to be a lot of fun for the target audience. The interspersed illustrations also add a lot of humor, which is also important for kids. I would recommend it to kids, sure.
Personally, however, I didn't love the story as a whole. It became a little too busy; Clara is dealing with her moving neighbor and the rival school moving in and revenge on behalf of the school mascot and digging for treasure... It gets to be a bit too much for my taste. Also, the absent-minded parents (while present and helpful most of the time) were not my favorite characters—flat and unoriginal. But really, these are my own nitpicky opinions; I really do think kids will love this new hero.
Personally, however, I didn't love the story as a whole. It became a little too busy; Clara is dealing with her moving neighbor and the rival school moving in and revenge on behalf of the school mascot and digging for treasure... It gets to be a bit too much for my taste. Also, the absent-minded parents (while present and helpful most of the time) were not my favorite characters—flat and unoriginal. But really, these are my own nitpicky opinions; I really do think kids will love this new hero.
October 22, 2017
Fun book about Clara who is convinced she has superpowers. How else did that raisin move across the table? I think we all secretly at one time wish we had powers and author Ann Humphrey does a great job of showing us with a little creative thinking we could all be super heroes.
Want to read
April 18, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
January 7, 2017
I received a free copy of the book from Owlkids Books via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Clara Humble and the Not-So-Superpowers is a middle school read by Anna Humphrey. There are also illustrations throughout the book that are done by Lisa Cinar. Basically, this book is all about Clara Humble, a fun-loving nine year old girl who loves creating comics about @Cat, a superhero robot/cat she created on her own. Clara is loving life until one day, it seems like everything around her is falling apart. First, she finds out her elderly friend and neighbor named Momo is moving away to a retirement home. Then, as if things could not any get worse, she discovers that the dastardly kids at her neighboring school, R.R. Reginald, have to go to her school for a whole semester. Clara and her best friend, Bradley, won’t stand to let these changes happen. They believe like @Cat, Clara has amazing superpowers like eavesdropping and making liquids spill that will save the day and make everything go back to normal again. Despite their imagination, Clara and Bradley figure out quickly that Clara’s superpowers are actually not so super.
Your 8-12 year old will laugh out loud as they read of Clara’s adventures. Clara is a good character, she is funny and flawed and I believe all sorts of kids will be able to see themselves within her. She has an imagination that although blinds her from the truth at times, ultimately brings her down to Earth and allows her to live out her true self. Kids will also really enjoy the illustrations throughout, I thought they were well done and entertaining. @Cat is a good character also, as the cartoon adds the modern element of technology and also the cuddly, fun element of the cat that kids will really enjoy. It is a cute story but overall I thought I would like it more than I actually did. Humphrey’s writing is good as she does a good job of making a fun, lovable main character. I think there are is a lot of insight on kid’s emotions which was great, but also there were some emotions and plot-points there were glossed over quickly. For some reason I was just expecting more to happen overall, the plot is a little too straightforward for me but I am not the target audience. I do think kids will really like this story. This book teaches them that even though it may not be fair, no person has complete, utter control of the world around them. Despite Clara’s mischievous ways and even despite her best efforts, she comes to learn that the only thing she can really control is herself and her attitude.
August 14, 2016
One thing about heroes: no matter what obstacles they face, they find a way to prevail.
Grades 3-7. A cute middle grade book about a nine-year-old girl who becomes convinced she has superpowers.
"Everyone knows it's not the size of the super power that counts- it's how you use it to defeat your opponent. It's about brains and bravery more than anything."
Clare Humble loves drawing comic strips about a superhero named @Cat, who is part-cat and part-computer. Some of her comic strips are featured in the book! Clare's predictable life comes to a halt, when she discovers that everything is changing. She is devastated when she finds out her 80-year-old neighbor and friend is moving to a retirement home and kids from a rival school will be attending her school for the semester. At the same time, Clare notices that she has a few special skills: making liquids spill, supersonic hearing, communicating with chinchillas, and consistently waking up at 7:14 AM.
Want to know the real difference between superheroes and regular people? It's simple. Superheroes always know right from wrong. Regular people get it all mixed up. (Well, that and we don't wear capes.)
Clare tries to harness her newly discovered superpowers to make things go back to normal. She makes many mistakes along the way, but she also learns important lessons about courage, honor, and being a good friend. Clare doesn't always make the right choices, but she does redeem herself in the end. Clara Humble and the Not-So-Super Powers is an entertaining book filled with valuable lessons.
Maybe in the real world, being super wasn't about levitation stuff, having a cool sounding super-name, and wearing a shiny cape (or even a first-[lace hundred--meter-dash blue ribbon). After all, there were lots of ways a regular kid could be exceptional.
I received this book for free from Owlkids Books & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This title will be released on September 15, 2016.
September 5, 2016
To see the images associated with this review, go to my blog post at http://dickenslibrary.blogspot.ca/201...
Clara is a nine-year-old cartoonist of @cat comics, and a runner on her school's track team. In her own words,
(missing image)
Claire's two best friends live on the street where she lives. There's Bradley who goes to school with her, and Momo, an elderly neighbour.
The book begins at a school track meet where we are introduced to the rivalry between two schools; Clara's Gledhill gators and the dastardly R.R. Reginald raccoons.
At home afterwards Clara learns that Momo is planning on selling her house and moving into a retirement center. As if that isn't enough, the next day at school Claire and Bradley learn that due to asbestos removal at R.R. Reginald, those students will be coming to Glenhill for a few months.
It looks like there will be disaster on both fronts. Then Clara realizes that she has super powers.
Clara and Bradley come up with plans to improve Clara's Powers and use them to get rid of the R.R. Reginald Reginald raccoons, and convince Momo to stay. You will have to read the book to find out if they are successful or not.
This book is filled with moments of laugh out loud humor. I appreciated how Lisa Cinar's illustrations accentuate this and help us understand Clara more fully. I adored the @cat cartoons!
For the most part the book is filled with strong adults. (Well except when they are clueless about the R.R. Reginald's student's perfidy.) I appreciated how sympathetic the principal towards Bradley and Clara after the final track meet debacle.
I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did, but the bullying at the beginning, and my mortification at Clara's magical thinking got in the way for me. Still, by the time I got halfway through I was completely captivated by Clara and her life. Thankfully, I'm not the target audience for this and suspect I'm going to be in the minority in my response to it.
Clara is a nine-year-old cartoonist of @cat comics, and a runner on her school's track team. In her own words,
(missing image)
Claire's two best friends live on the street where she lives. There's Bradley who goes to school with her, and Momo, an elderly neighbour.
The book begins at a school track meet where we are introduced to the rivalry between two schools; Clara's Gledhill gators and the dastardly R.R. Reginald raccoons.
At home afterwards Clara learns that Momo is planning on selling her house and moving into a retirement center. As if that isn't enough, the next day at school Claire and Bradley learn that due to asbestos removal at R.R. Reginald, those students will be coming to Glenhill for a few months.
It looks like there will be disaster on both fronts. Then Clara realizes that she has super powers.
Clara and Bradley come up with plans to improve Clara's Powers and use them to get rid of the R.R. Reginald Reginald raccoons, and convince Momo to stay. You will have to read the book to find out if they are successful or not.
This book is filled with moments of laugh out loud humor. I appreciated how Lisa Cinar's illustrations accentuate this and help us understand Clara more fully. I adored the @cat cartoons!
For the most part the book is filled with strong adults. (Well except when they are clueless about the R.R. Reginald's student's perfidy.) I appreciated how sympathetic the principal towards Bradley and Clara after the final track meet debacle.
I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did, but the bullying at the beginning, and my mortification at Clara's magical thinking got in the way for me. Still, by the time I got halfway through I was completely captivated by Clara and her life. Thankfully, I'm not the target audience for this and suspect I'm going to be in the minority in my response to it.
January 16, 2017
Nine-year old Clara Humble has some amazing super powers. She’s the fastest sprinter on the Gledhill Elementary School track team. She creates an action-packed cartoon series featuring superhero @Cat and his nemesis Poodle Noodle. Her best friend is her 80-year old neighbor Momo, plus her other neighbor Bradley is pretty cool, too. And she wakes up every morning -- even Saturdays and Sundays -- at exactly 7:14 a.m., with no alarm clock. But Clara’s well-ordered world begins to unravel when she finds out that Momo is planning to sell her house and move to a retirement home. Followed by the horrible news that the super mean kids from rival school R.R. Reginald -- the very same ones who pushed the Gledhill Gators mascot into the pond -- will be attending classes at Gledhill until the mold is removed from their school building. In an effort to keep both disasters from happening, Clara decides she needs to beef up her super powers, and Bradley enthusiastically agrees to act as her coach. Using psychic-boosting drills from realsuperpowers.org, Clara works on strengthening her ability to manipulate water (hydrokinesis) and energy (electrokinesis) with decidedly mixed results. Undaunted and desperate to save their school from the invasion of the Reginal b-Rats, Clara and Bradley resort to pranks instead of the paranormal and pull off a sticky situation for everyone. Humphrey’s new series starring Clara Humble as a plucky young cartoonist tackles the big challenges facing kids like friendship, anger, competition, and change with honesty and humor. Cinar’s @Cat cartoons a la Clara are a delightful distraction giving readers a peek into Clara’s heart and soul. “Clara Humble and the Not-So-Super Powers” is hilarious super hero hijinks that kids will love.
August 25, 2016
I was given an early review copy on NetGalley. This is a good middle grade story that has a creative but also very familiar protagonist. Superheroes are all the rage right now and I liked the fact that the story made Clara an easy character to root for. The story unfolds much like an origin story one might read about in comics, but I appreciated that the story focused more on how everyday heroism relies more on Clara's strength of character and not her not-so-super powers. Clara cared about her friends and family in ordinary ways and by the end of the story I think it's made clear that this is more important than having superpowers like Superman or Spiderman.
September 19, 2016
Clara suspects she may have super powers. She thinks her super powers may be that she can make things move, that she saps energy from batteries and lights, and, the not so amazing one, that she always wakes up at 7:14 every morning. Whatever day it was!
Her best friend Bradley thinks she may be right. They get the chance to experiment with this when their school is invaded by a rival school because the school had to be repaired due to mold and because Clara’s neighbor who is like a grandmother to her is going to move to a nursing home.
For grade three and up.
I received a galley of this book from netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Her best friend Bradley thinks she may be right. They get the chance to experiment with this when their school is invaded by a rival school because the school had to be repaired due to mold and because Clara’s neighbor who is like a grandmother to her is going to move to a nursing home.
For grade three and up.
I received a galley of this book from netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 17, 2016
Clara Humble and the Not-So-Super Powers
by Anna Humphrey
Owlkids Books
Middle Grade, Children's Fiction
Pub Date 15 Sep 2016
I am voluntarily reading and reviewing Clara Humble and the Not So Super Powers through the publisher and Netgalley:
Clara Humble isn't your average Fourth grader in fact she thinks she might have super powers.
She finds out her favorite neighbor Momo is moving far away to a retirement home.
Clara's Father is often working on inventions. Clara likes to spend her time in the spare bedroom reading comics.
The adventures of Clara will keep your middle grade reader entertained from start to finish.
Five out of five stars
Happy Reading
November 8, 2016
Sometimes superpowers aren't always real. Clara has been dealing with students from another school who bully her and her friends all the time. Sometimes trying to fix what the bullies have done to you doesn't always lead to a right. Clara thought she had superpowers just like her make believe @Cat who is a superhero cat that she draws and all her thought and courage is shown through the cartoon. Her life at school and at home have become extremely difficult so she tries to make everything change with her superpower. It is a great book for children to learn about bulling and that at times we as the victim can make things even worst. I enjoyed Clara's adventures and @cat.
August 21, 2016
This novel was received from Net Galley in exchange for a fair review.
3.5 stars
A cute story that tackles adjusting to change, bullying, and treasured relationships with older adults. Some aspects of Clara's adventure capture the magical reasoning of tweens. I loved @Cat and Bijou!
I'd happily read more by this author.
3.5 stars
A cute story that tackles adjusting to change, bullying, and treasured relationships with older adults. Some aspects of Clara's adventure capture the magical reasoning of tweens. I loved @Cat and Bijou!
I'd happily read more by this author.
August 21, 2016
The first book in a new series. Character that is flawed and funny - very relatable. The comic style drawings add a lot to the story and make it extra appealing for young readers.
September 22, 2016
Absolutely fantastic. Clara is hilarious, spunky, optimistic, but still flawed and incredibly believable. Humphrey doesn't talk down to kids, but gets inside their heads and hearts instead.
February 11, 2017
Clara Humble and the not- so super powers by Anna Humphrey is a middle grade and children's fiction read.
Clara Humble may seem like your average fourth-grader who doesn’t look before she leaps, but she has a secret: she thinks she might have superpowers. Which is convenient, because things aren’t going so well for Clara. Students from rival R. R. Reginald are moving into her school for the term, and Clara’s favorite neighbor, Momo, is moving to a faraway retirement home.
This was a good read. I read it to my daughter’s at bedtime time. And they loved it. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
Clara Humble may seem like your average fourth-grader who doesn’t look before she leaps, but she has a secret: she thinks she might have superpowers. Which is convenient, because things aren’t going so well for Clara. Students from rival R. R. Reginald are moving into her school for the term, and Clara’s favorite neighbor, Momo, is moving to a faraway retirement home.
This was a good read. I read it to my daughter’s at bedtime time. And they loved it. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
November 20, 2017
My 9-year-old daughter read this book. She said it was easy to read and she liked it. It was funny. She wanted to read it again in paper form as she thought that she would like to see the pictures better.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews