Always Clementine is charming, heart-felt and hard-hitting. Told from the unique perspective of a mouse who has escaped from an animal testing laboratory, this story deals with harsh truths about the darker side of science. Clementine isn’t just any ordinary mouse – she is a genius. Her ability to understand the world around her with all its nuances is truly remarkable. Unfortunately, this means that the scientists want her back and will stop at nothing to find her.
Clementine tells her story through a series of letters she writes to Rosie – her best friend from the lab who may be in danger. With the help of her new human friends, Clementine learns to play chess and all sorts of other things. But what she wants more than anything is to see Rosie again and make sure she and the other animals are safe for good.
Our family loved My Life as a Cat by Carlie Sorosiak (it’s a regular choice on our Audible bedtime listening) so we were really looking forward to Always Clementine. Clementine has even more personality than Leonard – such an earnest desire to do the right thing and change bad into good. She is destined to go down in history as one of the great mice of literature!
Always Clementine would be a fantastic class read in Upper Key Stage Two. There is so much to discuss from animal rights and laboratory testing to friendship and what it means to be a genius with the power of emotional as well as academic intelligence. Clementine is blessed with both. Children will love this resilient mouse and how she shares her view of the world through her captivating letters.
Thank you to Nosy Crow for this wonderful book!
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