Clarissa by Giulietta M Spudich

 “Clarissa blinked. Of course magic was real. Her best friend was a talking tree.”

Clarissa is lonely; her father is always busy and distracted since her mother died, and she finds it hard to speak out. But then her friend, the Oak tree, gives her a key which leads her to find an ancient Fire spirit and Clarissa must find courage to “fan her flame”.

I immensely enjoyed reading “Clarissa.” I felt connected to Clarissa and what she was feeling and I think that the book was simple yet nicely effective. Clarissa chimed with me because my dad recently had a stroke and this book explores a relationship between father and daughter. Other themes that stood out for me were Clarissa finding her voice and that nature can help us in so many ways. I loved this story of magic, nature, and coming-of-age, which, I think, would be enjoyed by children around the world of about ages 9+. BJMN