About Average
Written by Andrew Clements
Narrated by Celia Keenan-Bolger
4/5
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About this audiobook
Jordan Johnston is average. Not short, not tall. Not plump, not slim. Not gifted, not flunking out. Even her shoe size is average. She’s ordinary for her school, for her town, for even the whole wide world, it seems.
Then Marlea Harkins, one of the most popular girls in school—and most definitely the meanest—does something unthinkable, and suddenly nice, average Jordan isn’t thinking average thoughts anymore. She wants to get Marlea back! But what’s the best way to beat a bully? Could it be with kindness?
Called “a genius of gentle, high concept tales set in suburban middle school” by The New York Times, bestselling author Andrew Clements presents a compelling story of the greatest achievement possible—self-acceptance.
Andrew Clements
Andrew Clements (1949–2019) was the author of the enormously popular Frindle. More than 10 million copies of his books have been sold, and he was nominated for a multitude of state awards, including a Christopher Award and an Edgar Award. His popular works include About Average, Troublemaker, Extra Credit, Lost and Found, No Talking, Room One, Lunch Money, and more. He was also the author of the Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series. Find out more at AndrewClements.com.
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Reviews for About Average
65 ratings14 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I liked it because an ordinary and plain girl found bravery when no one else could. - Naomi L
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is so good. It talks about a perfectly average girl who thinks she has no talent at all, but she eventually finds it when a wild tornado attacks the town.
She helps the kids out and leads them to safety. All of the kids thank her and she is very popular from that moment on. Definitely listen to this book. You will love it.2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Narrated by Celia Keenan-Bolger. Over the course of a hot school day, Jordan's averageness comes to the fore as all around her she notes classsmates who are better athletes, more popular, prettier, louder, and smarter than she. Popular girl Marlia isn't helping matters by teasing Jordan about her privately created list of personal attributes. But when an unexpected tornado hits the school grounds, it ends up being Jordan's moment to shine: with her organizational skill she mobilizes the other kids to save themselves. Keenan-Bolger fully expresses Jordan's frustration with being "average." Reassuring for kids who think they don't have much to offer; their time will come to shine.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A beautiful story and very well narrated. My son and I really enjoyed About Average.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5it wus grate or not dun dun dun from ffgfyhgm fdsfaqtweyrhfdsf
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Totally great book! I could read this book over and over!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Wow good book. Really likes it. Wonderful. Just writing this for fun
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A super quick read with a great message about staying true to yourself and not letting bullies change you. Highly recommended.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Average - not something that usually comes to mind with Andrew Clements.
Good enough to spend time reading but not good enough to spend money on (I got this out of the library). - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5An appealing, relatable story about a 6th grade girl who discovers ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Engaging early level novel for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders about a girl who thinks she is average at everything until one of her teachers helps her discover a hidden talent.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5I think this is my least favorite Andrew Clements' book. I don't think the characters ring true. They just weren't believable.This is not one that I would recommend.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jordan feels like she's got a lot of things that she's okay at, but not many that she's really good at. And it doesn't help that Marlea, the leader of the Cute Girls, teases her every chance she gets. Jordan thinks hard about how she wants to deal with Marlea, and realizes that being nice fits her personality, so she decides to be true to herself and see how that works out. Then a natural disaster strikes, and Jordan gets to add another great skill to things she's really good at.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Audiobook Review: I've just started getting into audiobooks, and this was the first middle grade audiobook I've listened too. It was short and sweet and only two discs long but I was able to listen to it in one commute to and from work which was nice to get the full story in one day. I feel like most girls have felt like they were just average at one point or another in life whether it be in looks or abilities or talents. That being said it made the main character Jordan that much more relatible.She made a goal for herself that by the end of the year she would find something that would make her more then ordinary. In fact, she was aiming for extraordinary. Her big moment happens for her at a time completely unexpected and in way that she would never assume would be her shining moment.I loved this story, it was so cute, and had a great message to it as well.I didn't expect the twist that the book turned in at all and for that I really enjoyed it that much more. I liked Celia Keenan-Bolger who was the narrator of the audiobook, her voice was easy to listen too, and it fit the story. I would recommend this audiobook to anyone with younger kids, as well as adults that enjoy a good middle-grade story every once in a while.