Clarice Bean, aspiring actress and author, unsuccessfully tries to avoid getting into trouble as she attempts to help a friend in need by following the rules of the fictional, "exceptionordinarily" spy, Ruby Redfort.

The quirky Clarice Bean is in for a spell of trouble--and shares a lesson about kindness--in this hilarious follow-up to Utterly Me, Clarice Bean. Clarice Bean seems to be in nonstop trouble these days, almost as much as Karl Wrenbury, who is the naughtiest boy at school. If only she could be more like her favorite book character, Ruby Redfort, girl detective, who is very good at getting out of trouble. The problem is, Mrs. Wilberton is planning a spelling bee, and just thinking about it gives Clarice a stomachache. The good news is that there is also going to be a class performance of The Sound of Music, and Clarice is exceptionordinarily keen on landing a starring role, so she can get discovered by someone who spots child talents and escape spelling-bee humiliation. But when Karl Wrenbury has a family problem and gets into really big trouble, Clarice does something utterly unexpected, altruistically proving Ruby Redfort's maxim "Never let a good pal down." The superbly talented Lauren Child's second fast-paced, full-length Clarice Bean adventure is full of wacky wit, visual appeal, and a surprisingly heartwarming twist sure to reel in the most reluctant reader--and the most inventive speller.

When someone steals the winner's trophy for the school book project, Clarice emulates her favorite book heroine, Ruby Redfort the detective.

"Told in Child’s familiar stream-of-consciousness style and punctuated with creative vocabulary. . . . Clarice is quickly stepping out from behind the shadow of other witty characters such as Junie B. Jones." — School Library Journal It’s the worry you hadn’t even thought to worry about that should worry you the most. At least that’s how it looks to Clarice Bean, who has been writing her worries in a notebook — things like Worry no. 1: infinity, or Worry no. 3: change. And now that her worst never-imagined worry has happened — her utterly best friend is moving away forever — Clarice doesn’t even care about her tickets to the Ruby Redfort, girl detective, movie premiere. That is, unless something happens to change things again. . . . Lauren Child’s trademark wit combines with spot-on insight in this hugely engaging story about childhood worries, unwanted changes, and finding friendships in the most surprising places.

A girl describes the hectic life she leads among the members of her large family, and her search for a little peace and quiet.

When Clarice has to do a school project on the environment, she and her family become eco-warriors in an attempt to save a tree on their street.

When her Uncle Ted, the fireman, comes to stay with Clarice and her brothers and sister while her mother is away, things get somewhat hectic.