October 2026’s newsletter: “Book Recommendation: Clementine H. Hopeful is NOT a Hero”
“Clementine H. Hopeful is NOT a Hero” by Noah Corey is the best middle grade book I have read so far in 2026.
This LGBTQ+ contemporary fantasy novel mixes the dark and creepy vibe of “Coraline” and the magical lost children of “Peter Pan.”
It made me laugh. It made me cry. While it can be very sad, it’s also hopeful. And the ending is unique, not how these books usually go. (But I won’t talk about that, because it’d be a spoiler!) It’s earned its spot among my five star reads!
Summary
Clementine H. Hopeful is starting seventh grade, and he’s determined to be normal. No excessing talking about spiders (which means no talking about spiders at all), no mentioning the monsters in the woods no one else can see, and definitely no wearing dresses.
But when Clementine meets Beetle, Anise, and Cricket in the woods, he finally feels he belongs. He can wear his pink shoes and go on and on about spiders and even wear dresses. When Beetle and Cricket play pretend, it’s almost like their games become real. Clementine loves being close to Beetle and holding his hand when no one else is looking.
But when Clementine discovers where Beetle’s and Cricket’s magic comes from, he has a choice: become a hero by Beetle’s side, or change this world that never accepted him…
The Writing
Narrative Voice
What first drew me into this book was the narrative voice. Clementine’s personality comes through in the narration the moment the story begins.
In some middle grade books, I feel there’s a separation between the narrator and the main character. It’s a style choice, like we’re listening to a tale from a storyteller. (Instead of living in the protagonist’s head, like in, say, the Percy Jackson books.) But when done poorly, it can also leave the main character feeling bland. Disconnected. We don’t get a strong sense of their personality.
That does not happen in this book. The narration is funny, heartfelt, and all-together Clementine. You’re in his head feeling what he feels, hearing his humor, and getting to know how he thinks. It makes you fall in love with him. Even before the magic showed up, I was invested in Clementine.
Characters’ Voices
I could tell the author Noah Corey is a middle school teacher, because the kid characters sound like kids.
Often, authors write child characters so they’re miniature adults. Or it’ll be the opposite, and they’re way too immature for their actual ages.
But these kids sound like real life middle schoolers. They have a certain child-like immaturity, but are also starting to tackle more complicated emotions and ideas as they reach their teenage years.
The way they spoke to each other and the way they’d get into arguments and make up: I’m not sure how else to describe it other than it’s very age accurate.
Atmosphere
As I said in the intro, this book’s vibe is very “Coraline.”
At times, it’s wondrous and whimsical. The child heroes work magic through imagination. The harder they imagine and give themselves over to play, the more it comes true. As someone who had a big imagination as a kid, (and hopefully does now too!) I wanted to jump into the pages and join them!
At other times, we delve into forests where monsters lurk among the trees and into caves full of spiders and bones. Monsters put on friendly adult faces and act as trustworthy authority figures to children, only to hide terrifying ulterior motives underneath. Even when Clementine is playing with his friends, something can feel off. After all, their motto is “mind your business.” Which is fine when they don’t want to talk about personal subjects, but problematic when it comes to monsters trying to eat them and things Clementine really should know to protect himself.
The Characters
A major theme in this book is how children are treated unfairly, by society and school.
Every character wants to be accepted for who they are. Whether that be their gender identity and orientation, their neurodiversity, their interests, their personal learning curve, or any combination thereof.
Clementine
Clementine’s personal journey reminded me of a nonfiction book I’ve recently read: “The Whipping Girl” by Julie Serano.
“The Whipping Girl” discusses our culture’s hatred of femininity and how it forbids boys from accessing anything feminine. Media portrays trans women as either deceptive– evil deceivers who surprise both the cast and the audience when the “truth” about them is revealed– or tragic figures who can’t possibly “pass” as women.
Clementine sees this truth in the world around him too. People like him in media are villains, jokes, or tragedies. If he were to dress as he wanted, he would be relentlessly bullied, or treated with pity. It’s unfair. It’s cruel.
Clementine searches for a reality in which he can be himself with dignity. And though he’s told repeatedly that things will get better when he’s grown, he simply can’t wait that long.
After seeing the world through his eyes, any show that jokes about men in dresses becomes all the more painful to watch.
Clementine’s Friends
Clementine isn’t the only character who desperately wants to feel accepted.
Cricket also struck a deep cord. She’s nonverbal and dislikes food– I wondered if she’s autistic and has something akin to AFRID. She’s deeply passionate about her interests, which Clementine relates to. I loved watching her and Clementine’s friendship develop.
Bug struggles in a toxic learning environment. (And a neglectful– if not abusive– home, same as Cricket). Not to mention he’s “obviously obsessed” with Clementine.
And Anise lives in a sexist, ultra-conservative religious household.
The friends form a space that’s all their own, together.
A Meaningful Read
Since these kids are the main characters, we’re seeing the world through their lens.
For young readers in similar situations as one or more of the characters, they have the chance to feel seen and understood. Seeing yourself in the stories you consume makes you feel less alone. Your life and experiences become normalized.
For young readers who don’t share their experiences, it’s still a great opportunity to learn about the world in a different light. Take a walk in another’s shoes. Maybe if young readers consume more stories about people who are different from them, they’ll be the kids who reach out a hand instead of the Ginger Joneses. (Clementine’s bully!)
I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys middle grade fantasy. Not only is it a lot of fun, it also has an important message to tell.
“Clementine H. Hopeful is NOT a Hero” just released in March 2026. Online sites seem to claim this is the first in the “Better School” series? If that’s true, then I look forward to the rest!
Thanks for reading!