Always, Clementine is a heartwarming story about a genius mouse who escapes from a lab and goes on a journey to find a home and a way to free her old friends. Clementine is a unique and special mouse, and she quickly endears herself to the reader. She is intelligent, curious, and kind, and she always sees the best in people.

The book is well-written and engaging, and the characters are well-developed. The plot is well-paced and suspenseful, and the ending is satisfying. Overall, Always, Clementine is a wonderful book that will appeal to readers of all ages.

Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into this one. Having a field mouse I handreared, I was expecting to go into this and feel emotional for Clementine, instead, the fantastical super genius mouse we got just felt.. weird. As a rodent owner, and vehemently against interspecies interaction, i was immediately put off by the fact rosie was clearly an animal that shouldn’t be engaging with a mouse. I know it’s fiction… Maybe I couldn’t suspend my disbelief.

Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read this - I loved I, Cosmo and My Life as a Cat and had high hopes for this one, and Clementine and her friends did not disappoint! The concept feels a little bit bonkers to explain, but it's a quirky and well thought out story (I expected no less) and has a really important message around the use of animals in labs/experiments at the heart of it.

Now this was something special indeed. This story was giving me The Queen's Gambit mixed with Stuart Little vibes and I was here for every moment. What a charming tale, Clementine is a character that you won't forget in a hurry, she has heart, bravery, intelligence and determination.

The tale is told in epistolary format and I must say that this adds to the uniqueness that is Clementine. There's a heartfelt message regarding animal testing weaving its way so neatly throughout with perfect balance to add an additional layer to this already rich narrative.

It's clear that Sorosiak is a master in character creation as the cast we meet between the pages are rich and full of life to add vitality and charm to Clementine's plight and I was sad when the story came to an end. I know our young readers will champion Clementine and her group of friends....how could you not.

A beautiful and inspiring childrens book that I loved. I will definitely be recommending this book to my younger cousins as I know they will love this and the messages within.

Clementine is a lab mouse with a wealth of intelligence. However, in the lab, her only friend is Rosie, a chimpanzee. When a kindly lab technician decides to free Clementine and fellow mouse Hamlet from the lab, Clementine finds herself in a mailbox belonging to an elderly man. This clever mouse soon discovers a talent for chess, TV fame and the power of friendship but she won’t stop until her beloved Rosie and all the other mice are also free. This is an adorable, unique story about living your happiest, most complete life. It also draws awareness to the treatment of animals in labs while depicting beautiful friendships and a cast of memorable characters. There is so much humour and heart in this incredibly sweet story.

A beautifully sensitive read. I do however think the letter idea is not fully executed - I think perhaps because of the use of present tense. The constant referral to the scenes being letters gives a sense of showing rather than telling and so it feels forced rather than authentic. This does not spoil the overall enjoyment though as the characterisations are strong and the settings vivid.

Always Clementine
By Carlie Sorosiak
Published by Nosy Crow

A funny and heartwarming story, from the author of I, Cosmo, comes a new hero - Clementine. A brave, genius, 3 inch tall mouse, who takes it upon herself to make a change - a huge change.

After being kidnapped, escaping and struggling to survive in the real world, Always Clementine is an adventure like no other. She can calculate pi to 69,689 places, remembers the exact moment she was born, and dreams in Latin. But she is a mouse. And she cannot and should not be trapped in a lab. But this a story of honesty, bravery and trust. So when she escapes the lab which has bred her, she has a lot to overcome.

Clementine discovers that it's not enough to be the smartest mouse in history if she wants to survive in the real world - she must outwit the humans just one more time. And this she must do for her friend.

Told from the perspective of the mouse, a trapped life and one that shouldn’t exist. A difficult subject but told beautifully and with compassion.

Joanne Bardgett - Year 3 teacher of littlies, lover of children’s books.
#Netgallery
#nosycrow

I've thoroughly enjoyed some brilliant animal stories this year and 'I, Clementine' is no exception. A truly charming story with gorgeous characters and an intriguing concept,this immediately pulls on the heartstrings and pulls you in.
I initially struggled with the letter format in the beginning as I didn't find it particularly fast-paced compared to a novel such as 'The Girl Who Lost a Leopard'. However, I adored the relationship the main character had developed with the chimpanzee and instantly felt emotionally engaged due to the subject of animals being experimented on.

Always, Clementine is the sort of children's book we need more of. Clementine is a wonderful narrator and the entire book is written with such warmth and energy.

The chapters are short and are framed as letters written by Clementine to her friend Rosie (albeit in her head, not on paper) so the fast pacing and digestible bite-sized chapters are ideal to coax reluctant readers into a story, or keep an avid reader engaged.

Full of adventure but also found family & friendship this is the perfect cosy reading book this autumn, especially for fans of Hannah Gold's Last Bear & Lost Whale.

I fell in love with the sweet cover and loved this story that made me smile and wish I could read something similar when I was a child.
The author is a talented storyteller and Clementine is lovely and clever.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

What a fantastic book! I was about half way through when i started telling several of my friends and collegues about it, because I was enjoying it so much.

Clementine, the mouse, has such a big, wonderful, joyful personality. Everything she does is full of wonder, excitement and curiosity. Hamlet, the second mouse, is adorable, a bit more shy and quiet, but a lovely little character in his own right. All the main human characters are fantastic, even if they don't really do much or appear in that many scenes, they all have distinct, interesting personalities.

The story itself is delightful and nervewracking in places. Clementine is a lab mouse, and likely destined for the same fate as all lab animals. Even when she escapes the lab with Hamlet, the researchers want to get her back. But she is found by Gus and his grandfather, who quickly realise she is no ordinary mouse. she is a genius! So they are willing to do whatever it takes to keep her free and out of the hands of the lab.

the whole book is written in the form of letters (in Clementine's mind) to her best friend, Rosie, a chimpanzee who lived in the same lab. she tells her whole story this way, and it's so touching. that even through all she is going through and experiencing, all she wants is to share it with Rosie, and also, for Rosie to be free.

I loved that this book had such a deep message. several, actually. That even the smallest of creatures can be amazing and do wonderful things. That being yourself IS a good thing. That animal testing is wrong and cruel (without going into so many details that would be scary for children, it's more a subtle hint). There are many more messages in this book, I just hope you read it and discover them all for yourself!

I loved the style of Always Clementine. Set out in the form of letters, this would appeal to reluctant readers. The character of Clementine narrates her story very eloquently and really gives a voice to those without one. This is sure to delight anyone who reads it. I look forward to recommending it to our children and to reading more by this author.

Carlie Sorosiak is a master storyteller and her latest offering Always, Clementine is no exception. I have been profoundly moved by each and every one of her books, but perhaps none so much as her latest release. Always, Clementine is a truly beautiful story; underneath the simplicity of the story lies a quiet call to arms for the reader, encouraging us to reflect upon huge issues like animal rights without being preachy or overbearing.

Carlie’s strength, as always, is her ability to create characters that the reader truly adores and connects with. She is an expert at creating a believable voice for her protagonist, whether they be a dog, an alien, or in this case, a mouse. Clementine is a beautifully created narrator and I cared deeply about her and her plight. I was moved to tears by the story and could not put it down. It will stay with me long after I’ve read the final page. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and to Carlie Sorosiak for creating an utterly beautiful book.