Every week or so, my ten-year-old daughter asks me, “Mama, can you tell me again about some famous people who were dyslexic?”

It’s hard…feeling the “different” kid in a big family. It’s hard watching your younger siblings excel at things you’re struggling with. Even when you have so many things you’re brilliant at. Even when you have daily reminders that everyone is different in one way or another, because that’s part of the beauty of God’s plan for human nature. So hearing about people who were different in the same way you are can be a big comfort. Hans Christian Anderson, Agatha Christie, Bobby Flay, Avi, Patricia Polacco... The list of famous people whose brains were wired like my daughter’s is not a short one. But I’m still excited when I discover another name to add to the list, and today that name is Taylor Tyng, author of Clara Poole and the Long Way Round.

If Roald Dahl and Jules Verne got together and collaborated on a book, it would look a lot like Clara Poole and the Long Way Round. Quirky characters and madcap situations; exciting round-the-world adventures; little pockets of unexpected pathos that make you tear up despite yourself... It’s hard to imagine a kid who wouldn’t enjoy reading a story like this one. I can’t wait to share it with my own kids (I didn’t have a chance just yet, but I will report back in the comments with their thoughts). But first I’m going to share with my daughter this little snippet from Taylor’s website:

“I want children with dyslexia to express themselves without worrying about the words. It's not spelling that makes you intelligent — it's your ideas. Don't hide behind it. Don't feel ashamed. Know that you are one of millions who, like you, see the world differently. That difference in perspective can be a huge asset to you and everyone around you... I am dyslexic. I am also a righter... well, you get the point, and that's all that matters.”

(Here’s the source, and the whole page is amazing.) Speaking of tearing up despite oneself...man.

Unfortunately, I did not get very far in this book. I realize it's an arc, but the formatting was terrible with a capital T. I tried my best to ignore it, but it literally made me dizzy trying to read it. My Kindle Paperwhite is fully updated, has more than enough room, and is not very old. In my opinion, this is when the author/publisher/editor needs to do something to the arc to make it work correctly. I can handle ill formatting in an arc, but not to this degree.

The little bit I could read and understand of the story was interesting. I would have liked the character of Clara Poole if I had indeed been given the chance to know her. She reminded me of Enola Holmes.

Disappointed that I couldn't truly read this. Two stars only because I liked Clara and think I would have liked the story.

Hot air balloons. Races around the world. Monkey copilots. Secrets. Unexpected stardom. Friendship. Growing up. Father-daughter relationships. Quirky characters. This book has just about everything.

After Clara's mom died, she and her dad aren't on the same page -- especially when a science experiment gone awry sends her flying through the skies on a lawn chair tied to balloons and she is invited to participate in an around-the-world hot air balloon race as not just a pilot but as the Face of the Race. Her dad says she will not be participating under any circumstances. Clara flies to Paris without him and signs a contract before he can get her out of it. Before long, she starts to believe that someone is sabotaging the race and uncover secrets that had been buried for a long time.

This book was a lot of fun. I could talk about various flaws in the writing or story structure (all books have them, after all!) but I had too much fun to want to. I loved the emotional tension and resolution that Clara and her father have. I loved her growing relationship with Greta Gildersleeve, the elderly aeronaut she is paired with on the races. All the characters add something to the story. I loved the unexpected moments and the interactions between characters. I loved how it dealt with sensitive topics without feeling heavy.

I think readers of Mr. Lemoncello's Library, fans of The Amazing Race, anyone who is interested in hot balloons, and lovers of adventure will enjoy this book.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Clara Poole and the Long Way Round was definitely a fun ride. I really enjoyed how it took place all around the world in lots of fun places, and I liked how the kids all rallied together (or most of them, anyways).

I did have a hard time getting past a kid being able to sign an unbinding contract, but the average middle grade reader probably wouldn’t be bothered. I also wish the challenges were described in more detail, as I often didn’t know exactly what they were trying to accomplish, Her father’s transformation was great, but I wish Clara had been a part of it. But despite these issues, it was definitely entertaining!

Taylor Tyng delivers an incredible story that readers of all ages will love in “Clara Poole and the Long Way Round,” a story of adventure and finding one’s self.

After flying over the Michigan landscape in a science fair experiment, Clara Poole is invited to participate in the World Organization of Balloon Aeronaut’s 100th air race as its Face of the Race. Partnered with the aging pilot Greta Gildersleeve and her mischievous crew — three monkeys named Bob, Mayhem and Houdini — Clara quickly realizes this race that will take her across the planet is more than just a race.

With the help of her new friends also participating in the race, she works toward stopping a saboteur and maybe even having a little fun too, all while facing danger after danger.

Tyng does a great job of creating a story that has an awesome plot as well as delightful characters. Readers will love Clara, laugh at the antics of the monkey trio, and be charmed by friends like Hatsu, a bear-hat-wearing sugar addict.

He also fills “Clara Poole and the Long Way Round” with some good themes, like things aren’t always as they appear; the impact of courage and sacrifice; the power of friendship and family; the need to find forgiveness; and always follow your true north.

Fans of adventure stories and books like Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days,” “The Jules Verne Prophecy” by Larry Schwarz and Iva-Marie Palmer, and The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves series by Tom Phillips will love this story, which is due out July 4.

I hope to see more of Clara’s story!

Five stars out of five.

Pixel+Ink provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

What I Didn’t Like:
-Children can’t enter into contracts. Of course, this illustrates WHY in a decent way. Suspend your disbelief on that one and you’ll be fine.
-Sometimes a lack of dialogue tags makes it difficult to follow a conversation. It’s not all the time and it’s typically minor characters who don’t get credit for a line, but it can be confusing.
-I’m working from an ARC, so this won’t affect my review, but my copy is formatted terribly which makes it difficult to follow. I assume this will get fixed in production.

What I Did Like:
+Right away, I liked the voice of this one. The first scene is PHENOMENAL and the voice kicks in right away. It set the scene REALLY well.
+The entire story is a fun, albeit silly, ride. Not everything is particularly realistic, but it makes for an entertaining story.
+There’s an underlying message here about grief and confronting it, I love that! It’s handled well.

Who Should Read This One:
-MG readers who like a little adventure! This is a fun one.

After a school mishap, Clara is invited to be the face of a worldwide balloon racing competition. She eagerly joins, not realizing what it will entail. Things get crazier when she gets paired with a veteran pilot who has monkey co-pilots. As Clara starts to make friends, they realize someone is sabotaging the competition.

This was a cute book! It was such a unique concept with a fun cast of characters. I think this would make a really beautiful animated series or I can see this being adapted into a graphic novel. It just lends itself to beautiful illustrations!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Clara's adventure around the world. I felt like I was travelling with her and all her new found friends, trying to make it to the finish line!

This book does a great job addressing parental loss and how a father and daughter react to that loss. I also enjoyed all the new friends Clara makes and how each one is different and helps her to grow. The friends all support each other and encourage growth as well, which I loved, even though they were secondary characters.

Each location was also well written and I enjoyed learning about parts of the world I'd never heard of before.

This book is great for anyone who loves stories about adventure, world travel, & friendship

I'm hoping there will be more to this series so we can learn more about Clara and her friends.

As a family ,we enjoyed this exciting adventure book. My 6 yr old grandchild did keep pointing out that Clara was a bit silly at times. Other feedback from the other children called her utterly reckless and heroic. This book started some very interesting conversations about personal responsibility. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed this Joules Vern flavoured novel.

Clara Poole and the Long Way Round has everything we want in a middle grade adventure: exotic settings, humor, heart, quirky characters, and a catchy premise: a hot air balloon race around the world.

Clara is a daredevil heroine at odds with her protective father, who wants to keep her safe after her mother's death, the result of an unfortunate accident for which Clara feels responsible. When Clara opts to take a risky ride on a chair-turned-hot-air-balloon, she catches the attention of WOOBA, the company who runs a hot air balloon race around the world. Looming changes in Clara's present lead her to accept WOOBA'S offer to be their Face of the Race (without her father's permission, of course). She joins forces with a seasoned pilot (and her piloting monkeys) as she rides the skies ... and her nervous father tags along.

Clara's role as spokesperson for the race's sponsors introduces us to several hilarious inventions that Clara struggles to endorse, creating fun, comical situations. And the world of the pilots presents lively side characters and dangerous sky adventures. Clara's escapades in the skies help her come to terms with her problems on the ground and assert herself as a capable heroine ... and daughter. This book deserves to be read by middle graders and adults alike!

I really enjoyed this middle grade story! I found the setting to be really unique and reminiscent of The Aeronauts movie that came out a few years ago with Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. I loved the super diverse cast of characters and think that many young people will really gravitate towards this story.There was a really strong joyful feel to this story that will be met positively by its target age group. Whimsical and magical without necessarily being a fantasy.

This exciting adventure and balloon race takes me back to Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days which is one of my favorite race/adventure books. This one gives us a peculiar daredevil: Clara who will join a similar race. It has fun characters and humor that sometimes border on silly. Sometimes I felt she didn't take control of the story as was just there for the ride. But overall it's a thrilling journey.

I really loved this book! It‘a full of humour and adventure and heart. I loved Clara and her adventurous spirit and the wacky cast of characters she meets after joining the race. Hatsu was my favourite and all her silly sweets fueled antics. She makes an excellent partner in crime and provides great comic relief. Greta Gildersleeve was also a favourite. She slowly lets you in and you end up loving her. I mean how can you not when she races with three monkeys that she lives like family!? They were hilarious and loveable as well.

The whole concept of an air balloon race and the fun technology that the author created to make it even more exciting really made this story. I loved the whole concept of the Zephyrus and the floating docking stations. This magical building sounds like a place I’d love to visit and its wacky elevator reminded me of Willy Wonka’s great glass elevator.

I especially loved the real world facts and places that are mentioned throughout the race. I spent some time researching them as they came up and learned some new and interesting things. I could see great ways to tie in if this book was being read in school.

I think readers will enjoy the adventurous spirit of this story and all the alliteratively named quirky characters that are along for the ride. There are great reveals and twists and an ending you can cheer for!

A series of unplanned events leads to Clara Poole being entered into a crazy hot air balloon race. And not just any race, a race around the globe! Add to this monkey co-pilots, sinister competitors and all kinds of family history and you have a recipe for an unforgettable adventure.

This book has all my favourite elements of a middle-grade book
1) It reads quickly and easily but without dumbing down any language.
2) It is quirky and creative and full of action.
3) All the family and friends!

I absolutely loved it!

Rating: 3.2 stars

*May contain spoilers*


This book follows a young girl with a daredevil streak. This risk-taking, adrenaline-seeking need of hers gets her into a lot of trouble—even resulting in a devastating accident where she loses someone she loves. She will eventually find herself on an epic air balloon race, full of more dangers than she could’ve probably bargained for that will provide for her a chance to face her grief head-on.


I did find some parts incredibly unrealistic and dangerous and feel they lacked proper consequences. When we’re writing books geared to youth, I think it’s very important to label dangerous behaviour or have consequences following decisions such as getting in the car with people to a foreign country who are ultimately strangers. At least have the main character reflect on why this is a bad idea, why it’s dangerous, or have someone older and wiser point it out and have it be taken seriously. I also found it unrealistic they wouldn’t require her father to sign something, etc. like maybe she could’ve forged a signature, something (not that that’s a good thing, and should also have consequences, but it would at least make it more realistic why she was able to get away with it).


I would've liked to see Clara's anxiety come out more with the storms and really have that pushed for the why she suddenly wanted out of the contract/race, because as it stands we see her as really reckless, a daredevil who probably doesn't think much of the consequences of her actions or think harm will come to her, so her wanting to pull out because of danger doesn’t make much sense otherwise. But if the author had the memory of her accident flash in her mind at the mention of storms and then she wanted to pull out of the race that would make sense. I just feel the reason wasn't clear and it at first seemed out of character till I thought more about it. But maybe this was explained and I just missed it.


I would’ve actually liked to have seen her father have a change of heart and choose to go with her to England and join the race, instead of her basically running away. I know he was by nature more cautious, but maybe if the grandmother talked to him about how his daughter needed him, he could rise above that part of himself. I know he does eventually, but this would’ve made it more believable.


I feel like if this book were fantasy and not set in modern day England, I could brush off the complete ridiculousness of the rules like how this underage child signed a contract she cannot get out of even though it was under duress and without parental approval. Likewise, the one girl passing out at breakfast and her mom just saying it is because she likes her sweets, and nothing is seen as an emergency is very weird. I get it's supposed to be comical, but...


Many of the characters are very ridiculous as well. Again, I feel like it may just be the time and place that's the issue here. If set in a different culture/time period/world then it may not have seemed so out-of-place ridiculous how so many of the characters behaved.


This book was a well-written, easy read, flowed well, and I found it easy to care about Clara. There were some very beautiful descriptions of the scenery. I really loved the first couple chapters, before she left to England. I found those flowed super well and were emotion-evoking, and I would’ve given the book 4/5 stars based on those chapters, but as the book progressed, I found some parts dragged for me and I lacked the connection I was hoping for with the characters and story at least until toward the end. When her father steps up finally, then things improved, and I did like the mystery elements surrounding Landon’s lineage.


It seems a lot of people liked it, so maybe I’m being a bit nit-picky. And it isn’t that I didn’t like it. Believe me, if I did, it would’ve just been DNFed, but I did finish it so it was a decent read. Maybe as a young reader of middle-grade, and not an older writer AND reader of middle-grade fiction, I would’ve rated it higher, I don’t know.

The author does a great job of bringing his story to life through his writing style and rich descriptions of events. I could see this being adapted into a graphic novel (which might be helpful for helping younger readers better picture what is being described regarding the races). The story itself moves a good pace for its intended audience and should keep those readers engaged and excited to find out what will happen next. The sense of comradery among the children (and eventually their families) offered a good message to younger readers as well about supporting one another and that sometimes winning isn't the most important thing. I don't know if this is intended as a standalone story or a series, but I would happily read more of the (mis)adventures that these characters will most likely get up to at Air Academy. The author also does a great job of talking about grief without having to explicitly tell readers that is what he is doing. Clara's need to escape a situation in which she feels she has no control is a feeling many readers will probably relate to. I only wish Clara had been depicted as learning to become a pilot - it is usually someone else doing the actual piloting. I would definitely recommend this for a classroom and school library!

📚 this is a joy ride through fantasy and adventure at the same time. It tells a story about a girl who loves to sneak around and do extreme activities such as climbing trees. Sadly, she got struck by the lighting while climbing the windmill. At that moment her mom died after saving her from the windmill. Time goes by but Clara always keeps in mind that the death of her mother was because of her. But, she intends not to remember about it. And there's a distance between her and her father after all the incidents. Made her uncomfortable and sometimes decided to do things uncommon such as flying with hundred balloons that tied to a chair at a science festival project!

👉 Then, she is being grounded after flying through michigan and landed at the lake near her farm. But, her journey or I called it as destiny didn't stop at that moment. The chance of her became the real adventure open after the proposal that she received from Wooba. She asked for joining a race up with an air balloon that promised her to travel around the world with it. And it will lead her to become a pilot and celebrity as well.

🥳 This was a light reading and fun reading that packed with interesting adventure and great writing style. It may remind you of Traveling Around the World in 80 Days which was written by Jules Verne. But, this was packed for children and yes, it's different yet thrilling. So glad I could read it and enjoyed the adventure with Clara dan Greta ❤

What a whirlwind of an adventure through the skies! I enjoyed this eARC from NetGalley.

Kids are going to love following Clara Poole in a balloon race around the globe. The cast of characters are so diverse – the pilots are mostly human. Each have their own lovable quirks, and many have their own backstories guiding their actions throughout the book. I adore the way the children in the race, though competing, band together.

The setting is so unique! Race segments take place over specific sections of Earth, and you can really picture all the different balloon set-ups. The floating “headquarters” they return to each time is amazing. I loved reading those details.

There’s never a dull moment in the book, always something unexpected going on that drives Clara forward and entertains the reader. As this is first in a series, I can’t wait to see what happens in the next adventure. I hope it takes place where the author hinted at the end of the first book.

4.5 rounded up
Excellent start to a middle school series. Wonderful characters and heartwarming story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

What worked:
This story reminds me a bit of another book I’ve recently read, “The Great Texas Dragon Race”, with its own differences. Clara is a fearless young girl and has an innate passion for heights. The plot’s hook in the opening pages finds her stranded in a plastic lawn chair, suspended under gas-filled balloons, drifting in the sky toward Lake Michigan. This event leads to her immediate, worldwide fame in newspapers and media which draws the attention of the organizer of a balloon race around the world. Clara manages to get into the race and hopes to convince her father that they shouldn’t leave their farm and move to Chicago. A big twist in the plot is the fact that her daring stunts led to the death of her mother one year before so her father is now overprotective of Clara’s safety.
Clara ends up as the “copilot” for a crotchety, 80+year-old woman named Gildersleeve who’s been in this race longer than many competitors have been alive. Her actual copilots are three monkeys named Mayhem, Houdini, and Bob with entertaining personalities and talents. They’re able to swiftly maneuver through the balloon’s riggings and they even man the helm, keeping the ship on course. The monkey named Bob gets a hostile attitude when he’s insulted, which is exactly what Clara’s father does. These monkeys prove to be skilled navigators and add unpredictable drama and amusing moments to the plot.
The author presents a range of characters that antagonize and comfort Clara. Clara becomes this year’s Face of the Race so last year’s personality, Ophelia, takes an instant dislike to her. Ophelia oozes superior airs toward everyone and she demeans Clara at every opportunity. The youngest competitor is Hatsu, a sugar-loving co-pilot with Team Ussuri who also has a deep adoration for Clara. Other co-pilots Clara’s age become friends but her main antagonist is an old pilot named Godfrey Sway. Clara knows the man has a past, secret history with Gildersleeve but she can’t understand the hatred and malice he has toward her pilot. Clara quickly figures out this man will do anything to become the 100th winner of this legendary balloon race.
What didn’t work as well:
The plot follows Clara’s character all the way through so other characters aren’t as fully developed. It would be nice to know more about Hatsu specifically since she’s Clara’s most inspired supporter. The story is still very entertaining and presume a sequel will provide deeper character development.
The Final Verdict:
Readers are quickly immersed in Clara’s need to escape the shroud of her father’s protection and live a more exciting life of her own making. Different parent-child relationships are part of the story and add different perspectives on family issues. Overall, this book shares a thrilling adventure and I recommend you give it a shot.