The Fairview Review: March 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom

Ages: 9+ | 272 Pages

Publisher: Holiday House (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-0-8234-6050-2

Publisher’s Book Summary: “Difficult” student Callie joins a philosophy club seeking the wisdom she needs to keep her beloved but equally difficult dog in this hilarious, heartfelt middle-grade novel for underdogs and dog-lovers alike!

Once Callie (Calliope Callisto Clark) starts saying something, it’s hard for her to stop. The opinion gets bigger and bigger, her voice gets louder and louder—and she gets in more and more trouble. She’s in trouble with her teacher, who likes order and not Callie. She’s in bigger trouble with her Grampy, who blames Callie and her dog (a.k.a. Best Ever Friend) Archie for his ever-rising blood pressure. Then there’s the biggest trouble of all… just one more strike, and Callie could lose her beloved Archie forever.

When she turns to Greek philosophy for answers on how to solve her problems, she only gets more questions: What is justice? What is fairness? And as her problems get bigger, so do her questions: Is it Callie’s fault when Grampy has a stroke?

Told in Callie’s endearing, energetic voice, Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom is sure to speak to any student who’s ever been called “disruptive.” Acclaimed children’s book author and retired philosophy professor Claudia Mills delivers a heartfelt middle-grade novel for misunderstood readers who feel like they’re living their own Greek tragedies.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

ORDER LINKS

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Bookshop.org

MY REVIEW

Callie (or Calliope Callisto Clark, as she prefers to be called), is a girl that is full of energy and personality. She has decided opinions about most things, such as the belief that the new kid in school is trying to be a teacher’s pet, or that her best friend is the most awesome person ever. And some of those same characteristics are what make Calliope so unpopular with her teacher, Miss Kippenberger.

Readers will sympathize with Calliope’s predicament when her grandfather warns her that he will return her dog to the animal shelter to be rehomed if she causes any more trouble. Calliope reacts in a way typical among children. She decides that if she can only be perfect and try extra hard to do everything right, then Grampy will be happy with her and won’t take Archie away. It takes the rest of the book for her to realize that no one is perfect and she just needs to do her best.

It may come as a surprise to readers that Calliope decides to investigate ancient Greek philosophy in order to find some life wisdom that will help her on her self-appointed journey to perfection. I really enjoyed the character of Mr. Davenport, the school librarian. The way he made the library a welcoming place for the students and how willing he was to start a philosophy club because a few kids showed an interest went right to my heart. I believe middle grade readers will love this look at dealing with school, grouchy adults, and figuring out your philosophy of life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Claudia Mills has written over sixty books for children, including The Lost Language, an NCTE Notable Verse Novel, a Charlotte Huck Recommended Book, A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year, and A Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book. Her most recent book, The Last Apple Tree, received a starred review in Kirkus Reviews. She is a recipient of the Kerlan Award for her contribution to children’s literature. She was a professor of philosophy for more than two decades at the University of Colorado. She lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Visit her at claudiamillsauthor.com.

https://www.facebook.com/claudiamillsauthor/

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https://www.instagram.com/claudiamillswriter/

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Wednesday, February 18, 2026

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Book Review of Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom

Thursday, February 19, 2026

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Book Review of Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom

Friday, February 20, 2026