A Many Feathered Thing

Eleven-year-old Clara, known for drawing, thinks she lacks the suffering required to be a true artist. She is embarrassed by her full name, Clarity Kartoffel, and finds public speaking extremely difficult. After Clara and her longtime friend Orion break a neighbor’s glass gazing ball, she decides to confront difficult tasks deliberately. Her first challenge is approaching the neighbor, whom she finds intimidating. The story follows Clara’s ideas about art, embarrassment, friendship, and facing fears.