Second Edition
Winner of the 2008 Gold Moonbeam Award for juvenile fiction
Claude and Medea aren’t expecting an odd substitute teacher to change their lives. Nor are they anticipating the dangerous adventure in store for them. They seem like normal kids. But are they? Claude has famous parents and sticks to the rules. Medea’s got a scholarship to a fancy private school and can’t get in trouble. How is it that they are thrown together, trying to outsmart Manhattan criminals? And why do they care so much about the weird Ms. Rattlebee? Find out what makes this unlikely pair begin to view the world differently, and to risk everything.
“There are so many things to love about this book: the characters, the suspense, the courage and compassion of the protagonists, and the fact that kids won’t be able to put the book down. At a time when young people feel growing anxiety about the problems in the world, Claude and Medea demonstrate the power of making a difference, and their strange substitute teacher demonstrates the power of education to ignite both learning and action. And who doesn’t love a great story about dogs!?”—Marc Bekoff, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Guggenheim Fellow, and author of dozens of books about dogs and other animals
“Claude & Medea is a book that matters. A riveting story of adventure and activism, it will engage young people’s imagination and also challenge them to think, feel, and, quite possibly, act in some profoundly new ways. It is a must-read for middle schoolers and for anyone of any age who wants to increase their curiosity, compassion, and moral courage. I truly believe this book belongs in school and classroom libraries everywhere!”—Steve Cochrane, former Superintendent of the Year, Princeton Public Schools
“Inspiring for young readers and adults alike, Claude & Medea tells the story of two New York City teens and improbable friends who learn firsthand what it means to be solutionaries—like revolutionaries only “with the goal of solving problems and making a difference.” This fictional book takes one on an enthralling city adventure that will surely capture the attention of children while teaching them about environmental, social, and animal issues, such as modern-day slavery and animal research, with both accuracy and sensitivity. Claude and Medea are the kind of hero protagonists our world needs now: compassionate, curious, and courageous. I highly recommend this unique book for school libraries, youth organizations, and any young person in your life.”—Elizabeth O. Crawford, teacher educator and mom of a nine-year-old budding solutionary
“Claude & Medea is a call-to-action and invitation to the table for middle schoolers, educators, and classrooms around the world. From age-appropriate conversations about systemic imbalances, responsible consumption and production, and how to be a force for positive change, the adventures of the Solutionary Squad inside these pages, as inspired by their teacher Ms. Flora Rattlebee, take learning, changemaking, and action to a new level. Imagine if every middle school inspired kids to flip their thinking, choose their own learning adventure, and make the world their classroom!”—Julia Fliss, Language Arts, Leadership, and World Studies Teacher
“Claude & Medea is an impressive story that will take readers on a journey of self-discovery. Through each character, readers will be inspired to think about how they can impact the world. Teeming with thought-provoking themes such as kindness, preservation, and the humane treatment of all living beings, Claude & Medea will remind each of us that when we endeavor to better the world, we also better ourselves.”—Andrea Jamison, Professor of School Librarianship, and former Chair of the American Library Association’s Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Roundtable
“Claude & Medea: The Hellburn Dogs was the most inspiring book I have ever read. My favorite part was Chapter 6 when Ms. Rattlebee took them on the wonder walk. It’s incredible how Ms. Rattlebee opened their eyes to the world by just inviting them to notice all the wonders around them, which inspired them to solve problems that in the beginning, they wouldn’t even have noticed. That was my favorite part—how one moment can change you forever. It inspired me sooooo much!”—Clemence Laigle, 6th grade student, Evergreen Middle School
“I love seeing a story that shows children can make a difference in the world. The young people that make their way into global media can seem distant and impossible to match. That’s where fiction comes in, and Zoe Weil has provided a pair of heroes that everyone can relate to. And which kid hero doesn’t want a Ms. Rattlebee?”—Matt Langdon, Founder of the Hero Round Table
“Claude & Medea: The Hellburn Dogs is a thrilling and engaging read. The story follows the journey of two friends, Claude and Medea, who meet a substitute teacher named Ms. Rattlebee. This encounter leads them to become more aware of the injustices towards animals, and they decide to take action. . . . It teaches valuable lessons about compassion, empathy, and activism. I highly recommend this book to other children and young adults as it is a well-written story that is both entertaining and educational.”—Vienna Langdon, age thirteen
“A substitute teacher strikes like lightning, jolting some kids out of their middle school trance of self-concern into a sense of wonder, compassion, and determination to seek justice. The kids, led by the passion of Claude and Medea, discover they can create lives of meaning by seeking to do good and defeat corruption. A fun book with a deep message about the need for a generation of solutionaries. Highly recommended.”—Robert Shetterly, Founder of Americans Who Tell the Truth and author of Portraits of Earth Justice: Americans Who Tell the Truth
“Illuminating! Seeing the world through the eyes of author Zoe Weil is always an adventure. In Claude & Madea, she delivers a page-turning, first-class detective story, transporting us back to our childhood while delivering a powerful truth: we are all capable of creating solutions to what seem like insurmountable problems. This story reminds us that when we live with compassion toward others, we are given insight that activates our brains to become solutionary thinkers. Every school should have a solutionary squad, and every kid should read this book!”—Jennifer Skiff, Author of The Divinity of Dogs and Rescuing Ladybugs: Inspirational Encounters with Animals That Changed the World
