All eighteen-year-old Maisie Clark wants to do is leave her tiny town in upstate New York. Crescent Valley is home to Glenna’s, the family-run portrait shop she loves more than anything. But after years of imitating her dad’s artistic style, Maisie fears she will never find her own voice. So, she comes up with a plan: quit working at Glenna’s, go to art school in London, and, most importantly, stop painting portraits. If she can’t find her voice by the end of the year, she’ll give up art entirely.
Unfortunately, pushing outside her comfort zone is (surprise!) uncomfortable. Maisie struggles to connect with her eccentric new flatmates, feels farther away from her best friend than ever, and hates every art course she signed up for—especially photography, where her talented but prickly partner, Eli, is not afraid to point out her every mistake on their semester-long project. Maisie is already questioning all her life choices when a crime strikes Glenna’s, reopening old family wounds she thought she’d long healed from. It’ll take even more discomfort, as well as help from Eli, her older brother, Calum, and his earnest boyfriend, Benji, to confront the layers she’s painted over the past. But maybe, just maybe, the keys to finding herself lie closer to home than she realized.
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Praise for THE COMPLEX ART OF BEING MAISIE CLARK:
“[Maisie's] inner voice captures the confused, unfiltered thoughts of a teenager—full of self-doubt, sarcasm, and bursts of confidence—in this thoughtful, character-driven story of growth. A well-realized coming-of-age story that celebrates art and the journey to accepting yourself.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Maisie Clark may be searching for her artistic style, but she’s mastered wit, charm, and heart. There’s a warmth to Kleckner’s sophomore novel that invites readers to root for the bold and vibrant Maisie as she navigates her first semester of college and finds her voice. With a lovely sunshine meets grump pairing, an endearing sibling dynamic, and characters who feel like friends, The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark is compassionate and real.” —Kalie Holford, author of The Last Love Song
“Kleckner beautifully captures Maisie’s emotional landscape in her bright personality and bantery voice, as well as the touching conversations that help her begin to believe in herself. With themes of self-discovery, bravery, and starting over, this story will stick with readers past its ending.” —Booklist
“Sabrina Kleckner delivers a heartwarming, giddiness-inducing journey in search of what it means to find your identity, proving that coming of age is not only a complex art but also a masterpiece of coloring outside the lines! —Matthew Hubbard, author of The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge and The Rebel’s Guide to Pride
“The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark is a warm, heartfelt, and creative exploration of art, family, and the ways people change. Maisie’s art school journey takes her from surface-level attempts at reinventions to a deeper understanding of both herself and the people closest to her. With complex, three-dimensional characters, a vividly rendered world, and a story that’s both humorous and profound, this book, like Maisie herself, is easy to love.” —Elizabeth Holden, author of Mighty Milly Novak
“Vibrant, hilarious, and sweet, The Complex Art of Being Maisie Clark deftly captures the excitement and awkwardness of the transition between high school and university. Through Maisie’s sharp and utterly engaging voice, Sabrina Kleckner paints an honest, empathetic portrait of a girl struggling and determined to define her own style as an artist and as a person. A web of unique and tenderly drawn relationships form the heart of this story about art-making, connection, and self-discovery.” —Leyla Brittan, author of Ros Demir Is Not the One
“Heartwarming and charming—readers will be taken in by Maisie’s list to change her life and enjoy the ride as she learns that life, college, and even creativity cannot be defined or reinvented by a list. It’s a testament to starting over, not by force but by choice, and the emotional roller coaster that comes with that decision. Throughout her highs and lows, readers will cheer as Maisie finds just exactly who she is and, more importantly, who she wants to be.” —Gretchen Schreiber, author of Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal
Character Art:
Maisie & Calum
Art by @pamelandraws
Maisie & Eli
Art by @pamelandraws
Calum & Benji
Art by @pamelandraws