The Baby-Sitters Club #40: Claudia and the Middle School Mystery
Hmmm. This book was a pleasant surprise. I knew I'd read it before, but only because I remembered the outfit that the blonde girl (Shawna Riverson?) on the cover wore. I totally had a very similar red and white striped sweater and white skirt that was fabulous, while Claudia's cover outfit looks like something my best friend's dad would have worn while feeding the pigs in their barn. Ugh, Claud.
So Janine helps Claudia study for her math test and for once she feels really good about it. After taking the test, she feels like she did really well, so she's thrilled when she gets it back with an A-. Except then, at the end of class, the teacher calls her and Shawna Riverson forward to compare their tests: they're exactly the same! Seriously, who's this dumb? Who doesn't know that you have to change at least a few things when you're cheating off the person sitting next to you? I guess if you're that certain you can frame the other person as the cheater it doesn't matter, but really, Shawna Riverson? That seems like quite a risk. Maybe you are not as smart as Claudia seems to think.
Showing posts with label Janine the Genius. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Janine the Genius. Show all posts
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Claudia thought she'd never have to say good-bye.
The Baby-sitters Club #26: Claudia and the Sad Good-bye
Now this is why I read these books. Brava, Ann M. Martin, brava. No, people, I'm being totally serious. I knew right from the start that I would like this one. I remember thinking it was so sad when I read it as a kid (I might even have cried. And as you've probably guessed, I am not a crier. I'm a judger, and judgers can't be criers.) And that was even before I went through the harrowing experience of losing my own beloved grandfather in a very similar way. I was Janine's age and my sister was Claudia's age when it happened (My brothers do not fit into my analogy, so we will conveniently forget them for the moment.) Much like Mimi, we knew my DziaDzia was sick with cancer, but no one expected that when he went to the hospital that Monday morning, he would be gone by Tuesday afternoon. At least, if they did expect it, no one ever told us kids. I felt blindsided and betrayed, and reading about Claudia brought it all vividly back, because Claudia (and Janine's) responses are pitch-perfect. This is exactly how kids in this situation react, and I know, because I lived it.
Okay, so backing up and stepping away from my personal drama for the moment, we all remember that Mimi had a stroke during the summer after Claud's seventh grade year. Since then, she's been fine, but definitely not great. She's regained some mobility and speech functions, enough that she is able to talk with Claud and have special tea, and cook dinner, which I'm not sure is the best idea, but... You know what? Forgive me, but I'm finding it really hard to snark on this plotline, so just for this book, I'm going to just go ahead and tell it like it is. We'll return to your regularly scheduled judgemental and slightly mocking tone for the next report.
Now this is why I read these books. Brava, Ann M. Martin, brava. No, people, I'm being totally serious. I knew right from the start that I would like this one. I remember thinking it was so sad when I read it as a kid (I might even have cried. And as you've probably guessed, I am not a crier. I'm a judger, and judgers can't be criers.) And that was even before I went through the harrowing experience of losing my own beloved grandfather in a very similar way. I was Janine's age and my sister was Claudia's age when it happened (My brothers do not fit into my analogy, so we will conveniently forget them for the moment.) Much like Mimi, we knew my DziaDzia was sick with cancer, but no one expected that when he went to the hospital that Monday morning, he would be gone by Tuesday afternoon. At least, if they did expect it, no one ever told us kids. I felt blindsided and betrayed, and reading about Claudia brought it all vividly back, because Claudia (and Janine's) responses are pitch-perfect. This is exactly how kids in this situation react, and I know, because I lived it.
Okay, so backing up and stepping away from my personal drama for the moment, we all remember that Mimi had a stroke during the summer after Claud's seventh grade year. Since then, she's been fine, but definitely not great. She's regained some mobility and speech functions, enough that she is able to talk with Claud and have special tea, and cook dinner, which I'm not sure is the best idea, but... You know what? Forgive me, but I'm finding it really hard to snark on this plotline, so just for this book, I'm going to just go ahead and tell it like it is. We'll return to your regularly scheduled judgemental and slightly mocking tone for the next report.
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