Reviews

Claudia and the Bad Joke by Ann M. Martin

final_maks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

dannic99's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

alinathecrabbycancer's review against another edition

5.0

I’ve never read a book from the pov of a person with a broken leg. I can understand why Claudia was hesitant to get back into babysitting after that accident.

All I can say is that I would not want to sit for Betsy Sobak either. Ever.

library_of_joanne's review against another edition

lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

erica_reads_itall's review against another edition

3.0

This is one of the BSC books that just didn't sit well with me. In general, as (apparently) a helicopter parent, it is hard for me accept the autonomy of the very young kids in these books and their also-very-young sitters. But in this installment, prankster kid Betsy tricks Claudia into getting into a broken swing, causing her to break her leg. As a child, I guess broken bones seemed like a bizarre act of chance. As an adult, I am full of questions: How tall is this swingset, and is it on top of concrete or steel spikes or something? Do Betsy's parents maintain it at all? And, most importantly, after Claudia is injured due to their negligence and their child's deception, how dare Betsy's parents ask the BSC to sit again?!

Also, this book was a waste of Claudia's personality. There were a few mentions of her troubles in school and a whole drama about what-if-she'd-broken-her-arm-and-couldn't-do-art, but we never actually see her struggling with schoolwork or doing any art. There are one or two conversations with Mimi, but no arguments with Janine or clashes with Kristy. She barely even eats any junk food! I'm left wondering if the broken leg has led to an undiagnosed depression.

ratherbereadin's review

3.0

2.75 stars

seejennread's review against another edition

3.0

I broke my ankle in 2nd grade. We were sitting on the floor doing math problems (why, I have no idea) and my teacher told us to hurry up and get to our seats. In my haste, I jumped over a chair and tripped over someone's math book and bam broken ankle. I don't remember a whole lot after that, except rolling out to my mom's car on an office chair and then having to twist my ankle all around for the x-rays (why must they be so cruel?!). I had to hobble around on crutches for what felt like forever but was probably only about 6-8 weeks? After I got the cast off, I remember how weak and ucky my leg looked lol. And we had a family trip to DisneyWorld planned for almost exactly a month after I got my cast off, so I had to go out and walk around the neighborhood every night with my mom to get my strength up. The first day we were at Disney, my then 4 year old sister and I both had to be carried out lol.

All that to say that this BSC book really hits close to home for me! :) That Betsy Sobak is a little snot and she should have all her joke stuff taken away from her! I mean, come on. Yeah, she's cute and all...the door was opened by a friendly looking girl with brown hair, which had been pulled into two ponytails and tied with big blue ribbons. She was wearing a very snazzy pair of red pants that were held up by red suspenders. Under the suspenders was a blue-and-white-striped T-shirt. The legs of her pants ended in cuffs, and on her feet were running shoes tied with purple laces.

But she's a menace to society with those joy buzzers and shaving cream sundaes. I don't blame Claudia one bit for wanting to quit baby-sitting after this either; I never wanted to do math again after that hah! The BSC'ers really acted their age in this one, which was refreshing to see but also super frustrating. They're supposed to be Super Sitters; why would they stoop to the kid's level and play all these pranks on her? And Kristy letting her get "lost" at the movie theater? No. They should have gone to the parents, first thing. For shame Kristin Amanda Thomas, for shame.

Blogged: SeeJennRead

grapeapril75's review against another edition

4.0

Fantastic books for young girls getting into reading!! Great stories about friendship and life lessons. The characters deal with all sorts of situations and often find responsible solutions to problems.

I loved this series growing up and wanted to start my own babysitting business with friends. Great lessons in entrepreneurship for tweens.

The books may be dated with out references to modern technology but the story stands and lessons are still relevant.

Awesome books that girls will love! And the series grows with them! Terrific Author!

0wlnerd_likes_to_read's review against another edition

3.0

This book was pretty good and very realistic (kudos, AMM!) I did kind of hate that all the practical joking was just kids (and no grownups got involved---the Sobak parents were hardly in the story!) Also, I think that the pranking from Betsy was a little too much, especially because pranking was what got Claudia in the hospital in the first place.

But the hospital scenes were spot on---and while I've never broken a leg, I have broken a toe, so I definitely understand Claudia's restlessness...

rants_n_reads's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0