Scan barcode
situationnormal's review against another edition
4.0
A Claudia book is like a breath of fresh air after what feels like a century of Dawn and Mallory (who I actually thought were great at the beginning of the series, so why do the writers make them so annoying now?) This book didn't follow the formula for explanations as closely as a lot of the books, either, which was nice.
Sadly, though, not much babysitter friendships (although it was made up for by some sisterly bonding) and the mystery was obvious from the first page, so not a full five stars. One of the most enjoyable that I've read for a while, still, though.
Sadly, though, not much babysitter friendships (although it was made up for by some sisterly bonding) and the mystery was obvious from the first page, so not a full five stars. One of the most enjoyable that I've read for a while, still, though.
bibliotequeish's review
CLAUDIAAAA
As a kid my best friends sister had the whole BSC series on a book shelf in her room. I thought she was so grown up. And I envied this bookshelf. And would often poke my head into that room just to look at it.
And when I read BSC, I felt like such a grown up.
And while I might have still been a little too young to understand some of the issues dealt with in these books, I do appreciated that Ann M. Martin tackled age appropriate issues, some being deeper than others, but still important.
As a kid my best friends sister had the whole BSC series on a book shelf in her room. I thought she was so grown up. And I envied this bookshelf. And would often poke my head into that room just to look at it.
And when I read BSC, I felt like such a grown up.
And while I might have still been a little too young to understand some of the issues dealt with in these books, I do appreciated that Ann M. Martin tackled age appropriate issues, some being deeper than others, but still important.
impybelle's review
3.0
Mystery at Claudia's House is less Mystery at Casa Kishi and more "why is Janine acting so weird?" But because she's Janine, everyone laughs at Mallory when she chooses the simplest explanation: That Janine has a boyfriend, or at least has a crush on some guy and wants him to notice her.
Silly Mallory, boys are for Claudia and Stacey, not 16 year old Janine.
Except, you know, she's right.
While not exactly a mystery, and certainly not one I'd really think should have been in the "mystery" series, the book is very good for what it is. Bonus points are handed out like candy for it being so Janine centric.
Silly Mallory, boys are for Claudia and Stacey, not 16 year old Janine.
Except, you know, she's right.
While not exactly a mystery, and certainly not one I'd really think should have been in the "mystery" series, the book is very good for what it is. Bonus points are handed out like candy for it being so Janine centric.
jamietherebelliousreader's review
3.0
3 stars. Based on the title I thought the plot was going to be something else but really it’s just that Janine has been acting weird and Claudia wants to know what’s going on. It was fine. Very easy from the start to realize it was just that Janine had a man and was trying to keep him a secret but it was cute. I loved seeing Janine be so carefree and in love. Fun read but it felt like it could've been apart of the main BSC series as it's really not a mystery at all.
lberestecki's review
lighthearted
medium-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
3.25
finesilkflower's review
3.0
Janine is acting strange.
Claudia has never known Janine to lie, so when she catches her in obvious lies and evasions, she begins to worry. Is Janine in trouble? Claudia is also concerned when she begins to feel as though someone is going through her stuff. Things aren't where she left them. What is 'someone' looking for and who is it? Using her top-secret spy tailing techniques, Claudia learns that Janine has a boyfriend, a handsome white nerd named Jerry. Janine has been secretly 'borrowing' clothes from fashionable Claudia and lying about her whereabouts to avoid telling her family about her personal business.
This is such a non-mystery that the author has trouble sustaining it for the length of the book. It would have been better if there had been a more substantial red herring (maybe if Janine was working on a top-secret project and Claudia was reading a pulp mystery that puts thoughts of espionage into her head).
Read as a kid: Yes and it was actually one of my favorites. As a child I did not care that the solution to the mystery was obvious. I especially liked the scene of Claudia giving Janine a makeover. Tan France-like, she is sensitive to what types of clothes make Janine feel confident and comfortable, and pulls together an outfit from her own closet that is an elevated version of Janine's typical look. That idea stayed with me, of doing a subtle makeover by taking your usual style and just finding versions of the same things you like to wear, but a little nicer, a little more a nudge in the direction you want to go. And the idea of reusing old elements in a new way to create a different look. I still think of it every time I try to shake up my style.
Claudia has never known Janine to lie, so when she catches her in obvious lies and evasions, she begins to worry. Is Janine in trouble? Claudia is also concerned when she begins to feel as though someone is going through her stuff. Things aren't where she left them. What is 'someone' looking for and who is it? Using her top-secret spy tailing techniques, Claudia learns that Janine has a boyfriend, a handsome white nerd named Jerry. Janine has been secretly 'borrowing' clothes from fashionable Claudia and lying about her whereabouts to avoid telling her family about her personal business.
This is such a non-mystery that the author has trouble sustaining it for the length of the book. It would have been better if there had been a more substantial red herring (maybe if Janine was working on a top-secret project and Claudia was reading a pulp mystery that puts thoughts of espionage into her head).
Read as a kid: Yes and it was actually one of my favorites. As a child I did not care that the solution to the mystery was obvious. I especially liked the scene of Claudia giving Janine a makeover. Tan France-like, she is sensitive to what types of clothes make Janine feel confident and comfortable, and pulls together an outfit from her own closet that is an elevated version of Janine's typical look. That idea stayed with me, of doing a subtle makeover by taking your usual style and just finding versions of the same things you like to wear, but a little nicer, a little more a nudge in the direction you want to go. And the idea of reusing old elements in a new way to create a different look. I still think of it every time I try to shake up my style.
lemonflower's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
sammah's review
3.0
I really loved this one! I vaguely remembered the premise from when I was a kid, but it was nice to read it again and be a little bit surprised. The initial "mystery" of who was in Claudia's room was solved pretty fast, but oh that sweet Janine mystery!
I loved (and still do) that Janine got herself a hot nerdy boyfriend. You go, girl! Just as long as you eventually married Charlie Thomas. Childhood power couple shit right there!
I loved (and still do) that Janine got herself a hot nerdy boyfriend. You go, girl! Just as long as you eventually married Charlie Thomas. Childhood power couple shit right there!