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A review by aurigae
Claudia and the Bad Joke by Ann M. Martin
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.
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.