# 117 Claudia and the terrible truth

I've never read this book. Does the client smack his kid across the face or on the butt? And why is Claudia hiding in a cupboard?

Claudia hears him slap one of the kids across the face. Another time he gives one of the children a black eye. I don't really think Claudia's disapproval of this sort of thing means she is a "sheltered little girl." It wasn't like it was a little swat on the butt. I'm pretty sure that we can say that hitting a child in the face is child abuse without needing to put quotes around the phrase. He's also verbally abusive.

Sorry if I sound annoyed. I realize that no one else in this thread has actually read the book, and didn't know exactly what behaviours Claudia was calling abusive. But I'm a bit touchy about abuse issues lately.

Oh okay, if he was belting his kids across the face and giving them black eyes, it's most definitely child abuse. I was thinking it was typical zomg BSC hysteria over what, realistically, amounts to nothing.

I need to reread but I remember liking this book because I thought it dealt pretty decently with the important issue of child abuse - Claudia actually gets help from her mother. Strange concept in BSC land. From what I remember, Mr. Nicholls was truly abusive - mentally, verbally, and physically. In one scene, I think I remember him causing a big issue because one of the boys touched his briefcase. I also remember thinking when reading it that he has many of the typical characterisitics of abusive parents and thought that the book was good because it might give kids an idea that this type of behavior (not merely discipline in "super strict" Richard Spier style) was not normal and that it was okay to tell someone: Claudia's mom helped the boys' mom do something.
I've probably gone on too much about I book I don't remember well but wanted to add these thoughts before I forgot them and probably won't get a chance to reread the book for a bit.

Wow, after reading some more detailed descriptions, I'll definitely have to rethink my position on this book. Wish I had a copy to re-read, because it does not sound like typical BSC fluff. I'm glad Claudia got help from her mother. I think any other scenario would've sent an irresponsible message to the intended audience. If a child knows of someone who's being abused (with airtight evidence) they most definitely need to speak up to a parent. Sounds like this issue was handled quite well.

^ Gah. I'm going to ignore their stupid shamrock parade. I don't know if I've ever read the entire sub-plot.

I liked this book, definitely one of the better "heavy issues" ones. I really liked how Claud went to her mother right away, and how Mrs. Nicholls reacts when Mrs. Kishi tries to talk to her about it. I thought the entire thing was really well dealt with, especially for a BSC book. It's also one of the few BSC book that isn't entirely resolved and doesn't quite end happily.

Mr. Nicholls is the all-time scariest client dad. Screaming at the kids for touching his briefcase, and then being all friendly and smiley at Claud the next second? (Not to mention the actual physical abuse!) Reading about him really creeped me out. Especially when he calls Claudia in the middle of the night and screams at her. Yikes.

Still, it's surprisingly a good read, for one so late in the series as well as being one of the "A Very Special BSC" types. It's heavy, but it's good. Way to go, ghostwriter!