Claudia's Portrait

[blossom114]

I was never exactly "popular" but when I was younger, (except when I was 7 and 8..those were small parties...for a reason) I usually had pretty good parties when I had people to invite. 5,6, 9, and 11 come to mind. Then again my birthday is in November,...but I def wasn't "popular" ...poor Claud though I felt bad for her when I finallly was able to read this part of the book (my old copy didn't have this part in it...the printing gt majorly screwed up).
Anyway. Wtf was up with Mary Anne's kindergarden picture? Lol

[aln1982]

I'm rereading this one right now and the birthday thing seems so stupid on Mr. and Mrs. Kishi's part. They threw her a great party but didn't take the care to make sure the kindergartners' parents got the invitations??? Claudia wasn't very responsible with the way she handed them out at the last minute on the last day of school, either, but she was only 5 and shouldn't have been responsible for that. Rereading, I'm sure that no one came because most of them didn't even remember to look at the invitations because of the way they were handed out. Mr. or Mrs. Kishi or Mimi should have sent them, I think.

[macca]

^ I really find it hard to believe that NOT ONE person (other than Kristy/MA) turned up. I can understand a few people missing their invitations, but not EVERY SINGLE CHILD in the class.

Also, when I was five, kids just took birthday invitations to school and handed them out, no one ever mailed them. So that part seemed realistic to me.

[wanderingfrog]

Also, since Claudia has a summer birthday, some kids might have been out of town on vacation and just never thought of mentioning that they couldn't come. Because, you know, they're six.

[aln1982]

macca said:

^ I really find it hard to believe that NOT ONE person (other than Kristy/MA) turned up. I can understand a few people missing their invitations, but not EVERY SINGLE CHILD in the class.

Also, when I was five, kids just took birthday invitations to school and handed them out, no one ever mailed them. So that part seemed realistic to me.

I don't see a problem with older kids passing out invites in a responsible fashion. Kindergarters, though, seem a bit young. I think it was the way these invitations were given out that was the problem.I wonder if most of the kids even had any idea that they were getting them, especially since I can see MA being too timid to even say a word but just handing them an envelope that probably got mixed in with tons of other papers and forgotten. Do find it a bit strange that not even one kid looked at them but it is possible with the way they were given out. I didn't get the impression that the teacher even looked at hers. If she would have, I'm sure she would have at least RSVPed or said she couldn't come.

[sotypical42483]

Kids love parties, though. I'd think they'd be excited and wouldn't forget!

[booboobrewer]

Maybe Claudia should have given them to her teacher to hand out at the beginning of class or something.

[aln1982]

^ That would have been a very good idea. Then the kids would have at least known what they were being given (well, probably. ;D)

[Deleted]

My parents probably would have been upset if I ONLY had read BSC books, or if my brother only had read comics, but we were both natural readers anyway, and they never forbade us from reading anything. Our school librarian was horrified at some of the things we read (but she was a mean old lady who didn't like kids and didn't seem to like books that much either--awesome career choice, Mrs. B!), but I think that's part of the reason we're still very active readers--we weren't reading thick books to show off, or reading books that bored us because they were on some approved list; we read the things that interested us.

I think my mom only started to get miffed when I hit 12 or so and was STILL reading BSC books (esspecially since I could pack one away in a few hours by then and they cost 3.50 a pop and just wanted me to read something longer to get the money's worth, lol)

This is actually a big pet peeve of mine with educators and parents. AT LEAST THE KID IS READING I always say. And you know what? A lot of those so called "important" children's books are soooo boring even at the age of 24 I can't even get through them without yawning or rolling my eyes. (To this day "Out of the Dust" and "Sarah Plain and Tall" just make me snore)

I work in a children's section of a book store now and I hear this all the time "I don't want you to get junk I want you to get something that's quality." Or a parent not letting their kid get a junky series book they like but making them get a Newberry. They're just kids after all, they'll get tired of it eventually (as I did of the BSC books when I hit about 12) on their own and move on to bigger and more complex things.

^My parents probably would have been upset if I ONLY had read BSC books, or if my brother only had read comics, but we were both natural readers anyway, and they never forbade us from reading anything. Our school librarian was horrified at some of the things we read (but she was a mean old lady who didn't like kids and didn't seem to like books that much either--awesome career choice, Mrs. B!), but I think that's part of the reason we're still very active readers--we weren't reading thick books to show off, or reading books that bored us because they were on some approved list; we read the things that interested us.

You know, quick story... when I was in the 10th grade my english teacher saw me reading (before class started, it was a first period if memory serves and I was early that day) a YA book for fun (I even remember the title "The Unlikely Romance of Kate Bjorkman") and when class started he plucked the book away from me and in front of the WHOLE CLASS started saying that these books were awful and we should be "beyond this kind of book" by now (which is so stupid because I was 16 at the time and why was it so wrong to want to READ ABOUT A CHARACTER WHO WAS 16 TOO??? I couldn't exactly relate to a 30 year old protaganist could I?). SO EMBARISING!! And I mean, I WAS reading regular fiction at the time too, but I have always (and to this day) had a love of YA lit (I even now write for the YA market and hope to be published soon so reading those "silly" books as he put it has actually HELPED my career path) and never understood why people have to yell at kids like that. I think it's mostly just snobbery to be honest.

So yeah, I agree it's really counterproductive for the Kishis to be so uptight about the Nancy Drew books, and I think Mrs. Kishi as a librarian especially should know better! Grrr.

That always miffed me too! You'd think she'd be less mean to the books!

[aln1982]

^ Agree about all and these are my thoughts, too. I never liked the Newberry Winners and still don't like books like that as adults but can definitely read them if I want to. I just chose to read the BSC since I only have so much free time and want to enjoy it. ;D

[mckay]

sunshine, I'm 24 and I read YA lit. I was reading it nearly exclusively when I was 16 because I just couldn't relate to adult characters yet! No one ever gave me nuts for it, though.

[aln1982]

^ I still can't relate to a lot of the adult characters. ;D I don't like reading about middle aged moms or older women, even now, but prefer reading about younger kids because I know where they are coming from.

[booboobrewer]

Tiff blogged about this book and I loved her comment regarding Kristy's first day of kindergarten and how she sized up the room and said "Not bad." I had forgotten about that part.

[aln1982]

^ I had forgotten that part too but thought it was funny. Even "Little Kristy" had the same basic personality. ;D

[Penny Lane]

I just finished this one -- I am so bored being stuck at home with a sinus infection/cold. I thought it was pretty good, actually. I felt bad for Claudia when no one came to her party. Summer birthdays suck. I always had an okay time, my camp counselors usually gave me a "party" and other campers made me crap in arts and crafts. It was sad that I never had the thrill of bringing in my own treats for my birthday like other kids in my class.

Why was Claudia not wearing pants to her party? They described the outfit, I wondered about the lack of pants/skirt, then I turned the page... and there was a picture of it! How hilarious. And Janine was dressed almost identical to Mary Anne, yet M.A. is way cooler?

I can relate to her feelings about not wanting people to feel sorry for her. The tooth fairy thing was weird, and a little boring. However, I hope she never sees that movie about the evil toothfairy.. Darkness Falls? The movie was horrible, but it freaked me out. Just a little.

I think Claudia would have done well in the special school if she hadn't been so upset about it. She seemed to be under the impression that it was were "dumb" or "underachiever" kids go. I think that was why she was rude to that girl the first day, plus she mentioned that everyone else looked like they fell into the Gap. I don't think it was THAT unrealistic that she would be depressed about it. I've moved a lot and switched schools a fair amount of times. Sometimes it's easier then others. Claudia doesn't live by the other kids in the Stamford school, so that will make it difficult for her to make friends, plus she still lives by Kristy and Mary Anne who are getting closer and closer. She might not have been able to articulate her feelings, but she still probably could sense that nothing would be the same.

I'm surprised I don't like Claudia more. The more I read her books, the more I can find myself relating to different aspects of her life - the over conservative parents, the hiding things, the way she's independent but seems to be sort of introverted... The spelling inability. I know I can't spell, or handwrite things. My grades got so much better when teachers started to let me type stuff. I wish Claudia would hurry up and get one. Janine has one in her room. :-)