Claudia

Claudia

by Barbara Brooks Wallace

In her three popular Claudia books, Barbara Brooks Wallace has created stories that have appealed to boys and girls alike. Misunderstood by her parents, snubbed by a former best friend, on the outs at school because of unjust rumors, and finally, forbidden by her family from playing with her only remaining friend, Claudias story comes to such a satisfying conclusion kids have written that they wish this would happen to them! Funny all the way throughdialogue, situations, descriptions.Young Readers ReviewNLAPW Childrens Book AwardInternational Youth Library Best of the Best

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Friendship

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Award-winning American children's writer. Has received, among others, the NLAPW Children's Book Award and International Youth Library "Best of the Best" for 'Claudia' (2001), as well as the William Allen White Children's Book Award for 'Peppermints in the Parlor' (1983).

Wallace was born and spent her childhood in China, but then moved to the United States. San Francisco was often a port of entry for her family, who lived in a huge, white-pillared mansion on the side of a hill, later to become the Sugar Hill Hall mansion which served as the setting for some of her most popular books. She was a UCLA graduate.

Wallace won two Edgar Allan Poe Awards from the Mystery Writers of America for 'The Twin in the Tavern' (1994) and for 'Sparrows in the Scullery' (1998). 'Cousins in The Castle' (1997 and 'Ghosts in the Gallery' (2001) were also nominated for an Edgar Award.

Reviews

[Steph (loves water) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this many times growing up...unbeknownst to me, Ms. Wallace wrote a Claudia trilogy! Now I'm on a mission! Thank you, Goodreads!

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

12-year-old Claudia's best friend, Duffy, is an 8-year-old boy, and together the two get into mischief of all kinds. Her parents think she should be making friends with girls her own age, but Duffy is the only one who really understands and accepts Claudia. When the mean girls at school begin to make trouble for Claudia, it seems even more impossible to make other friends. Claudia finds the strength and imagination to stand up to bullies, navigate the treacherous waters of neighborhood kid politics, and find a new appreciation for her boring normal family.

I loved this book! Poor Claudia is so awkward, but her heart is pure and strong. Duffy is adorable as a sidekick for all Claudia's adventures, and I loved all the supporting characters in Claudia's family. I hated the villainous mean girls, and cheered for the good guys in every scene!

Great writing, and a wonderful plot!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books about the awkwardness of adolescence, hands down. Authentic teenage feelings, all the way from 1969. Geez.

[Kbreach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A staple re-read multiple times from 1974-1976, grades 4-6, especially while perched in our magnolia tree in the backyard. Not as good as Victoria by same author but still a wonderful read!

[J.L. Lennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I was in middle school.. I had to read it again because it was one of those books that stuck with me. Every girl can identify with Claudia at some point in her life. I know I did. I can't wait to share it with my nieces!

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, this book just popped back into my head after 40 years. I read it when I was about 12 or 13 and really related to it, as many awkward tweens and teens might. The main character was believable and endearing, and the author really captured what it is like to be to be different and not one of the popular bitches at school. Since it has been so long since I read it, I am not sure if there is anything in the book that would now be considered un-PC, but if not, I would recommend it for tweens who are navigating the bumpy path through 5th-7th grade.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't count how many times I read this as a young girl. It is appealing, I think, because we have all dealt with those uncomfortable pre-teen years when you and all your friends are going through the changes associated with growing up.

Update: I just listened to the audio version with my kids and it was so much fun. I was surprised how much my kids (ages 5 and 3) loved it. It brought back a lot of memories but I was surprised how much I had forgotten.

[girl writing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book amongst the Nancy Drews and Hardy Boys I saved from childhood. Reread it twenty years ago when I first rescued the boxes of books from my parents' house and just now finished another reading. What a great story of preteen angst, overcoming bullies, being true to yourself, being misunderstood and prevailing at the end. I think this is a truly positive story for kids even today to read. Other than the absence of modern technology it isn't dated so I think they can relate.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remembered this book the minute I saw the cover and even more came back when I started to read it! It was definitely in my elementary school library but I do not recall any sequels. Thanks to Betsy for giving me one of her precious copies.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved this book and wore out two paperback copies as a child. I was thrilled to find two sequels as an adult.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy, this book is obsessed with antiquated gender roles and double standards. So much overt "you can't do this because you're a girl, but it's fine for him because he's a boy." Admittedly, most of this is coming from the mother, and my mom suggested that since it was written in '69, maybe it's meant for her to sound unreasonably old-fashioned about it as she tears her hair out over the fact that her sixth-grade daughter is still playing around with the neighbor kids and not becoming a Proper Young Lady, but I've still never read anything that felt this dated.

There are some cute bits, especially the Tea Party for Dogs illustrated on the first page, and it's generally a nice and innocent story about a nice and innocent era of suburban life, but I think I am just a little too old to properly appreciate Claudia's immaturity at this point. I spent the whole book wondering why she would surround herself with a bunch of comparative babies when she could be COOL AND SOPHIST like NuJanice and Friend (hey, maybe she could stop their Mean Girl tendencies from the inside!), and I assure you, that is not a thing that my resistant-to-leaving-childhood, younger-student-befriending self ever felt while growing up.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an original 1969 copy with a gorgeous cover. I read this tonight because I was in need of a little piece of nostalgia to calm my heart. This book brought me back to a normal American childhood when our worries weren't quite so modern. Claudia is an 11 year old tomboy. She's very young and still deep in childhood games. Her mom doesn't like her getting into so much trouble with a younger boy she plays with. It was a simpler time for sure. My daughter is currently about to turn 12 and her life is so opposite from Claudia's that it hurts to think about. My childhood was more similar to Claudia's. Hug your children a little tighter, for it's a dangerous world out there.

[Sharon Ouderkirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claudia was one of my favourite books when I was a kid, so I re-read it out of nostalgic sentiment, and had a great time doing so. Claudia is 11, on the cusp of the teenage years, and fighting it every inch of the way. Her best friend Duffy is an eight year old boy, and they are well-matched for energy and ideas. Her former best friend Janice moved back into the neighbourhood, much changed, embracing her path to being a young lady, and is now a sworn enemy - Janice represents the girly girl fate that Claudia is desperately trying to avoid. Havoc ensues as Claudia tries to stay true to herself despite massive pressure from her mom, from kids at school, from the world, to settle down and stick to the script of acceptable girl behaviour.
Claudia has her own way of thinking: she decides that saying she has 'kidney trouble' is an acceptable excuse to get out of going to a party; she has secret outings that no one knows about where she helps a poor family, she likes to play with younger kids because they're more fun than the Janices of the world. She's an independent spirit, and thus, is much misunderstood by her family. She lives in an imaginative world that is protected by a kind of iron ring where peer pressure cannot penetrate - she's oblivious to any need to change.
I laughed a lot when I read this book - Claudia is a charmer for sure. And I remembered some of the passages, clear as a bell, as if I had read it last week, and not some decades ago. It's a classic, still available to buy, and so much more interesting than the watered down, commercial dreck that passes for chapter books these days.

[Geebowie · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was good despite the fact that it is over 40 years old I do not think it comes across as too dated. modem readers can still identify with Claudia and her Tomboy ways which annoy her mother and the hardness of the middle school years. I wish the book had been a bit longer. I think this book would be a good read alike with Harriet the spy because there some similar themes.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

About a third of the way through listening to this audiobook with my kids, I realized that I had read this book as a child. It was a surreal experience, hearing it about 40 years later. So much has changed surrounding gender roles and school bullies.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in 1969, read it in 1979, re-read it in 2009. Totally as good as I remembered! Thank you Barbara Wallace! You helped me through my childhood. :D

[KerryT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a late bloomer myself, I totally understood Claudia!

[Jenifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claudia encounters normal pre-teen situations etc. I thought her mother was dreadful.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books from when I was a child. I have a few vivid memories of laying in the grass in my yard reading this book. The version I read was a hardcover edition that I cannot find online. I can smell the summer air just thinking about it.

Yesterday and today me and my 5 year old listened to the whole book. We both enjoyed it so much. As a parent, I was so happy to see that the author did a beautiful job of giving Claudia a sweet heart and a tender conscience. Claudia is a good girl and although full of mischief and spirit, she is overall a good example to my daughter.

[Angie Kaelberer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this book since 6th grade...many, many years ago! I just reread it and loved it as much as I did the first time. Claudia is an amazing character, and the story doesn't seem dated despite being written about 50 years ago. I had no idea that there were two other books about her! I will have to be on the lookout on used book sites.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun tomboy story from 1969 that somehow doesn't feel outdated (except for all the freedom the kids have to run around outside on their own). I'm so glad it didn't resolve with Claudia learning to be more girly!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been over 45 years since the initial read and I still remember this book. Most girls can relate to Claudia, not fitting in and feeling snubbed by her peers. I never knew there were two other Claudia books. Will have to find them too!

[Karla Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all-time fave kids' book.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does such a good job capturing what it feels like to be a kid.

[Cheril · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book as a teen

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book when I was a kid. Read it again today. Love it still! And I do not recall a “trilogy” when I was a kid so now I get 2 more great books to read!

[Tracy Clair]

I read this book several times in the '80s. A book every pre-teen girl can identify with, I'm sure.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books when I was in elementary school. 40 years later I just read it again! It is a wonderful story with great characters.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claudia is just starting 6th grade and is experiencing a lot of pre-teen angst. Her former best friend who had moved away and has now returned no longer wants to be friends with her. Not only that, she has turned all the other classmates against Claudia as well. Claudia's mother has forbidden her from playing with her friend Duffy because they get into too much mischief together. So, Claudia is relegated to playing with children much younger than she is. Her one true ally, her older brother, is going back to college, leaving Claudia defenseless against her snotty teen-aged sister. Seems poor Claudia is all alone in the world. Perhaps because of all her trials and tribulations, Claudia is pretty mouthy to her mother. If I had spoken to my mother like Claudia did when I was in 6th grade, I'd have been picking my teeth up off the floor. All Mr. Harper says is, "See here" and "Look here". Although it's dated, this book stands the test of time well. Pre-teen problems are still the same. It felt sad to me and it didn't feel as if there were any resolution at the end. Maybe I need to read "Hello, Claudia" and "Claudia and Duffy" to see how Claudia weathers the rest of her teen-age years.

[wanderer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sister owned this one, but I read it a few times. I always liked the cover, and enjoyed being annoyed with the fake girls.