Claudia and the New Girl (GN#9)

Publication Date: 2021

Ghostwriter? No, the text copyright is for Ann M. Martin.

Illustrator: Gabriela Epstein, with color by Braden Lamb

Synopsis:

The plot is, as expected, pretty much like the non-graphic version. With as art-driven as this story is, it was really nice to have it in a visual medium.


Established or continued in this book:

The Girls (and Logan):

Claudia candy:

chips and cookies on the floor

 

Their Families: nothing new

The Club (and clients): 

The notebook isn't meant to be used like this!

The club is introduced this way instead of the Chapter Two info-dump:

 
SMS:

Mrs. Hall, English teacher:

New student Ashley Wyeth:

SMS lunchroom:

PSA Time:

Something I noticed more reading this after having kids, is how thoughtful it was of Claudia, only 12 in the book, to ask permission of both Jackie and his mom before sculpting him--especially when the sculpture is intended to be on public display. I rarely post pictures of my kids online, and usually try to have their faces obscured when I do.

Helmets are a good idea when biking!

Misc:

Martin dedicates this book to "the loyal readers of the Baby-sitters Club."

Epstein dedicates it to "my mom, who breathed life into our house with her pottery and paintings, and my dad, who showed me the political power of comics. Thank you to DK and Shep, whose classes and advice made me fall in love with learning again and changed my life for the better. And to both my grandmothers, Barbie and Sonia, for being my biggest cheerleaders."

The illustrations really help this story, in my opinion. It's easier to understand Ashley's body language, and how she doesn't view Claudia as an equal. That's not to say the BSC isn't acting jealous and petty when Claudia makes a new friend, but Ashley isn't looking for a friend and isn't really one to Claudia. Part of seeing that is my being older and having viewed my children and my husband have "friends" who view the relationship as transactional, but seeing the characters is a big part, too.

Twenty-first century alert! Instead of looking for a payphone to let the BSC know she'll be late to the meeting, Claudia borrows Ashley's cell phone--which is a smart phone!

One of the notes the BSC leaves Claudia:

Ashley's award-winning fire hydrant: