Review by Frank Plowright
Arley Nopra’s cover illustration is an astute contraction of the themes involved in Claudia and the Bad Joke, although a scene that doesn’t actually occur inside. An injured, but recovering Claudia is seen still being plagued by Betsy, who’s very fond of a practical joke, and hasn’t been dissuaded by one of them causing Claudia’s injury in the first place.
The theme of jokes is introduced early with the Stoneybrook Film Festival celebrating the pie in the face and the squirting flower, and there’s some surprise when Betsy’s mother contacts the Baby-Sitters Club as she’s previously used other neighbourhood children. Claudia rapidly finds out why the post is now vacant. None of the other kids will look after Betsy, annoyed at her jokes, and Claudia’s broken leg occurs when she decides to take the job anyway.
Claudia has been well established in earlier stories as artistic, and her first turn in the spotlight, Claudia and Mean Janine, dealt with an unsupportive family not recognising anything less than academic excellence. They’re seen again here, and Nopra’s art subtly displays the family dynamics via posture and expression. It’s perhaps not obvious, because more than any other book in the series there’s a constant stream of slapstick action as Stonybrook’s kids have been very taken with the film festival’s theme. Nopra’s interpretation is lively, and this is an occasion where the visual priorities of the graphic novel adaptation probably trump Ann M. Martin’s original storytelling. Nopra’s backgrounds are simpler than those provided by other artists who’ve drawn The Baby-Sitters Club, but her characters exude personality.
The stream of practical jokes is contrasted by the sympathetic exploration of Claudia’s feelings about being injured. She broke her leg, but it could have been her arm, which would impact on her ability to create art, and that’s more important to her than babysitting, so should she leave the club?
Martin resolves the troublesome Betsy’s antics well, and also brings Claudia’s uncertainty to an end in a way all young readers will want to see. Kristy and the Walking Disaster is next.
