Claudia Kishi, Middle School Dropout is the 101st book in The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin.
Back Cover Summary[]
Claudia's never been a star student, but she's always gotten by. Lately, however, she feels hopelessly behind. Then Claudia is told the terrible news—she is being dropped back to seventh grade.
With a new locker and a new lunch hour, Claudia feels as if she doesn't fit in anywhere. She doesn't know anyone in seventh grade. And she never sees her friends anymore. She's not even allowed to go to the eighth-grade dance with them. Claudia feels like a loser.
Her friends say it will all be okay. But Claudia isn't so sure...
Main Plot[]
When her troubles in school culminate in her being dropped back to the seventh grade, Claudia struggles with feelings of failure while adjusting to classmates outside of the Baby-sitters Club.
Subplot[]
The sitting charges all band together to become pen pals with kids at Stoneybrook General Hospital. Kristy called the project Hospital Buddies. The BSC also threw the kids a Halloween party.
Characters[]
Claudia's Family
BSC Members
Kids
- Lucy and Jamie Newton (mentioned)
- Shea and Jackie Rodowsky
- Charlotte Johanssen (mentioned)
- John Andru - boy at the hospital who is rooming with Jackie at the hospital
- Jessica - girl at the hospital who had her tonsils taken out
- Ashley - girl at the hospital who is diagnosed with diabetes (mentioned)
- Ian - boy at the hospital with a broken leg (mentioned)
- Jordan, Adam, Byron, Vanessa, Nicky, Margo, and Claire Pike
- James Hobart
- Marilyn and Carolyn Arnold (mentioned)
- David Michael Thomas
- Matt and Haley Braddock
- Buddy Barrett (mentioned)
- Charlotte Johanssen (mentioned)
- Becca Ramsey (mentioned)
- Jenny Prezzioso (mentioned)
- Laurel, Patsy, and Jake Kuhn
Pre-Teens
- Ron Belkis, Josh Peterson, Tim Ryan - 7th graders at SMS
Teenagers
- Emily Bernstein
- Rick Chow
- Rosa - Stoneybrook University freshman who tutors Claudia
- Shawna Riverson (mentioned)
- Alan Gray (mentioned)
- Cokie Mason (mentioned)
- Mia Pappas (mentioned)
Adults
- Mrs. Newton (mentioned)
- Mr. Schubert - Claudia's 8th grade math teacher
- Ms. Griswold
- Ms. Anderson - Kristy's social studies teacher (mentioned)
- Mr. Wong - Claudia's art teacher
- Serena McKay
- Dr. Johanssen
- Mr. Blake - Claudia's 8th grade social studies teacher (mentioned)
- Mrs. Hall - Claudia's 8th grade English teacher (mentioned)
- Mr. Matthews - study hall aid (mentioned)
- Mrs. Amer
- Howard Kingbridge
- Mr. Peters - Claudia's 7th grade math teacher
- Mr. Redmont
- Ms. Chiavetta - Claudia's 7th grade English teacher
- Ms. Spacey - Claudia's 7th grade science teacher
- Mrs. Rodowsky
- Students in Claudia's art class.
- Watson Brewer (mentioned)
- Sharon Spier (mentioned)
Locations[]
- Stoneybrook Middle School
- Kishi House
- Stoneybrook University
- Stoneybrook General Hospital
- Pike House
- Spier/Schafer Barn
Pop Culture and Real-Life References[]
- Vogue
- Nancy Drew
- Peter Pan
- Milk Duds, Sour Patch Kids (candy)
- Pocahontas, Sacajawea, Lewis & Clark, Einstein, Emily Dickinson,, Hildegarde Von Bingen (real people)
- Bride of Frankenstein
- Dracula
- Barbie
- Bart Simpson
- Mr. Spock and Star Trek
- Little Match Girl
- Georgia O'Keefe
- Nerf
Continuity and Inconsistencies[]
Continuity
- Claudia recalls her fight with Mary Anne from Kristy's Worst Idea on page 15.
- In chapter 4, Jackie Rodowsky's accident from Kristy's Worst Idea is brought up.
- It's mentioned that Kristy doesn't like blood which is first mentioned in Kristy and the Snobs. This is also accompanied by scars as well.
- Shea's dyslexia is brought up which was first diagnosed in Claudia's F̶r̶e̶i̶n̶d̶ Friend. Claudia was tested for learning disabilities at an unknown point; this was also mentioned in Claudia's F̶r̶e̶i̶n̶d̶ Friend.
- Claudia recalls her junk food art show from Claudia and the Genius of Elm Street on page 125.
Inconsistencies
- Dr. Johanssen is a pediatrician in this book when it's been previously mentioned that she's an ER doctor.
- In Kristy's Mystery Admirer, Jordan says he will be a mummy for Halloween—a headless one, to be exact because being headless will make the costume original. Yet here, Nicky says he is going to be a mummy. Jordan tells him he's going to look dumb and no one will know what he is.
- In this book the 6th and 7th graders aren't allowed to go to the Halloween Hop, but at previous dances and Halloween Hops there was never any mention of 8th grade only dances. In fact Mallory and Jessi were at the previous dances. But in Dawn's Wicked Stepsister, there was a dance only for eighth-graders.
- Claudia says she has her social studies teacher from last year, Mr. Redmont, in this book. However, in Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls on page 5 it's said her social studies teacher is Mr. Miller.
- The Arnold twins are 9 on page 69, but they're supposed to be 8.
- Claudia says that Jackie regained consciousness from his bike accident in the hospital. But in Kristy's Worst Idea, Jackie says he regained consciousness when he was being put in an ambulance.
- Claudia says that Rosa taught her to save the questions that she’s unsure about for later, but Janine gave Claudia that same advice in Claudia and the Middle School Mystery.
- Claudia has a fake nose ring. But in Jessi's Horrible Prank, Claudia said nose rings hurt when she clipped one of her earrings to her nostril.
- It mentions Matt Braddock is good at lip reading, but in previous books he doesn’t lip read.
- Claudia says the hospital Halloween party had to be held in the lounge to avoid breaking rules about visitors being a certain age. But in Claudia and the Bad Joke Claudia says there are no rules about hospital visitors unless the patient is in ICU. But this is consistent with Karen's Doll when Karen couldn’t visit Nancy in the hospital because she was only seven and not immediate family. The rule in this book is also consistent with Karen's Accident when Andrew, Hannie, and Nancy couldn’t visit Karen in the hospital because they were too young.
- When Claudia is moved back to the seventh-grade, she gets a new locker. But In Logan Likes Mary Anne!, it's mentioned that Mary Anne still has the locker she had in the seventh-grade.
Ann M. Martin's Dear Reader Letter[]
Dear Reader,
In Claudia Kishi, Middle School Dropout, Claudia finds herself in a difficult situation when she is moved from eighth grade to seventh grade. Not only is she concerned about her schoolwork, but she has been moved in with a whole new group of kids. This can be difficult for anybody. I hear from lots of kids who are new in their school or town, and want to find ways to make friends. As Claudia found out, there are lots of ways to do this. One of the best is to think about things you like to do. For instance, do you like sports? Join a team at your school or in your town. Do you like art? Maybe your school is putting on a play, and you could work on the scenery or costumes. Do you feel like trying your hand at something new? See if you can take a class. Then you can meet the kids in your class. Like Claudia, you might think you’re the only one in this situation. But that’s not true. Everyone has been, or will be, the new kid at some point.
Trivia[]
- Claudia takes an art class taught by Serena McKay at Stoneybrook University.
- Claudia's art wins 1st prize in the show. She donates her painting to the children's wing of the hospital.
- Russ had a motorcycle before he was married.
- Claudia has a theory that chocolate is an important part of everyone's diet.
- Two sitters are no longer needed at the Pikes.
- Emily Bernstein is in Claudia's science class.
- Stoneybrook University is called a community college in this book.
- When Claudia was six she wanted a doll called singing Susie.
- Rosa is friendly with Janine.
- Claudia has a fake nose ring.
- Claudia doesn't like immature boys.
- Claudia cares if other kids see her as dumb.
- Charlotte looks just like her mom when wearing her doctor costume.
- Claudia becomes a "mini celebrity" to the seventh graders.
- On page 102 Claudia considers putting a streak of color in her hair for her costume, which would later become something she does in the graphic novels.
- Mr. and Mrs. Kishi don't give out candy on Halloween. They give out dried apricots or raisin boxes. Claudia says they don’t get a lot of trick-or-treaters.
- A news reporter from the Stoneybrook News covered the art show.
- Claudia won the art show.
- Serena McKay thought that Claudia would make a name for herself and have a long fabulous career.
- It’s very unlikely that a school would send a student to the previous grade if the school year has already started, no matter how badly they’re struggling. In real life, if Claudia was really struggling with school in the seventh-grade, they would’ve had her repeat the grade instead of moving her up to the eighth-grade.
Gallery[]
