Book excerpt: 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, Claudia’s story comes to such a satisfying conclusion kids have written that they wish this would happen to them! “Funny all the way through—dialogue, situations, descriptions.” —Young Readers Review NLAPW Children’s Book Award International Youth Library “Best of the Best”