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mdevlin923's review against another edition
3.0
In Claudia's short takes class, she and her friends are required to write a play for the 3rd graders to perform. They decide to depict the first Thanksgiving accurately, which upsets the 3rd grade teachers and parents. Claudia and her classmates decide to edit the play, but they perform the original with a cast of 8th graders. While all of this is happening, Kristy is determined to plan a potluck Thanksgiving for all of the BSC members since their travel plans all fell through.
situationnormal's review against another edition
4.0
A Stacey book followed by a Claudia book? I'm so spoiled. Weirdness at the beginning because Stacey's book dealt with Halloween, then Claudia's rewrites history (ah, the fun of repeating the same Halloween 2000 times in the course of all of these books), but otherwise great.
Normally I'm not a huge fan of the soapbox books, but this one is done well, with the middle school students actually figuring out a workable solution without breaking the hearts of several third grade classes. And, while I'm used to things working out perfectly for the BSC, it is a nice dose of realism (that I sort of hate, but I love that it's realistic) that not everyone changes their ways and accepts that the middle schoolers are right about Thanksgiving.
The scene at the end with 37 people getting together for Thanksgiving is just icing on the cake. (Also, sidenote, but I love that it's Claudia's favorite holiday, and not Halloween.)
Normally I'm not a huge fan of the soapbox books, but this one is done well, with the middle school students actually figuring out a workable solution without breaking the hearts of several third grade classes. And, while I'm used to things working out perfectly for the BSC, it is a nice dose of realism (that I sort of hate, but I love that it's realistic) that not everyone changes their ways and accepts that the middle schoolers are right about Thanksgiving.
The scene at the end with 37 people getting together for Thanksgiving is just icing on the cake. (Also, sidenote, but I love that it's Claudia's favorite holiday, and not Halloween.)
pamelarope's review against another edition
3.0
This is the second BSC book in a row I've read that wasn't as heavy on the expected plot as I thought. My main memory of this book is of Dawn walking into the Thanksgiving celebration and Claudia doing a double take. The plot had some insights into the real first Thanksgiving and freedom of speech, but I kind of wish the protesters had gotten theirs.
finesilkflower's review against another edition
3.0
For a "Short Takes" project, Claudia, Stacey, Abby, and some classmates write and organize a third-grade play about the first Thanksgiving. Instead of the usual first Thanksgiving story, though, they emphasize the differences between reality and the myth, using a character from the modern day to insert commentary about the future of the Native Americans and the differences then and now in the treatment of women. When the content leaks out, many parents protest the play, forcing them to put on a "traditional" first Thanksgiving play. They perform under obvious protest and put on a special performance of their own play with middle schoolers.
Meanwhile, in an alarming coincidence, every single BSC member has her families’ Thanksgiving plans fall through, and the BSC plans a multifamily potluck dinner at Kristy’s in a traditional BSC, major-conflict-free, "planning and executing an event" storyline.
Many of the facts given about the real first Thanksgiving are legitimately interesting and not widely known, and the author does a relatively good job (for this series) of sneaking them into the storyline instead of presenting them as exposition--using them as the content of lines in a scene about a child forgetting his lines, for example. It’s still pamphlet-y, but I’ve definitely seen worse.
Nitpick: The description of the censored performance focuses mostly on the righteous protest element, which is exciting and reminds one of one’s favorite middle and high school antics and all, but I feel fails to adequately explain how they taught the third-graders all new lines in just a few days.
Surprising Moment of Quality: I like that Claudia has a moment watching the controversial version of the play as performed by her peers when she realizes it’s not really a well-written play. It’s a surprising moment that complicates the general uncensored-version-is-great arc without undermining it.
Timing: Late October through Thanksgiving, again
Revised Timeline: Thanksgiving of junior year of college. This storyline makes more sense if it’s college students arranging a play for elementary, middle, or even high school students; I don’t think the parents of public elementary and middle school students would really be that different in terms of their likelihood of objecting to an unAmerican, hippy-drippy, liberal agenda school play. And college students would be totally into that shit. College is exactly when you are into bashing the propoganda you have been fed as a child.
Meanwhile, in an alarming coincidence, every single BSC member has her families’ Thanksgiving plans fall through, and the BSC plans a multifamily potluck dinner at Kristy’s in a traditional BSC, major-conflict-free, "planning and executing an event" storyline.
Many of the facts given about the real first Thanksgiving are legitimately interesting and not widely known, and the author does a relatively good job (for this series) of sneaking them into the storyline instead of presenting them as exposition--using them as the content of lines in a scene about a child forgetting his lines, for example. It’s still pamphlet-y, but I’ve definitely seen worse.
Nitpick: The description of the censored performance focuses mostly on the righteous protest element, which is exciting and reminds one of one’s favorite middle and high school antics and all, but I feel fails to adequately explain how they taught the third-graders all new lines in just a few days.
Surprising Moment of Quality: I like that Claudia has a moment watching the controversial version of the play as performed by her peers when she realizes it’s not really a well-written play. It’s a surprising moment that complicates the general uncensored-version-is-great arc without undermining it.
Timing: Late October through Thanksgiving, again
Revised Timeline: Thanksgiving of junior year of college. This storyline makes more sense if it’s college students arranging a play for elementary, middle, or even high school students; I don’t think the parents of public elementary and middle school students would really be that different in terms of their likelihood of objecting to an unAmerican, hippy-drippy, liberal agenda school play. And college students would be totally into that shit. College is exactly when you are into bashing the propoganda you have been fed as a child.
pinkbookscoffee's review against another edition
4.0
While reading the History Smashers book about The Mayflower, I remembered this Baby-Sitters Club book that I read as a kid. In Claudia and the First Thanksgiving, they put on a Thanksgiving play at the elementary school. They do lots of research to make it more historically accurate, but then parents get mad and make them change it to a “traditional” Thanksgiving story. They stealthily write “Censored” on all the posters.
That’s what I remembered from my childhood reading of this book. But I couldn’t remember what they did in the play that made people mad. I didn’t have my childhood copy, so I looked up the book and downloaded the Kindle edition.
Claudia and the First Thanksgiving felt surprisingly relevant to 2021. When I was a kid, I remember wondering why adults would censor and protest a Thanksgiving play with more historical accuracy. I’m now an adult with kids, and I definitely recognized those parents who are protesting more historically accurate critiques of those who came before us. 25 years later, we’re still having the same problems.
As far as what enraged parents and some faculty about their Thanksgiving play? They brought up women’s rights. They also stated that not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving and Native Americans observe a day of mourning. They pointed out differences between then and now. They got to keep the more accurate costumes and foods. I guess those didn’t anger the parents.
I’m actually looking at the book cover right now, and wondering if the cover artist read it. Lol.
I hadn’t read a Baby-sitters Club book since middle school, and didn’t have super high expectations for Claudia and the First Thanksgiving to hold up for an adult, but this book was kind of amazing. I remembered a surprising amount of weird details, like when Claudia decides to stir marmalade into her oatmeal, but also considers the option of grape jelly.
One thing that surprised me a little bit was the release date. Claudia and the First Thanksgiving was published in November of 1995, when I would have been in 7th grade. I’m guessing that I must have read this book very soon after its release. I think I started reading BSC books in 4th grade and kept reading them through 8th grade, so this was relatively late in my Baby-sitters Club reading era. I had definitely read at least one hundred Baby-sitters Club books in my life by age 14. I definitely learned about lots of things from BSC books, including diabetes and autism. Re-reading this book reminded me of the idea that maybe we could understand each other better if only everyone read more books.
That’s what I remembered from my childhood reading of this book. But I couldn’t remember what they did in the play that made people mad. I didn’t have my childhood copy, so I looked up the book and downloaded the Kindle edition.
Claudia and the First Thanksgiving felt surprisingly relevant to 2021. When I was a kid, I remember wondering why adults would censor and protest a Thanksgiving play with more historical accuracy. I’m now an adult with kids, and I definitely recognized those parents who are protesting more historically accurate critiques of those who came before us. 25 years later, we’re still having the same problems.
As far as what enraged parents and some faculty about their Thanksgiving play? They brought up women’s rights. They also stated that not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving and Native Americans observe a day of mourning. They pointed out differences between then and now. They got to keep the more accurate costumes and foods. I guess those didn’t anger the parents.
I’m actually looking at the book cover right now, and wondering if the cover artist read it. Lol.
I hadn’t read a Baby-sitters Club book since middle school, and didn’t have super high expectations for Claudia and the First Thanksgiving to hold up for an adult, but this book was kind of amazing. I remembered a surprising amount of weird details, like when Claudia decides to stir marmalade into her oatmeal, but also considers the option of grape jelly.
One thing that surprised me a little bit was the release date. Claudia and the First Thanksgiving was published in November of 1995, when I would have been in 7th grade. I’m guessing that I must have read this book very soon after its release. I think I started reading BSC books in 4th grade and kept reading them through 8th grade, so this was relatively late in my Baby-sitters Club reading era. I had definitely read at least one hundred Baby-sitters Club books in my life by age 14. I definitely learned about lots of things from BSC books, including diabetes and autism. Re-reading this book reminded me of the idea that maybe we could understand each other better if only everyone read more books.
sammah's review against another edition
3.0
I had a real appreciation for this book, even as a kid. I love that it brought up the issue of how the first Thanksgiving really wasn't this perfect, wonderful event and while we do have a good holiday that stemmed from it, we need to learn about the event as it really was. I also REALLY dug how it dealt with the issue of censorship, and the way the kids (and teacher) handled it. Claudia was the perfect choice for this story, because she isn't super preachy but she also knows how to stick to her guns. That made it great!
xtinamorse's review against another edition
Read my recap at A Year with the BSC via Stoneybrook Forever: https://www.livethemovies.com/bsc-blog/claudia-and-the-first-thanksgiving
megdurazo's review against another edition
5.0
if i'd been even 1/100th as cool as claudia in middle school, my whole life would be different. so claudia's short takes class wrote and directed a play about the first thanksgiving for third graders to star in. because nobody does righteous indignation the way teenagers do (and that's a compliment) claudia and her friends get REAL pissed when they do some research and find out what the first thanksgiving was like, and that the pilgrims they'd heard so many stories about were not actually very good people. their play starts to reflect this new understanding and when they have a dress rehearsal with the little kids, the elementary school teachers and some of the parents call their play un-american which...is just...that took me a minute. i've seen it in person a million times so i don't know why it was so jarring to read but the idea of full grown adults giving teenagers the evil eye for simply telling the truth is so bizarre. all this one little girl said was that the native americans weren't super psyched about the pilgrims. that's objectively true! what's the beef here? anyhow, they put on a censored version of the play at the elementary school and the real version at SMS, complete with playbills and set decorations that say censored all over them. all of this makes claudia realize that you can't believe everything you read or hear and now that my girl's on her critical thought journey, she can't be stopped. also there's a B plot about how everyone's thanksgiving plans got cancelled so literally all of the BSC and their families celebrate together. it's cute and fine but it's hard to focus on that when claudia's out sticking it to the establishment and showing some major character growth. 5 stars. i'd give it 10 if i could. keep on rocking in the free world, claudia kishi.
lizclairlee's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5