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The Baby-Sitters Club #26
Claudia and the Sad Good-bye
Claudia has always been close to her grandmother, Mimi, so she needs the help of her friends in the Baby-sitters Club to deal with Mimi's death.
147 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1989
157 people are currently reading
1187 people want to read
About the author
Ann M. Martin
1,128 books3,093 followersAnn Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
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May 25, 2011It's been years since I read Claudia and the Sad Good-bye, mostly because I was pretty sure that if Louie's death in Kristy and the Snobs would still affect me after all this time (and the loss of grandparents and pets), Mimi's death would be even worse.
So I waited. And waited. And then my father had a stroke earlier this year... and then he died while the hospital seemed content to do absolutely nothing. So I waited a little longer... and I decided to chance the book again.
It's funny how you can remember certain things so clearly despite the gulf of time between readings. One of the things I didn't fully remember was the strange way time is utilized in the book. Claudia's grief seems to mess with the timeline more than any other book I can think of off the top of my head. (She doesn't remember Mimi's funeral for one, and sort of relies on Stacey's memories, although we only get bits and pieces of those.)
As a kid, I loved this book. As an adult, I kind of wish it had been fleshed out a little more.
But I do love the Mimi memories and the way Kristy cautions Claudia not to just drop the Sitting Charge of the Book because for as durable as people say kids are, Kristy knows that they do get broken, especially by careless people.
So I waited. And waited. And then my father had a stroke earlier this year... and then he died while the hospital seemed content to do absolutely nothing. So I waited a little longer... and I decided to chance the book again.
It's funny how you can remember certain things so clearly despite the gulf of time between readings. One of the things I didn't fully remember was the strange way time is utilized in the book. Claudia's grief seems to mess with the timeline more than any other book I can think of off the top of my head. (She doesn't remember Mimi's funeral for one, and sort of relies on Stacey's memories, although we only get bits and pieces of those.)
As a kid, I loved this book. As an adult, I kind of wish it had been fleshed out a little more.
But I do love the Mimi memories and the way Kristy cautions Claudia not to just drop the Sitting Charge of the Book because for as durable as people say kids are, Kristy knows that they do get broken, especially by careless people.
April 23, 2013
I always hated when the cover and title of these books told me exactly what was going to happen. "Sad Good-bye"? Picture of Claudia's beloved grandma on the cover? You do the math. But I was actually kinda glad that instead of acting like Mimi's death is a surprise that the kids reading won't expect, they end up making the family's grief part of the plot. Claudia's parents deliberately distract themselves with work and she's kinda like "Wait, how do I get through this?" Her sister, who's usually portrayed like she has no feelings because she's smart and nerds are just nerds, actually takes a lead role in bringing the family together. There's also some other Good Family Messages when Claudia and Mary Anne (who aren't usually "paired up" together for anything) end up working with kids for an arts and crafts class and one of the kids there is one of those "must have lessons all day every day" children. So they get to try to help that kid communicate with her parents about cultivating a relationship. Better do it while you can! Anyway, this is also one of the books where the mood of the book and the mindset of the character actually kind of affected the storytelling in the book, which was neat. You really got this out-of-joint feeling from it, which works.
December 9, 2010
I think this book will always hold special value for me because I read it on the day that my Grandma died. She's suffered from Alzheimer's for years, to the point where she no longer recognised her own children, and this winter she came down with a chest infection and had to be hospitalised. Basically, her body started to shut down and we got the news on Tuesday that she was in a coma and would die within 24 hours. So I decided it was a good time to read this book.
I found it to be a pretty good portrayal of a family experiencing grief after the death of a relative. Both parents throw themselves back into their work but Claudia doesn't know how to cope and is offended when her friends at school avoid her out of awkwardness. Janine is the one who finally gets the family to sit down and talk about Mimi and what they're going to do with her room. It was nice to see Claudia's friends rallying around her and talking about their favourite memories.
The one thing I wasn't comfortable with was the way that Mimi died. It was all very mysterious and the doctors didn't know what was wrong with her. Why did they have to make it so unusual? Couldn't she have just died of old age, or of a virus or infection? It was kind of bizarre and didn't make much sense.
There was also a subplot where Claudia and Mary Anne ran an art class for local kids, and it was nice to see their friendship being developed. I know that people always complain about how the BSC "fix" the kids they sit for, but it was so sad seeing Corrie being neglected by her parents. I know plenty of kids who were shipped off to classes because their parents didn't want to look after their own kids. People like that should not be allowed to procreate! It also seemed realistic that the babysitter would mention politely to the parent that the child was upset that their mum didn't spend much time with her. I could imagine childminders or teachers doing this also.
All in all, I thought this was an excellent book aside from Mimi's mysterious illness. I would have preferred a more realistic death or reason for her death. 9/10
I found it to be a pretty good portrayal of a family experiencing grief after the death of a relative. Both parents throw themselves back into their work but Claudia doesn't know how to cope and is offended when her friends at school avoid her out of awkwardness. Janine is the one who finally gets the family to sit down and talk about Mimi and what they're going to do with her room. It was nice to see Claudia's friends rallying around her and talking about their favourite memories.
The one thing I wasn't comfortable with was the way that Mimi died. It was all very mysterious and the doctors didn't know what was wrong with her. Why did they have to make it so unusual? Couldn't she have just died of old age, or of a virus or infection? It was kind of bizarre and didn't make much sense.
There was also a subplot where Claudia and Mary Anne ran an art class for local kids, and it was nice to see their friendship being developed. I know that people always complain about how the BSC "fix" the kids they sit for, but it was so sad seeing Corrie being neglected by her parents. I know plenty of kids who were shipped off to classes because their parents didn't want to look after their own kids. People like that should not be allowed to procreate! It also seemed realistic that the babysitter would mention politely to the parent that the child was upset that their mum didn't spend much time with her. I could imagine childminders or teachers doing this also.
All in all, I thought this was an excellent book aside from Mimi's mysterious illness. I would have preferred a more realistic death or reason for her death. 9/10
February 18, 2016
this is my first time reading this book!
wow. well done, ann. the main plot in this book is that claudia's grandmother mimi keeps getting sicker and having to go back into the hospital only to have the doctors clueless about what's wrong with her. finally, she dies. in the subplot, claudia and mary anne start an art class for some bsc charges including new kid corrie addison. corrie's mom basically wants nothing to do with her (and is always really late picking her up from the art class), and corrie and claudia develop a really close, almost codependent relationship really quickly based on their neediness.
highlights:
-this book is not fun to read, but it is handled SO WELL. from claudia's feeling like mimi's death isn't real, to alternating between blaming herself/blaming mimi/blaming the doctors for the death, to snapping at her friends, to withdrawing from everything, it's just all so real.
-kristy's speech to claudia about how to responsibly be there for corrie addison is so good. kristy is concerned that though they both need each other right now, once claudia starts to feel better she is going to "drop corrie." kristy is so emotionally smart and human interaction-savvy here, and I just really love it.
-nanny (kristy's grandmother) moves in to care for emily michelle. we will hear so much more about the pink clinker (her ratty old pink car) from here on out.
-claudia's painting is a "stop action" - like you pressed pause in the middle of an action movie. this is such a good idea and I want to see this painting.
-they test mimi for toxoplasmosis "which you get mainly from cats" -- this is t gondii! I wrote a huge piece about it in my zine poop matters! I love t gondii. incidentally they've been researching using t gondii to fight cancer, so it's really not all bad.
lowlights/nitpicks:
-mrs. addison makes me so upset because I have lived this. when I was in 7th grade, my stepmom was an hour late to picking me up from school almost every day, and there was no schoolbus that would go to my apartment. I remember befriending all the folks who worked in the office after hours, and knowing that they resented me because they would have been able to go home if I wasn't there, and knowing that they pitied me too. it's an awful position to put a kid in, and nobody should ever do it.
-kristy spells mary anne's name mary ann. she knows better, and you should too, ann.
-claudia tells a story where mimi is an ambulance chaser. huh? was mimi a lawyer and no one ever told us about it?
claudia outfit:
-"At the moment I'm wearing lavender plaid cuffed pants with suspenders over a green shirt with buttons down the front, a matching lavender beret (and not just because I'm at my easel), and fleece-lined, high-top sneakers which I must admit are uncomfortably hot, but they look great. Also, I've got on earrings shaped like Christmas tree lights that actually blink on and off."
snacks in claudia's room:
-double stuf oreos in her hollow book
-cheetos under her bed
wow. well done, ann. the main plot in this book is that claudia's grandmother mimi keeps getting sicker and having to go back into the hospital only to have the doctors clueless about what's wrong with her. finally, she dies. in the subplot, claudia and mary anne start an art class for some bsc charges including new kid corrie addison. corrie's mom basically wants nothing to do with her (and is always really late picking her up from the art class), and corrie and claudia develop a really close, almost codependent relationship really quickly based on their neediness.
highlights:
-this book is not fun to read, but it is handled SO WELL. from claudia's feeling like mimi's death isn't real, to alternating between blaming herself/blaming mimi/blaming the doctors for the death, to snapping at her friends, to withdrawing from everything, it's just all so real.
-kristy's speech to claudia about how to responsibly be there for corrie addison is so good. kristy is concerned that though they both need each other right now, once claudia starts to feel better she is going to "drop corrie." kristy is so emotionally smart and human interaction-savvy here, and I just really love it.
-nanny (kristy's grandmother) moves in to care for emily michelle. we will hear so much more about the pink clinker (her ratty old pink car) from here on out.
-claudia's painting is a "stop action" - like you pressed pause in the middle of an action movie. this is such a good idea and I want to see this painting.
-they test mimi for toxoplasmosis "which you get mainly from cats" -- this is t gondii! I wrote a huge piece about it in my zine poop matters! I love t gondii. incidentally they've been researching using t gondii to fight cancer, so it's really not all bad.
lowlights/nitpicks:
-mrs. addison makes me so upset because I have lived this. when I was in 7th grade, my stepmom was an hour late to picking me up from school almost every day, and there was no schoolbus that would go to my apartment. I remember befriending all the folks who worked in the office after hours, and knowing that they resented me because they would have been able to go home if I wasn't there, and knowing that they pitied me too. it's an awful position to put a kid in, and nobody should ever do it.
-kristy spells mary anne's name mary ann. she knows better, and you should too, ann.
-claudia tells a story where mimi is an ambulance chaser. huh? was mimi a lawyer and no one ever told us about it?
claudia outfit:
-"At the moment I'm wearing lavender plaid cuffed pants with suspenders over a green shirt with buttons down the front, a matching lavender beret (and not just because I'm at my easel), and fleece-lined, high-top sneakers which I must admit are uncomfortably hot, but they look great. Also, I've got on earrings shaped like Christmas tree lights that actually blink on and off."
snacks in claudia's room:
-double stuf oreos in her hollow book
-cheetos under her bed
May 31, 2019
Well...good things and good people can’t last forever. In this heart wrenching story of the babysitters club Claudia’s grandmother (Mimi) passes away. Mimi has been sick and not acting well ever since her stroke last summer. When Mimi starts passing out and feeling immense pain she is rushed to the hospital where she latter passes away in the middle of the night. Claudia and her family are shocked and devastated! This is the first death Claudia is having to experience and she doesn’t know how to handle it. Should she cry and mourn or should she just remember all the good times.
June 16, 2024
This wasn’t my favorite book but l like it
July 7, 2020
While I actually started reading around age 3 (thank you, my Granny's Dick and Jane books!), this series is what I remember most about loving to read during my childhood. My sister and I drank these books up like they were oxygen. I truly think we owned just about every single one from every one of the series. We even got the privilege of meeting Ann M. Martin at a book signing, but of course little starstruck me froze and could not speak a word to my biggest hero at that time. Once in awhile if I come across these at a yard sale, I will pick them up for a couple hour trip down memory lane, and I declare nearly nothing centers and relaxes me more!
September 17, 2023
3-3.5 stars. Kinda sad and just not the best book tbh.
December 10, 2023
Read via audio (narrated by Ali Ahn).
September 19, 2019
Ugh, I've been dreading this book since I started this whole reread project! It's so freaking sad, I can hardly stand it. The last several books have been hinting that Mimi, Claudia's grandmother, has been getting sicker and sicker. So it really didn't come as a surprise to anyone but Claudia when she ended up in the hospital again and eventually died.
This book feels very disjointed, which I guess kind of goes with the story-line, but it's hard to follow at times. Claudia jumps around a lot and has really vague memories of a lot of things. She doesn't know how to handle her grief after Mimi dies, especially because she feels mad and guilty at her. It's actually a really well written story for younger kids dealing with death.
Claudia talks to Mimi the night she dies, right before bed, and Mimi ends the call with "Good-bye, my Claudia." I think that was the first time I teared up. After that it was just one big sob-fest. (I'm at the library writing this review and trying not to cry again...people already look at me weird for reading a BSC book hah!) Okay...I'm going to have to do my What Claudia is Wearing now so I can get happy again.
At the moment I'm wearing lavender plaid cuffed pants with suspenders [I think she might actually be repeating clothes, because I used the same overalls before] over a green shirt with buttons down the front, a matching lavender beret (and not just because I'm at my easel), and fleece-lined, high-top sneakers which I must admit are uncomfortably hot, but they look great. Also, I've got on earrings shaped like Christmas tree lights that actually blink on and off. [Oops...I forgot the earrings, but I think you can picture their hideousness on your own.] I think there is a way better way to wear plaid pants if that's what she's going for than the awfulness she picked...so I decided to show it. :)
The B-side story in this one is all about Claud and Mary Anne starting an art class on Saturdays for the neighborhood kids, including a new girl named Corrie. I'm not sure if Corrie and family move away soon after this or just decide to get more mature baby-sitters, but I don't remember her at all. (I'll have to keep an eye out for her in future books.) She's one of the typical "neglected children" of BSCLand that the BSCers end up helping. Funny, her brother is neglected too but they don't really care about him. Anyway, Claud is teaching the kids to make paper mache puppets and Corrie turns out to be pretty darn talented (maybe more than Claud?!?) and makes a Nancy Drew puppet.
Side story to end with: Every time Claud mentions the Nancy Drew books it kind of makes me want to start rereading those too. Would that be totally crazy? I don't even know how many there are and I don't have any of them anymore. I used to have a whole bunch, like a trunk full, but we got rid of them. (I also collected old Reader's Digests for some reason, I was kind of nerd lol.) What do you think? Totally crazy or totally cool?
Blogged at SeeJennRead
This book feels very disjointed, which I guess kind of goes with the story-line, but it's hard to follow at times. Claudia jumps around a lot and has really vague memories of a lot of things. She doesn't know how to handle her grief after Mimi dies, especially because she feels mad and guilty at her. It's actually a really well written story for younger kids dealing with death.
Claudia talks to Mimi the night she dies, right before bed, and Mimi ends the call with "Good-bye, my Claudia." I think that was the first time I teared up. After that it was just one big sob-fest. (I'm at the library writing this review and trying not to cry again...people already look at me weird for reading a BSC book hah!) Okay...I'm going to have to do my What Claudia is Wearing now so I can get happy again.
At the moment I'm wearing lavender plaid cuffed pants with suspenders [I think she might actually be repeating clothes, because I used the same overalls before] over a green shirt with buttons down the front, a matching lavender beret (and not just because I'm at my easel), and fleece-lined, high-top sneakers which I must admit are uncomfortably hot, but they look great. Also, I've got on earrings shaped like Christmas tree lights that actually blink on and off. [Oops...I forgot the earrings, but I think you can picture their hideousness on your own.] I think there is a way better way to wear plaid pants if that's what she's going for than the awfulness she picked...so I decided to show it. :)
The B-side story in this one is all about Claud and Mary Anne starting an art class on Saturdays for the neighborhood kids, including a new girl named Corrie. I'm not sure if Corrie and family move away soon after this or just decide to get more mature baby-sitters, but I don't remember her at all. (I'll have to keep an eye out for her in future books.) She's one of the typical "neglected children" of BSCLand that the BSCers end up helping. Funny, her brother is neglected too but they don't really care about him. Anyway, Claud is teaching the kids to make paper mache puppets and Corrie turns out to be pretty darn talented (maybe more than Claud?!?) and makes a Nancy Drew puppet.
Side story to end with: Every time Claud mentions the Nancy Drew books it kind of makes me want to start rereading those too. Would that be totally crazy? I don't even know how many there are and I don't have any of them anymore. I used to have a whole bunch, like a trunk full, but we got rid of them. (I also collected old Reader's Digests for some reason, I was kind of nerd lol.) What do you think? Totally crazy or totally cool?
Blogged at SeeJennRead
October 10, 2018
If you didn't shed tears upon tears having read this book, check your pulse.
December 19, 2021
Why is it that I can't remember to pay a bill on time or to put tissues on my Instacart order (twice now!), but 30+ years later, I still remember Claudia putting the soup tureen on the table and burning it when Mimi fell out of her chair?
WTF brain?
I know this one made me super sad as a kid, because it made me realize my own grandparents would die someday. (I mean, yes, I already realized this at 10 or whatever age I was, but it like…drove it home.) Especially the way Mimi gets sick, then seemingly better, then sick again, then seemingly better again, and then just dies in the night. That was so unsettling as a kid, and honestly, it still is, especially since my parents are getting old and my father is going through cancer treatments. I have a lot of sympathy for Claudia, even though there are moments in here where she acts uncharacteristically bratty and self-centered, moments for which she very quickly chastises herself and apologizes. I also liked the side plot of the art class and how Corrie became very attached to Claudia when her own parents were super neglectful and distant, and how Claudia got her own sense of comfort and solace from helping Corrie.
I liked too that there wasn't too much other stuff in this one, which I think would've really distracted from the serious main plot. The mood of this one is obviously somewhat somber, but there are also some really nice moments of the Kishi family and the girls in the BSC sharing their memories of Mimi. This is a really sweet entry in the series, one I'm sure a lot of kids who had gone through that kind of loss really benefitted from.
WTF brain?
I know this one made me super sad as a kid, because it made me realize my own grandparents would die someday. (I mean, yes, I already realized this at 10 or whatever age I was, but it like…drove it home.) Especially the way Mimi gets sick, then seemingly better, then sick again, then seemingly better again, and then just dies in the night. That was so unsettling as a kid, and honestly, it still is, especially since my parents are getting old and my father is going through cancer treatments. I have a lot of sympathy for Claudia, even though there are moments in here where she acts uncharacteristically bratty and self-centered, moments for which she very quickly chastises herself and apologizes. I also liked the side plot of the art class and how Corrie became very attached to Claudia when her own parents were super neglectful and distant, and how Claudia got her own sense of comfort and solace from helping Corrie.
I liked too that there wasn't too much other stuff in this one, which I think would've really distracted from the serious main plot. The mood of this one is obviously somewhat somber, but there are also some really nice moments of the Kishi family and the girls in the BSC sharing their memories of Mimi. This is a really sweet entry in the series, one I'm sure a lot of kids who had gone through that kind of loss really benefitted from.
May 14, 2021
This was honestly one of the saddest babysitters club books I have read. Claudia has a special bond with her grandmother Mimi but after Mimi’s stroke, she’s never been the same. Only she’s getting worse and the doctors are not sure what’s wrong with her. I definitely bawled my eyes out for this book, just so sad.
November 10, 2023
In Claudia and the Sad Goodbye, she says goodbye to her beloved grandmother Mimi, who passes away. The book deals with death in a very realistic way, and we get to see how a 13 year old would handle losing a beloved person in her life. This book held up pretty well and it was a good end to a memorable character.
October 24, 2025
This is a harder hitting BSC book as Claudia goes through Mimi’s death. It was sweet to see how the girls support her and this also has Claudia and Mary Anne teach art classes to children who are sort of left to their own devices. Not the best book but it does feel good to pick up this series again.
April 2, 2021
4 stars. This book always made me cry as a child and it got me again. Just so damn sad. I love Mimi and her relationship with Claudia was always so sweet. This book hurts but it is beautifully done. Claudia grieves and Martin let her be angry about Mimi's death which felt real. I just loved it. The girls coming together to comfort and be there for Claudia was amazing and I loved the side story of Claudia helping Corrie. This book was just so wonderful and is easily one of the best in the series for me.
February 28, 2026
in which claudia loses her beloved grandmother and i cry no less than 7 times. having lost a parent, albeit when i was much older than 13, i understand claudia's mix of confusion, sadness, and anger. deducted one star for the corrie addison child neglect subplot, i don't like reading about that family.
November 28, 2021
"Wow, that thing that happened with Louie in the last book was so incredibly sad, surely the next book will be more cheerful! What is it called? 'Claudia and the...oh no...'"
Wow, yep, that was, as the title promises, sad. So very sad. But also sweet and nuanced and a very good read.
Wow, yep, that was, as the title promises, sad. So very sad. But also sweet and nuanced and a very good read.
January 5, 2020
A good story about how kids deal with grief.
November 14, 2018
I'm sure I've cried at this book before, though it never resonated with me the way Louie's death in #11 did. But I definitely cried this time, a few different times.
I thought this book was very good, I thought it depicted the death of a loved one quite well. I liked reading about all the emotions that Claudia dealt with, it was quite realistic.
Sidenote: As I was reading about Claudia describing each club member and her family situation, I got annoyed that Nannie lived with the Thomas-Brewer family, even though it wasn't mentioned when Emily Michelle was adopted, nor did I remember it being mentioned in #25, which was the book between these two. So I was quite happy when Kristy randomly told the club about what got Nannie to move in with the family, gave us a little backstory that happened between books. I appreciated that, instead of it appearing out of nowhere.
I thought this book was very good, I thought it depicted the death of a loved one quite well. I liked reading about all the emotions that Claudia dealt with, it was quite realistic.
Sidenote: As I was reading about Claudia describing each club member and her family situation, I got annoyed that Nannie lived with the Thomas-Brewer family, even though it wasn't mentioned when Emily Michelle was adopted, nor did I remember it being mentioned in #25, which was the book between these two. So I was quite happy when Kristy randomly told the club about what got Nannie to move in with the family, gave us a little backstory that happened between books. I appreciated that, instead of it appearing out of nowhere.
September 21, 2022
I've been aware of this particular volume and I've been loathing for it's number to be called. From the cover art, you can tell Claudia and the Sad Goodbye regards her grandmother, Mimi. Mimi is one of my favorite side characters in the Stoneybrooke neighborhood and I got a little teary-eyed when I first saw her in the Netflix show. She is a tender woman who has a soft spot for her granddaughter when she feels misunderstood by her family. After Mimi has a stroke, her health deteriorates and it is evident she isn't long for this world. This probably wasn't the best time to read this book because my grandfather is going through serious health problems himself. I couldn't help but find similarities between my situation and Claudia's. Claudia does eventually say her last goodbye as evidenced by the title. This book is helping me prepare for my ultimate goodbye with my own grandpa. It showed the various signs of grief and letting go of a relative. I'm not ready for it, but I can give thanks to a BSC book published over 30 years ago for some helpful tips. I know she's not real, but I'll always love Mimi.
July 13, 2024
This book was interesting as we didn’t get any babysitting really apart from the art lessons. I liked how it dealt with grief and how different people react differently. I thought it would be good for kids to read that. Also the family starting to “move on” regarding Mimi’s stuff.
If I ever meet Ann M Martin, though, I’d love to ask where the name Mimi comes from. Im married to a Japanese man and live in Japan. Mimi means ear in Japanese, though it could be a shortened form of Michiko, Emiko, etc But Japanese is so big on using terms for family that I can’t imagine Mimi wouldn’t be “bachan.”
Also I’m curious how there wouldn’t be more Japanese language in the family, especially when Mimi was sick. And considering Mimi moved to the US at 32 and had children and grandchildren there, I doubt she hadn’t had pizza before going to that restaurant with Kristy and Maryanne.
If I ever meet Ann M Martin, though, I’d love to ask where the name Mimi comes from. Im married to a Japanese man and live in Japan. Mimi means ear in Japanese, though it could be a shortened form of Michiko, Emiko, etc But Japanese is so big on using terms for family that I can’t imagine Mimi wouldn’t be “bachan.”
Also I’m curious how there wouldn’t be more Japanese language in the family, especially when Mimi was sick. And considering Mimi moved to the US at 32 and had children and grandchildren there, I doubt she hadn’t had pizza before going to that restaurant with Kristy and Maryanne.
August 24, 2012
This book is sad but good. Claudia loses her grandmother to a stoke. It's really sad for claudia because she doesn't do so well at school but the rest of her family is really smart. Mimi, Claudia's grandmother, is the only person who understood her. Claudia also shared 'special tea' with Mimi and she misses that. Awesome book which I highly recommend.
July 29, 2010
the one in which mimi dies & claudia arranges an art class for a little girl whose parents neglect her. really not much to snark on here, although i'm not saying that i ever especially liked this book.
September 30, 2015
Oh how I miss this series! I grew up with these girls and looked up to them as older sisters but now I'm older than them! I will be doing a mini review of this soon, together with Dawn on the Coast so stay tuned for that!
October 28, 2021
This is objectively the best BSC book I've read so far. It's heartbreaking and just feels really unique and authentic. I like that Claudia got ugly and dark in this, and that it wasn't a cliche depiction of grief.
September 13, 2008
I remember this book made me cry as a kid. Ha ha.
November 18, 2011
It was very sad. But, since it was sad i promised myself not to read it again, but then i broke promise because it was still very good.
November 16, 2013
Another of my favs but certainly one of the saddest books I read in the series.
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