A theory on Claudia . . .
Possibility that occurred to me: Claudia's parents deliberately choose what they forbid her from reading.
Perhaps Claudia used to have no interest in reading anything(and I'm actually putting some of the blame on them not reading to her as much as they did her sister -- see their explanation for why there aren't many baby pictures of Claudia. Perhaps they just brought Claudia along to Janine's bedtime stories instead of giving her her own time, leaving Claudia only being exposed to stuff too far above her infant level, leaving reading filed in her brain as 'things I don't understand), so they sat her down and told her she was forbidden from reading Nancy Drew books. The series is simple, but not blatantly aimed at early readers (which might make her think she was too old for them, ignoring them in a desire to maintain some dignity). It's the same premise as how libraries encourage kids to read with Banned Book Week -- if grown-ups hate it enough to try and stop you from reading it, it must have some merit.
Their long-range plan involves extending the list of banned books. Though if they try to stick on something like Cry the Beloved Country even Claudia might catch on.
Banning junk food at least ensures that her intake will be limited by her personal budget.
Perhaps Claudia used to have no interest in reading anything(and I'm actually putting some of the blame on them not reading to her as much as they did her sister -- see their explanation for why there aren't many baby pictures of Claudia. Perhaps they just brought Claudia along to Janine's bedtime stories instead of giving her her own time, leaving Claudia only being exposed to stuff too far above her infant level, leaving reading filed in her brain as 'things I don't understand), so they sat her down and told her she was forbidden from reading Nancy Drew books. The series is simple, but not blatantly aimed at early readers (which might make her think she was too old for them, ignoring them in a desire to maintain some dignity). It's the same premise as how libraries encourage kids to read with Banned Book Week -- if grown-ups hate it enough to try and stop you from reading it, it must have some merit.
Their long-range plan involves extending the list of banned books. Though if they try to stick on something like Cry the Beloved Country even Claudia might catch on.
Banning junk food at least ensures that her intake will be limited by her personal budget.