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Claudia Cristina Cortez
Guilty!: The Complicated Life of Claudia Cristina Cortez
Someone stole Annas money, and she thinks it was Claudia and her friends! Claudia knows theyre innocent, but how can she crack the case and clear her name? Plus, she also has to study for the quiz show, figure out whose dog is pooping in her neighbors lawn, babysit annoying Nick, and somehow get tickets for the Bad Dog show?
- GenresRealistic Fiction
88 pages, Library Binding
First published August 1, 2007
3 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Diana G. Gallagher
156 books54 followersDiana G. Gallagher was an American author who wrote books for children and young adults. She also wrote the space opera The Alien Dark (1990), but was best known for her tie-in work for television properties including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed, Star Trek and The Secret World of Alex Mack, among others.
She was also a prolific filk creator, winning Pegasus Awards in 1986 and ’94. Gallagher won a Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist in 1988 under the name Diana Gallagher Wu. She sometimes also wrote under the name Diana Burke.
Born in 1946, in Paterson, New Jersey, she lived in Florida with her husband, the writer Martin R. Burke, who predeceased her in 2011. Gallagher was married four times; her third marriage was to author William F. Wu (divorced 1990).
Gallagher died December 2, 2021 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 75 years of age.
She was also a prolific filk creator, winning Pegasus Awards in 1986 and ’94. Gallagher won a Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist in 1988 under the name Diana Gallagher Wu. She sometimes also wrote under the name Diana Burke.
Born in 1946, in Paterson, New Jersey, she lived in Florida with her husband, the writer Martin R. Burke, who predeceased her in 2011. Gallagher was married four times; her third marriage was to author William F. Wu (divorced 1990).
Gallagher died December 2, 2021 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 75 years of age.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 18, 2025
This is an uncomplicated (despite the hype of the title and back cover text) mystery about stolen money. It's not even a lot of money, even if the values were adjusted for inflation—Claudia is getting ripped off for her babysitting jobs, for real!
Most of the mystery is dedicated to setting up the Quiz Show event and why it's such a big deal, while the mystery itself takes up barely any screen time except to illustrate the principles behind (successfully) accusing someone of a crime: opportunity, means, and motive.
Actually, there are THREE "crimes" in this book, and all are handled in the same sensible manner: the first as a demonstration of the principles (as explained by a very understanding and skeptical teacher who highly doubted the bully's accusation), the second as sort of comedy relief (the babysat neighbour is not convincing), and the main event (handled through the normal process of elimination, to a somewhat anticlimactic end, but one suited to the book's length).
...oh, wait, one more "crime"—a dog of unusual size leaving poop in the one neighbour's yard, and Neighbour asking Claudia to find the culprit. That's more standard detective work, though, with stakeouts and so on. (Also resolved peacefully!)
A pretty good read, all things considered! Recommended as an example of how justice SHOULD work in America, rather than the very scary lack of due process currently happening.
Most of the mystery is dedicated to setting up the Quiz Show event and why it's such a big deal, while the mystery itself takes up barely any screen time except to illustrate the principles behind (successfully) accusing someone of a crime: opportunity, means, and motive.
Actually, there are THREE "crimes" in this book, and all are handled in the same sensible manner: the first as a demonstration of the principles (as explained by a very understanding and skeptical teacher who highly doubted the bully's accusation), the second as sort of comedy relief (the babysat neighbour is not convincing), and the main event (handled through the normal process of elimination, to a somewhat anticlimactic end, but one suited to the book's length).
...oh, wait, one more "crime"—a dog of unusual size leaving poop in the one neighbour's yard, and Neighbour asking Claudia to find the culprit. That's more standard detective work, though, with stakeouts and so on. (Also resolved peacefully!)
A pretty good read, all things considered! Recommended as an example of how justice SHOULD work in America, rather than the very scary lack of due process currently happening.
July 11, 2017
I enjoy these middle school characters and their adventures. The characters are plausible and fun and these books are inspiration for my own stories.
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October 3, 2022What are the answers on the at
September 14, 2012
This was a very average book. The characters are 7th graders, but they could just as easily have been 4th graders based on the plot and how the characters behaved. I think this book targets reluctant readers because I really can't see too many middle schoolers picking this up.
The basic plot is that Claudia really wants to see her favorite band on Friday night. However, she doesn't have the money for it. There is also a book fair at school and everyone is saving up their money to buy books. As luck would have it, the teacher decides to do a quiz show competition and the winners will get free tickets to the concert. Conflict arises when one of Claudia's teammates accuses her and a friend of stealing money out of her backpack. In an effort to clear her name, Claudia puts on her detective hat to clear her name. All works out in the end.
This book is just really contrived and maybe a 4th or 5th grader would like it,but it just wasn't great.
The basic plot is that Claudia really wants to see her favorite band on Friday night. However, she doesn't have the money for it. There is also a book fair at school and everyone is saving up their money to buy books. As luck would have it, the teacher decides to do a quiz show competition and the winners will get free tickets to the concert. Conflict arises when one of Claudia's teammates accuses her and a friend of stealing money out of her backpack. In an effort to clear her name, Claudia puts on her detective hat to clear her name. All works out in the end.
This book is just really contrived and maybe a 4th or 5th grader would like it,but it just wasn't great.
October 17, 2011
Hooray for a series that features a multicultural cast of tweens in everyday situations. This slim volume has additional appeal with small cartoon-like illustrations that are peppered throughout the pages. The plot, however, chips away at some of this appeal by being a little too overly instructional in its presentation of the basic elements of criminal justice (I actually looked for a quiz at the end of the book). However, it is a sweet story that has enough going for it to hook particularly reluctant readers into the other titles in the series.
December 20, 2010
I loved this book it always relates to life she is accused that she did something
March 20, 2009
i love this book.
December 8, 2017
In this amazing book of The complicated life of Claudia Cristina Cortez " GUILTY" by Diana G. Gallagher. Claudia was trying to solve the problem of the stolen money from Anna. I wounder why didn't Jenny Pinski didn't stomp anyone like she said so if they lost.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews