Original Publication Date: 1993
Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis
Synopsis:
Stacey finds herself falling in the with the popular crowd at SMS, comprised of the boys' basketball team and the cheerleaders. She goes on a date with one player and later becomes the girlfriend of another (Robert). She also tries out for the cheerleading squad, but doesn't make it despite being the best candidate due to behind-the-scenes nonsense that arises because the cheerleaders themselves are picking the new member rather than a coach. It's all part of this vast favoritism thing, one and the same with basketball players getting breaks on their schoolwork. When Stacey's new boyfriend finds out, it's the last straw and he quits the basketball team in protest. Apparently it sparks a change for the better.
We also get a glimpse into Shannon's family life, when the middle sister (Tiffany) feels inadequate compared to her over-achieving siblings. She finds a hobby (gardening) with the help of the BSC, and is happy to let that be what she excels in.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: blue corn chips under her bed and behind a hat in the closet; chips, pretzels, and malted milk balls in her backpack
Stacey is getting much more interested in being popular. And it's believable; she was part of the in group at her school in New York before THE DIABETES.
Shannon is a member of the honor society and "practically fluent" in Spanish and French. She also still likes drama.
Their Families:
Tiffany Kilbourne is ten, and needs a sitter. When we first met her, she went with Shannon on sitting jobs to help. Maria is eight and into swimming.
The Club:
Stacey "introduces" Shannon to us as an associate member despite the fact that Shannon's filling Dawn's position and present at meetings.
SMS:
8th grade Students: Corinne Baker, RJ Blaser, Robert Brewster, Marty Bukowski, George Burke, Jason Fox, Ronnie Gallea, Margie Greene, Malik Jeffrey, Linda Kedem, Kathleen Lopez, Sheila MacGregor, Diane Maqnani, Wayne McConville, Penny Weller, Darcy (didn't catch her last name)
Faculty/Staff: Ms. Levine (8th grade homeroom), Mr. Schubert (unspecified), Mr. Halvorsen (basketball coach but also works at the school; he has an office)
Mascot: the Chargers
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
I'm siding with Stacey on her low opinion of Pizza Express. I ate at a Pizza Express in Seattle and it was pretty bad. I'm fairly certain there's no franchise that connects the two, what with one existing in a fictional book, but still...
Claudia calls Stacey asking for a barrette. Good thing she wasn't missing a red ribbon!
Robert shows up for a date wearing a "zipped-up down coat." I remember that description being awkward when I read it as a kid.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 6
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Halloweens in 8th grade: 3 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Summers after 8th grade: 6
BSC Fights: 8
SMS Staff and Faculty: 36
Students (other than the BSC): 128; 94 8th graders, 2 7th graders, 19 6th graders, 12 unspecified
Clients: 29
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 86
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-8
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
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5 comments:
I've never eaten at a Pizza Express and I think I'm glad of that. (There're less than flattering descriptions of them in other books as well.) I gotta disagree about pineapple on a pizza being unconventional/weird though. I mean, throw some ham on with it and I'd call it a Canadian. (I wouldn't order it because I don't like pineapple but that's beside the point.)
Mmmm, Whoppers! (The malted milk balls. Gotta have the ones from the U.S. though, the ones we have in Canada just aren't as good.)
Stacey was also part of the popular crowd her first time in Stoneybrook as well, when the BSC didn't sit together at lunch.
Didn't Tiff used to be 11? As in, wasn't she 11 in Kristy and the Snobs?
The Chargers sounds like a team name, rather than a mascot name.
Oh yeah, pineapple is a normal topping. But not good; I agree!
I guess I mean is the Stacey's more concerned with being popular here than in earlier books. I don't think she'd agree to wear a BSC sandwich board anymore!
Yeah, there's something fishy with the Kilbournes...
In my mind, team name and mascot are usually interchangeable, like with the University of Washington: the team name is the Huskies and the mascots are someone in a Husky costume and an actual dog (which is usually an Alaskan malamute, but close enough).
I just meant that I wasn't sure how Chargers would be personified or costumed and that Chargers would be the team name and "Chargey" (for example) would be the mascot. Because would you call the mascot "Huskies" or "Husky/Huskie"? Or would you call it by its name, should it have one? (For example, our local college mascot is named Kody.)
I agree with Stacey caring about being popular. I still can't believe any of them agree to wear the sandwich boards in The Truth About Stacey, though. Especially Mary Anne.
WV: patrec - How Claudia would spell Kristy's deadbeat dad's name.
I just wanted to say I LOVE your blog! Please keep it up.
Laura: The live mascot is named Dubs (II or III currently, I think) and the costumed person is Harry the Husky, but most people just call either the husky. The teams are the Husky football team, the Husky track and field team, etc; there's a Husky Union Building instead of a Student Union Building, and so on. I didn't actually go there, but my dad works with the football team. At my high school, we were called the Eagles and our costumed person was just the Eagle.
Anon: no sweat; I should have another post up tonight after putting the baby to bed (she'll be eleven months old in a few hours!).
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