Shannon's Story (RR#3)

Original Publication Date: 1994

Ghostwriter? Yes, Nola Thacker

Synopsis:

Shannon's mother is requesting more and more of Shannon's time, and Shannon's feeling stifled. She can't seem to get away from her mom, who is trying to involve herself in her daughter's life very awkwardly: buying matching outfits for them to wear together, wanting Shannon to spend time home instead of doing her usual activities, suddenly treating her like a little kid, and generally passive-aggressively inserting herself into Shannon's life. At the same time, her dad is becoming more and more distant, always at work and hardly involved with the family at all. Shannon won't let it get her down, though. She's too excited for her French class trip to Paris. Until her mother signs up to chaperone! Shannon can't stomach the idea, and purposely tanks the final exam so that her French GPA is too low. While her mom is on the trip, Shannon's in charge when her father's at work. She starts to understand her mom's actions: she's bored. Upon her mom's return, the two talk and things are somewhat sorted out, but things are still tense with between her parents.

It's also Mother's Day. The BSC organizes an event for kids to make different gifts (actually sounds kinda cool, too) and a mother-child softball game (not so much).

Even though this book was published around the time of other books that take place in the fall, I think this was supposed to be with the "last" Mother's Day, based on the talk of Tiffany's garden and Dawn being in California.

Greer at http://blog.stoneybrookite.org/ is diligently posting about the BSC Challenge. Here are my next answers:

Favorite couple in the books: Stacey and Sam. I love the way they are together.

Favorite couple you wish were in the books: In the Friends Forever books, Mary Anne and Cary Retlin seem to get along well.


Established or continued in this book:

The Girls (and Logan):

Claudia candy: chocolate-covered coffee beans in her desk, chocolate-covered Oreos and graham crackers under her mattress, Mallomars, Frookies, Gummi Worms, Cheez Doodles

Any time anyone takes a language, it's French. Shannon, Stacey, Mary Anne, Jessi...all French.


Their Families:

All the Kilbourne girls have blonde hair. I thought one used to be brunette...

Shannon's mom apparently does the family's laundry. By the time I was Shannon's age I'd been doing my own for a while. The kids also drink whole milk and their dad one percent (no mention of the mom's preference).


The Club: nothing new.


SMS: nothing new, but Shannon's school no longer has the astronomy club that she wanted to join in her vivid memory story; it's now a four-member group lead in part by Shannon herself.


PSA Time: nothing stood out.


Misc:

Shannon mentions an upcoming meteor shower. This book was published the same month as Claudia and Crazy Peaches so at first I thought she meant the October Draconids or Orionids. But then this book takes place around Mother's Day, so it's probably the Eta Aquarids.


The numbers:

Starting 8th grade: 7

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: 7

BSC Fights: 8

SMS Staff and Faculty: 47

Students (other than the BSC): 165; 101 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified

Clients: 31

Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 97

Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-8
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1