Stacey vs. the BSC (RS#83)

Original Publication Date: 1995

Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis

Synopsis:

Stacey's becoming very aware of the fact that she's more mature than most of the BSC. Why? She's been hanging out more with the basketball crowd that she met when she started dating Robert and tried out for the cheerleading squad. They're able to talk about more that just little kids and don't tease people about having boyfriends ("Stacey and Robert sitting in a tree..."). She's also finding that BSC commitments are getting in the way of her social life, and ends up late to meetings or finding subs for her sitting jobs. To be fair to Stacey, the Kristy and Dawn do get self-righteous in the book, refusing to totally forgive Stacey for being late to meetings and getting subs, even after she's apologized and stopped.

Stacey's not innocent though. She has been putting her responsibilities on the back burner. Remember in her Portrait Collection book, when Stacey specifically mentioned that she likes to keep clients' houses quiet when kids are sleeping so she can hear if they need help? Well, while sitting for the Newtons she ignores Jamie's complaints of an upset stomach in favor of talking to Robert...until he throws up. Of course, he would have thrown up anyway, but if she'd been paying attention she probably could have gotten him to the toilet. Things come to a head when a "cool kids" party is rescheduled to Stacey's house and Claudia is the only other BSC member invited. Of course everyone finds out, and Stacey's too embarrassed to show her face at the BSC talent show the next day...even though she promised Charlotte Johanssen. That last bit even gets Claudia mad at her. The next Monday at the BSC meeting, everyone has a piece to say. Jessi finally points out that no one's forcing Stacey to be there.

So, Stacey quits.


Established or continued in this book:

The Girls (and Logan):

Claudia candy: Goobers under her pillow, pretzels in her shoe rack, Mallomars on the hat shelf, sesame seed pretzels

Stacey describes Dawn this way: "Easygoing, intense, open-minded, and opinionated. Sound like a a bunch of contradictions? That's Dawn." Yes, I agree that Dawn is contrary.

Stacey knows two verses to "Hush, Little Baby." I thought there was only one official verse. Did she learn the one my dad made up?

Claudia really tries to keep the peace in this one, much like her character earlier in the series.


Their Families:

As established in Snowbound, Stacey's mom is not a confident driver.

Stacey doesn't visit her dad at all in this book. He's hardly mentioned.

Maria Kilbourne can tap dance to "Putting on the Ritz." I just watched Young Frankenstein so you can imagine how I'm picturing her performance.


The Club (and clients): nothing new.


SMS:

Eighth graders: Andi Gentile (I wonder, pronounced "Gen-teel" like it is in my head or "Gen-tile" like "a person who's not Jewish") and Alex Zacharias. Several others that were introduced in Stacey and the Cheerleaders also appear.


PSA Time:

It's totally normal for a four-year-old (like Jamie Newton) to have a day or two when he's just not hungry. He'll probably eat a ton tomorrow. With toddlers and little kids, you should be looking at what they eat over the course of a week, not necessarily a given day.


Misc:

This book takes place in late winter.


The numbers:

Starting 8th grade: 7

Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2

Halloweens in 8th grade: 4 (plus one in seventh)

Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1

Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC celebrates it)

Summers after 8th grade: 7

BSC Fights: 10

SMS Staff and Faculty: 47

Students (other than the BSC): 167; 103 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified

Clients: 31

Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 104

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