Original Publication Date: 1998
Ghostwriter? Yes, Ellen Miles. Also, this book and the three remaining mysteries have a different illustrator for the cover art (at least for the US printing). Hodges Soileau did most of the series, while California Diaries has artsy photographs and the Friends Forever books have photographs of girls meant to be the title characters. I can't find information on who designed the cover in the book or online, but I know I've read it somewhere.
Synopsis:
Valentine's Day is coming up, and Stacey is helping with a Valentine gram fundraiser: students can pay a dollar to send notes to other people in the school (the sixth grade president even sends one to a teacher). The notes will be collected for several days, then passed on Valentine's Day with candy. But someone takes the bag that they're being stored in. As if that weren't bad enough, whoever took the bag starts posting information about the stolen cards, like the fact that Cokie sent a dozen cards to her boyfriend but he sent none to her. Narrowing down a list of suspects is almost impossible, until Stacey notices a bit of sleeve on a recent photocopy of a stolen card. It has a striped pattern, and she's almost positive the copy was made that day, so the BSC starts a frantic search for stripes. Cary Retlin is wearing a shirt that matches, but he wasn't at school when the cards were stolen. However, he drops very unsubtle hints that Alan Gray took the cards and Cary did the copying. Why? Because Alan learned that several people, including the girl he actually likes a lot (it's never revealed who she is), are sending him fake cards and he's retaliating. Maybe there's a human being under that annoying exterior, one with feelings, huh? Stacey confront Alan, saying that she knows who took the cards and that she wants them back tomorrow. Sure enough, there's a box full of them outside her homeroom and the crisis is over.
Also, the BSC helps with a kids' party at the library.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: fluffernutter sandwiches and sourdough pretzels (I'll take the latter, thanks)
Stacey's hair is now short and unpermed.
Mallory and Ben Hobart are still an item, but it's an on-again, off-again thing.
Stacey can't tell a robin from a sparrow. Hint: one's about two-thirds the size of the other, and has no red on it. I totally get confusing say, a marsh wren and a sparrow, or a female house finch and a sparrow, or a robin and a towhee, but robins are pretty distinct from sparrows.
Their Families:
Anna Stevenson loves frogs. Adam Pike thinks this is wise. Shout-out to the Wandering Frog People?
Boo Boo might no longer be with us. He's referred to as "Watson's old cat." In context it's unclear whether he's ancient or past. I know that it's not long before Karen gets a kitten in a Little Sister book.
The Club (and clients): nothing new.
SMS:
Stacey's ex, Robert, has been withdrawn and sullen lately. This will be important in a few books.
I always thought it was weird that SMS had so many lunch options on a given day, but judging from the lunch menus of the kids I nanny, I guess my school was the weird one for having just one lunch a day.
Cokie has a boyfriend (Brent Jensen).
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
This book was once sold from Paperback Palace in Vienna, WV, a used bookstore which is still around today.
I don't understand the appeal of a plain cheese sandwich. Grilled cheese, yes. But a piece of cold cheese between two pieces of bread...I'll pass.
Apparently the BSC exchanges Valentines. I don't think I've ever given my friends Valentines, except for when we'd happen to be in the same class in elementary school. My husband and I do exchange small things, like candy, and I take pictures of my daughter (plus the baby bump for now) to send out as postcards to our parents, grandparents, and siblings for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, the Fourth of July, and Halloween, with different props appropriate to the holiday. Last year we got my daughter a little fork and spoon for Valentine's Day, because a couple days before she had started to insist on using utensils. The handles were pink, so I figured it counted. She got a pink cookie this year.
Cary Retlin's dentist needs to talk with the office receptionist about HIPAA laws. She shouldn't be doling out patient information right and left. Stacey just calls and asks if Cary really did have an appointment on a certain day, and it's not okay to just give out that info on the phone.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate in the plot of a book, not just reference): Christmas-5, Hanukkah-2, Kwanzaa-3
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 4
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 214: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 29 7th graders, 48 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 137
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-11
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
2/24/13
Abby and the Best Kid Ever (RS#116)
Original Publication Date: 1998
Ghostwriter? Yes, Nola Thacker
Synopsis:
The Addison family is moving to Seattle, WA (yay, out-of-control Sean is coming live near me). While they help the family pack, the BSC also has to deal with Sean being convinced they hate him and are happy to be rid of him. The BSC throws the Addisons a going-away party. The Nicholls family moves into the Addisons' old house.
At the same time, Lou McNally is moving back with her older brother and aunt and uncle. (She's the star of Kristy and the Worst Kid Ever, who was in foster care with the Papadakises. She acted out due to the immense stress of her situation.) Lou is now constantly on her very best behavior and almost never acts like a kid. While she's easy to watch, the BSC is concerned that she's unable or unwilling to be herself. There's also the way that a little mistake, like spilling a glass of water, sends her into a panic. After talking with her brother, it seems that Lou is worried that if she messes up, her aunt and uncle might not be able to keep them or something might happen to them. Abby tries to convince Lou that she's not in any danger, but it doesn't really take until Abby explains what's going on to Lou's aunt and uncle.
This book takes place in February, which in the US is Black History Month. For a school project, Abby gets some of the BSC charges involved in a documentary she makes about the Underground Railroad (Nicky Pike inspired the idea).
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: garlic nugget pretzels, M&Ms, trail mix, an apple (for Stacey)
There is a sewing machine at Mary Anne's house but it's unclear if it's primarily Mary Anne's, Sharon's, or Richard's. I'm betting it belongs to Mary Anne.
I don't know why Abby passed off her tears as allergies when she was talking to Jay (Lou's older brother) about his father dying. I bet he and Abby could have helped each other, having had the same sad experience. Even if she didn't want to talk about it, it would make more sense to me for her to say something like, "My father passed away too, and it makes me emotional to think about it, but I don't like to talk about it."
Their Families: nothing new.
The Club (and clients):
I do think it's weird that the girls refer to themselves as BABY-sitters when they usually watch older kids. I've watched kids for at least a decade and a half in various capacities from minding my younger brother to being a five-day-a-week nanny, and I refer to myself as a sitter unless there actually is an infant. I've known little kids for whom it's very important that they not be implied to be babies.
The Addisons move away but the McNallys settle in Stoneybrook, so the number of BSC clients is unchanged. The Nicholls family, who moves into the Addisons' house, has two kids and might call on the BSC for sitting services soon. The BSC notes that Mr. Nicholls is pretty strict with his boys, but think it's from the stress of moving.
SMS:
EDIT: Oops...I confused which part means what, so ignore most of the following! It was correctedin the comments. Abby was still wrong, though.Abby, the reason your history teacher dismissed your idea of having a city named Philasororia to be the "City of Sisterly Love" in answer to Philadelphia (the "City of Brotherly Love") is because your knowledge of Greek is awful. Your city name would mean something like "brother-sister" because it's the Phila- part that means brother and the -delphia part that means love. You want something like Sorodelphia. (Although your teacher is wrong that it would be a good name for a dinosaur; it makes no sense unless it's a new species discovered by a brother-and-sister team of paleontologists, and would probably be the second part of the name, like the "rex" in "Tyrannosaurus rex.")
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
Is it foreshadowing that Abby and her charges mention the name of Mary Anne's street is odd, Burnt Hill Road? Maybe. The name certainly makes more sense once we get to the last regular series book (it's in 27 more books; one Super Special, four mysteries, seven California Diaries, and fifteen regular series).
Was anyone else confused as a child to read that Mary Anne and Dawn's house was part of the Underground Railroad despite being in Connecticut? I know now that many escaped slaved went all the way to Canada to avoid extradition back to the South, but when I was a kid and read about the secret passage I only knew about slaves trying to get north of the Mason-Dixon Line (CT is north of that and therefore didn't have slavery). Maybe it was just me, but I think that with how much the BSC books overexplain things there could have been a mention back in The Ghost at Dawn's House when the passage is first introduced, rather than waiting until this book!
Mrs. Addison is correct, you don't get very dependable snow in the Seattle area. We had none this year, but last year there was a snow and ice storm that shut some stuff down for a few days (steep hills+cars/drivers that aren't equiped for snow+ice+not a lot of equipment to get rid of the ice and snow=dangerous driving conditions).
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate in the plot of a book, not just reference): Christmas-5, Hanukkah-2, Kwanzaa-3
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 214: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 29 7th graders, 48 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 136
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-11
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
Ghostwriter? Yes, Nola Thacker
Synopsis:
The Addison family is moving to Seattle, WA (yay, out-of-control Sean is coming live near me). While they help the family pack, the BSC also has to deal with Sean being convinced they hate him and are happy to be rid of him. The BSC throws the Addisons a going-away party. The Nicholls family moves into the Addisons' old house.
At the same time, Lou McNally is moving back with her older brother and aunt and uncle. (She's the star of Kristy and the Worst Kid Ever, who was in foster care with the Papadakises. She acted out due to the immense stress of her situation.) Lou is now constantly on her very best behavior and almost never acts like a kid. While she's easy to watch, the BSC is concerned that she's unable or unwilling to be herself. There's also the way that a little mistake, like spilling a glass of water, sends her into a panic. After talking with her brother, it seems that Lou is worried that if she messes up, her aunt and uncle might not be able to keep them or something might happen to them. Abby tries to convince Lou that she's not in any danger, but it doesn't really take until Abby explains what's going on to Lou's aunt and uncle.
This book takes place in February, which in the US is Black History Month. For a school project, Abby gets some of the BSC charges involved in a documentary she makes about the Underground Railroad (Nicky Pike inspired the idea).
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: garlic nugget pretzels, M&Ms, trail mix, an apple (for Stacey)
There is a sewing machine at Mary Anne's house but it's unclear if it's primarily Mary Anne's, Sharon's, or Richard's. I'm betting it belongs to Mary Anne.
I don't know why Abby passed off her tears as allergies when she was talking to Jay (Lou's older brother) about his father dying. I bet he and Abby could have helped each other, having had the same sad experience. Even if she didn't want to talk about it, it would make more sense to me for her to say something like, "My father passed away too, and it makes me emotional to think about it, but I don't like to talk about it."
Their Families: nothing new.
The Club (and clients):
I do think it's weird that the girls refer to themselves as BABY-sitters when they usually watch older kids. I've watched kids for at least a decade and a half in various capacities from minding my younger brother to being a five-day-a-week nanny, and I refer to myself as a sitter unless there actually is an infant. I've known little kids for whom it's very important that they not be implied to be babies.
The Addisons move away but the McNallys settle in Stoneybrook, so the number of BSC clients is unchanged. The Nicholls family, who moves into the Addisons' house, has two kids and might call on the BSC for sitting services soon. The BSC notes that Mr. Nicholls is pretty strict with his boys, but think it's from the stress of moving.
SMS:
EDIT: Oops...I confused which part means what, so ignore most of the following! It was correctedin the comments. Abby was still wrong, though.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
Is it foreshadowing that Abby and her charges mention the name of Mary Anne's street is odd, Burnt Hill Road? Maybe. The name certainly makes more sense once we get to the last regular series book (it's in 27 more books; one Super Special, four mysteries, seven California Diaries, and fifteen regular series).
Was anyone else confused as a child to read that Mary Anne and Dawn's house was part of the Underground Railroad despite being in Connecticut? I know now that many escaped slaved went all the way to Canada to avoid extradition back to the South, but when I was a kid and read about the secret passage I only knew about slaves trying to get north of the Mason-Dixon Line (CT is north of that and therefore didn't have slavery). Maybe it was just me, but I think that with how much the BSC books overexplain things there could have been a mention back in The Ghost at Dawn's House when the passage is first introduced, rather than waiting until this book!
Mrs. Addison is correct, you don't get very dependable snow in the Seattle area. We had none this year, but last year there was a snow and ice storm that shut some stuff down for a few days (steep hills+cars/drivers that aren't equiped for snow+ice+not a lot of equipment to get rid of the ice and snow=dangerous driving conditions).
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate in the plot of a book, not just reference): Christmas-5, Hanukkah-2, Kwanzaa-3
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 214: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 29 7th graders, 48 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 136
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-11
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
2/21/13
Jessi's Big Break (RS#115)
Original Publication Date: 1998
Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis
Synopsis:
As the title would suggest, Jessi gets a big break in this book. After an audition, she's invited to a three-and-a-half week ballet course at Dance New York, a prestigious company. She stays with her (adult) cousin Michael and his wife, Marian (Aunt Cecelia's son and daughter-in-law). And who is in the same program but Quint, the closest thing Jessi's had to a boyfriend. She's worried that he wants to heat up again. He is operating under the assumption that since they're spending so much time together, they can go ahead and be in a relationship, but Jessi explains that she's just not ready for a boyfriend. He's willing to wait until she is, at least for now. Back to dancing. Jessi does very well under the watchful eyes of her teachers, well enough to earn a second audition and an invitation to join the program full-time. Aunt Cecelia really comes through for her; she jumps at every opportunity to help Jessi be in the New York City school and really wants to see her niece succeed at her dream. Jessi thinks long and hard about it, and agrees that she also wants to take advantage of this opportunity, but not just yet. She can wait several months and the offer will still be there, so she vows to enjoy the life she has now while working to become an even more accomplished ballerina for when she returns to the program.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Snickers
Jessi briefly imitates her dance teacher and of course he catches her in the act. She worries over a bit more than you'd expect, were it not for the plot of Jessi's Horrible Prank.
Mallory loves bagels.
Their Families:
Becca's all melodramatic and egocentric like she was in Jessi and the Jewel Theives. Squirt's sad too, but he just misses Jessi (and same with Mallory); he doesn't make it all about how terrible things are for him.
This book confirms that back in Jessi's Baby-sitter poor Aunt Cecelia was dealing with not only adjusting to living with a new family who hadn't really hashed out any rules, but the very recent death of her husband. Cecelia's married name, by the way, is Parker.
Jessi's father has two brothers older than his sister Cecelia, but no word if he's the youngest of four or if there are more siblings.
Cecelia thinks that her son Michael should be doing more with his. Jessi muses that she wanted him to become the first African-American president (of the US, of course: African-American). Leaving aside that you have to be at least 35 to run and I don't think he's old enough, he missed that boat! This book was published ten years before Obama won the presidency. In actuality, Cecelia's sad that Michael and Marian didn't follow their artistic dreams.
While Cecelia does make her daughter-in-law nervous and act a little bratty to her son, I have to give her credit that when she sort of complains about them not having a home-cooked meal ready, she directs the blame to her son and not her daughter-in-law, and not in a way that implies women should do all the cooking.
This book implies that Jeff didn't move back to California until after Richard and Sharon married.
The Club (and clients):
Claudia still has to take a sitting call outside of BSC meeting times now and then.
SMS: Jessi's in NYC for the most of the book; she has a tutor there.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
This is Jessi's last book in the series.
Between pages 40 and 41 the description of two characters changes from past tense to present. It's not quite a mistake the way it's done but it's really awkward to read.
One of Jessi's dance friends explains to Mallory (who visits for a weekend) that dancers can't help being physical. My best friend did ballet for a long time, and she's confirmed that. She told me that you're so used to physical contact and studying the human form that you're very comfortable with touching people after years of ballet. I'm very happy that she's so understanding of my personal space because for the most part I don't like touching.
Jessi's cousin's apartment is described as having a downstairs. It's also explicitly stated to be a very nice apartment. How common are two-story apartments in New York City? They live in Brooklyn, for what it's worth.
This book references E-mail, with the capital E. That used to be standard back in the olden days. Now most people use lower-case (unless beginning a sentence, of course).
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate in the plot of a book, not just reference): Christmas-5, Hanukkah-2, Kwanzaa-3
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 214: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 29 7th graders, 48 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 134
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-11
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis
Synopsis:
As the title would suggest, Jessi gets a big break in this book. After an audition, she's invited to a three-and-a-half week ballet course at Dance New York, a prestigious company. She stays with her (adult) cousin Michael and his wife, Marian (Aunt Cecelia's son and daughter-in-law). And who is in the same program but Quint, the closest thing Jessi's had to a boyfriend. She's worried that he wants to heat up again. He is operating under the assumption that since they're spending so much time together, they can go ahead and be in a relationship, but Jessi explains that she's just not ready for a boyfriend. He's willing to wait until she is, at least for now. Back to dancing. Jessi does very well under the watchful eyes of her teachers, well enough to earn a second audition and an invitation to join the program full-time. Aunt Cecelia really comes through for her; she jumps at every opportunity to help Jessi be in the New York City school and really wants to see her niece succeed at her dream. Jessi thinks long and hard about it, and agrees that she also wants to take advantage of this opportunity, but not just yet. She can wait several months and the offer will still be there, so she vows to enjoy the life she has now while working to become an even more accomplished ballerina for when she returns to the program.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Snickers
Jessi briefly imitates her dance teacher and of course he catches her in the act. She worries over a bit more than you'd expect, were it not for the plot of Jessi's Horrible Prank.
Mallory loves bagels.
Their Families:
Becca's all melodramatic and egocentric like she was in Jessi and the Jewel Theives. Squirt's sad too, but he just misses Jessi (and same with Mallory); he doesn't make it all about how terrible things are for him.
This book confirms that back in Jessi's Baby-sitter poor Aunt Cecelia was dealing with not only adjusting to living with a new family who hadn't really hashed out any rules, but the very recent death of her husband. Cecelia's married name, by the way, is Parker.
Jessi's father has two brothers older than his sister Cecelia, but no word if he's the youngest of four or if there are more siblings.
Cecelia thinks that her son Michael should be doing more with his. Jessi muses that she wanted him to become the first African-American president (of the US, of course: African-American). Leaving aside that you have to be at least 35 to run and I don't think he's old enough, he missed that boat! This book was published ten years before Obama won the presidency. In actuality, Cecelia's sad that Michael and Marian didn't follow their artistic dreams.
While Cecelia does make her daughter-in-law nervous and act a little bratty to her son, I have to give her credit that when she sort of complains about them not having a home-cooked meal ready, she directs the blame to her son and not her daughter-in-law, and not in a way that implies women should do all the cooking.
This book implies that Jeff didn't move back to California until after Richard and Sharon married.
The Club (and clients):
Claudia still has to take a sitting call outside of BSC meeting times now and then.
SMS: Jessi's in NYC for the most of the book; she has a tutor there.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
This is Jessi's last book in the series.
Between pages 40 and 41 the description of two characters changes from past tense to present. It's not quite a mistake the way it's done but it's really awkward to read.
One of Jessi's dance friends explains to Mallory (who visits for a weekend) that dancers can't help being physical. My best friend did ballet for a long time, and she's confirmed that. She told me that you're so used to physical contact and studying the human form that you're very comfortable with touching people after years of ballet. I'm very happy that she's so understanding of my personal space because for the most part I don't like touching.
Jessi's cousin's apartment is described as having a downstairs. It's also explicitly stated to be a very nice apartment. How common are two-story apartments in New York City? They live in Brooklyn, for what it's worth.
This book references E-mail, with the capital E. That used to be standard back in the olden days. Now most people use lower-case (unless beginning a sentence, of course).
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate in the plot of a book, not just reference): Christmas-5, Hanukkah-2, Kwanzaa-3
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 214: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 29 7th graders, 48 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 134
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-11
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
2/18/13
Amalia Diary 1 (CD#4)
Original Publication Date: 1997
Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis. The illustrations are drawn by Stieg Retlin.
Synopsis:
Amalia's notebook introduces us to a newly-arrived eighth grade student who likes to draw. She's Hispanic, with bits of Spanish in some of her writings. Her family is her, her older sister (who she thinks is the favorite, and who has a serious boyfriend), and her parents. She's also sort-of dating an older teen named James, whose in the band Vanish (Maggie is the lead singer; Amalia is the manager). But some troubling patterns of anger and control start to show. They become especially noticeable after Amalia goes with her sister Isabel to volunteer in a women's shelter and she gets to know the child of one of the battered women. Things get ugly when the woman's ex-husband finds her and attacks her, putting her in the hospital. Later he's able to sneak into the shelter and kidnap the little boy. He's found, safe, but through all the stress James is getting more and more angry. Amalia keeps telling herself that it's really that bad, but eventually sees the light. She breaks up with him, and he even goes so far as to imply that he'll kill himself if they can't be together, and starts basically stalking her, calling constantly and showing up at her house. Amalia even finds two creepy dolls on her lawn, the boy doll stabbed by the girl doll. There's no proof that they're from James, but he's the likely suspect. He does back off a bit though, after Amalia's dad catches a phone call from him, and the band Vanish kicks him out (why no one called the police I have no idea).
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Ducky):
Maggie is eating noticeably less, and Amalia thinks that it's odd, since Maggie looks underweight.
This book has someone sneeringly describe Sunny as "not [Ducky's] type" in way that implies perhaps no girl is his type. Other insults thrown his way indicate that his male peers think of him as effeminate.
Amalia doesn't wear makeup.
Their Families:
Maggie's mother shows up drunk in public. Fortunately she's not driving.
Amalia's family seems to Catholic, judging from the fact taht Isabel prays the rosary.
PSA Time:
While it is normal for couples to disagree, it's NOT normal for one member to fear the other. Check out the cycle of abuse: http://www.heart-2-heart.ca/women/page5.htm.
Also: women and children are more often the victims of abuse, but men can be as well.
Misc:
This book takes place from late December to mid January.
Vista (the school these characters attend) still has classes up through December 22! Most schools I've known of in the US start winter break about a week before Christmas. Also, according to The Secret Life of Mary Anne Spier, Dawn and Jeff flew to Stoneybrook before Dec 22, to spend Christmas with their mom's family. So I guess they miss a few days of school. According to one of Amalia's drawings, Dawn is back in time for New Year's Eve.
I'm glad that Amalia is able to help at the women's shelter, but I hope that real-life shelters, especially for people escaping abuse, run background checks on everyone rather than just letting them in after they sign a couple forms.
I have a slight disagreement with Maggie's statement that it's never okay to hit another person. I see no problem with it if it's done in self-defense or defense of others. But instigating violence is bad, yes.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 9
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate, not just reference): Christmas-3, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-2
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 209: 119 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 26 7th graders, 47 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 130
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-10
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis. The illustrations are drawn by Stieg Retlin.
Synopsis:
Amalia's notebook introduces us to a newly-arrived eighth grade student who likes to draw. She's Hispanic, with bits of Spanish in some of her writings. Her family is her, her older sister (who she thinks is the favorite, and who has a serious boyfriend), and her parents. She's also sort-of dating an older teen named James, whose in the band Vanish (Maggie is the lead singer; Amalia is the manager). But some troubling patterns of anger and control start to show. They become especially noticeable after Amalia goes with her sister Isabel to volunteer in a women's shelter and she gets to know the child of one of the battered women. Things get ugly when the woman's ex-husband finds her and attacks her, putting her in the hospital. Later he's able to sneak into the shelter and kidnap the little boy. He's found, safe, but through all the stress James is getting more and more angry. Amalia keeps telling herself that it's really that bad, but eventually sees the light. She breaks up with him, and he even goes so far as to imply that he'll kill himself if they can't be together, and starts basically stalking her, calling constantly and showing up at her house. Amalia even finds two creepy dolls on her lawn, the boy doll stabbed by the girl doll. There's no proof that they're from James, but he's the likely suspect. He does back off a bit though, after Amalia's dad catches a phone call from him, and the band Vanish kicks him out (why no one called the police I have no idea).
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Ducky):
Maggie is eating noticeably less, and Amalia thinks that it's odd, since Maggie looks underweight.
This book has someone sneeringly describe Sunny as "not [Ducky's] type" in way that implies perhaps no girl is his type. Other insults thrown his way indicate that his male peers think of him as effeminate.
Amalia doesn't wear makeup.
Their Families:
Maggie's mother shows up drunk in public. Fortunately she's not driving.
Amalia's family seems to Catholic, judging from the fact taht Isabel prays the rosary.
PSA Time:
While it is normal for couples to disagree, it's NOT normal for one member to fear the other. Check out the cycle of abuse: http://www.heart-2-heart.ca/women/page5.htm.
Also: women and children are more often the victims of abuse, but men can be as well.
Misc:
This book takes place from late December to mid January.
Vista (the school these characters attend) still has classes up through December 22! Most schools I've known of in the US start winter break about a week before Christmas. Also, according to The Secret Life of Mary Anne Spier, Dawn and Jeff flew to Stoneybrook before Dec 22, to spend Christmas with their mom's family. So I guess they miss a few days of school. According to one of Amalia's drawings, Dawn is back in time for New Year's Eve.
I'm glad that Amalia is able to help at the women's shelter, but I hope that real-life shelters, especially for people escaping abuse, run background checks on everyone rather than just letting them in after they sign a couple forms.
I have a slight disagreement with Maggie's statement that it's never okay to hit another person. I see no problem with it if it's done in self-defense or defense of others. But instigating violence is bad, yes.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 9
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate, not just reference): Christmas-3, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-2
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 209: 119 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 26 7th graders, 47 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 130
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-10
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
2/15/13
Baby-sitters' Christmas Chiller (SM#4)
Original Publication Date: 1997
Ghostwriter? Yes, Nola Thacker
Synopsis:
Creepy things are happening around the holidays. The main mystery takes place in Stoneybrook, where a series of vandalism and break-ins occurs in Kristy's neighborhood. Stacey and Claudia are in New York City, and deal with a strangely-distant Ethan who they think is reponsible for some freaky things. Turns out he's just distracted by creating a sculpture of Stacey, but his psycho ex is the one messing with Stacey. I'm not using the term "psycho" loosely either. It's kinda creepy.
Back to the 'Brook. The break ins (and even a burgary or two) come with spray paint designating the occupants of the houses as "naughty." A few other houses, including Kristy's and Abby's, are left notes marking them as "nice." Dawn stumbles upon a critical clue, which reveals the culprit: the gardener who works for many of the families (the "nice" ones), but had been let go from others ("naughty"). The police have Watson "fire" the man to set up a sting and catch him red-handed. I guess he was planning to scare his former clients and not be caught but have them make the connection that they should rehire him?
And another mystery: a very pregnant woman shows up at Mallory's church (she's religious for plot purposes, but not specifically Catholic which is kinda nice because of the stereotype of big Catholic families), with no idea who she is. Mallory and Jessi help her to back to the church, where someone gets to a hospital. During a visit, Mallory notices that the woman's sweater has a label from what seems to be an independent store in California. Mary Anne comes up with the idea to fax a picture of the woman's distinctive ring to some jewelry stores in the area in hopes that it was custom made. Because of cliches, the woman goes into labor on Christmas Eve. Just after she's been taken to the hospital, someone calls, recognizing the ring. The woman is Lisa, and with her husband in Australia on business, she went to visit some family on the East Coast (I wouldn't travel so far that late in pregnancy...). Her husband was due back Christmas Day, and just continues east to Connecticut, where his wife is regaining her memory after going through childbirth. She has a boy, Nicholas.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: none mentioned; she's in NYC for most of the book
Logan and Shannon have inconsistent hair these last couple books. Both have curly hair sometimes. Shannon is consistent in always wearing mascara, though.
Ethan won't let Stacey and Claudia see his room because it's messy (really it's because his work-in-progress is inside). Claudia says she doesn't mind a messy room, which I'm sure is absolutely true.
Dawn's trying to be polite about exposure to unusaul food,, but she slips and asks in a worried tone about how much fried food is involved in a Hanukkah dinner, during the festivities. If you have food restrictions that you can't ignore at a religious or cultural celebration, you need to talk to the hosts before the event to see what you should avoid (for example, what might have allergens).
Stacey and Claudia drink coffee. While that's not unusual for young teens today, it was pretty weird back when I was in high school, and that was a couple years after this book was published. AND I live in the Seattle area, where my dad and I may be the only people over the age of ten who don't drink coffee.
Their Families:
Mallory's family is apparently involved enough in a church that they always help with the Christmas pageant.
Becca's in the same pageant...so does Jessi's family attend the same church? Jessi's really the only one who even mentions the idea of prayer, and only vaguely. (For example, in Jessi and the Awful Secret her internal narration goes "I prayed Mme Noelle would take me seriously.")
Mrs. Pike very sweetly brings the pregnant woman some maternity clothes to replace her "drafty" hospital gown (Mrs. Pike's euphemism). I've worn a hospital gown twice, once for knee surgery and once in labor, and both times they tied at on side and wrapped around to tie again at the other side. These were both at the same hospital though, so perhaps the types with open backs are more common other places. But even gowns I've worn for exams have covered decently.
When Stacey graduates high school, her dad has promised to buy her earrings from Tiffany's.
Mallory's parents tell the Pike children they have an announcement. Mallory's first thought is that Mrs. Pike is pregnant, but it's that the pregnant woman with amnesia will spend Christmas with them.
Sharon drives a Subaru Outback. She wanted all-wheel drive for the snow, and Subarus comes with that standard. Makes sense.
It's not clear whether Jeff is visiting for Christmas.
The Club (and clients):
Jackie is also in the pageant, so perhaps the Rodowskys attend the same church as well.
SMS:
The school's boiler broker so Christmas break starts two days early for SMS. Claudia and Stacey would have missed those two days anyway, due to the timing of the NYC trip.
PSA Time:
If you happen upon a crime scene, DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING. The only exception is if a victim is still at the crime scene and alive. The Papadakises start cleaning up after a break-in and...just...all the evidence they're destroying...
Transporting a laboring woman in your car? Get a tarp or shower curtain or at least a towel for her to sit on. Childbirth is messy.
Misc:
This is the last Super Mystery. Yay! I don't like even the regular mysteries. Although I enjoyed this one more than most.
This copy used to belong to the Port Jefferson Free Library of Port Jefferson, NY. It was once sold for $4.50.
Slight typo on page 189 when Mary Anne is supposed to be the narrator but is referred to in third person.
This book has far more references to religion than most BSC books, but they're respectful and even informative, like the parts about Hanukkah and its traditions. It's too bad that there's no mention of the Papadakises celebrating Epiphany in place of Christmas. They're Greek, so I could see them being Greek Orthodox without too much trouble.
At least in the US, robbery and burglary aren't synonomous. The former is an attack on person, like a mugging, and the latter is a property crime, like a cat burglar sneaking in and stealing something. Both are theft, but they're done different ways.
It's hard to tell whether this is the same Christmas as in The Secret Life of Mary Anne Spier. Mary Anne's not in this book much, and she was busy with her secret life. But there's no mention of the fundraiser. Dawn's visiting, which is the same, but Mary Anne wouldn't have had to miss school to go to the airport if SMS closed two days early, and couldn't have had the conversation with Claudia that she does in the previous book. And Hanukkah starts before Christmas this time around, and you'd think Sharon and Richard driving an amnesiac woman in labor to the hospital Christmas Eve would be mentioned...I think I have enough to count this as a separate holiday season from the last book!
Actually, the church pageant director's decision to have identical triplets play the three wise men is funny but not brilliant or inspired, as Mallory claims. There's no indication in the Gospels of how many wise men there were, just that there were three gifts. Traditionally, they're depicted as three men who couldn't be less identical: one from Africa, one from Europe, and one from Asia; and are even different ages. They're a symbol of how the Gospel message is for everyone. It's cute to have triplets play them, and I might even jump at the chance, but I'd never call it inspired. Also, the wise men didn't show up when the shepherds did; they came later on.
There are a couple reference that lead me to believe the pregnant woman is swollen and retaining water more than normal. I hope the hospital checked her for pre-eclampsia. I had it with my first pregnancy, but so far nothing this time around. My blood pressure's been behaving very well, better that it was even at my first prenatal appointment in 2010. I've got about three months to go; fingers crossed!
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate in the plot of a book, not just reference): Christmas-5, Hanukkah-2, Kwanzaa-3
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 214: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 29 7th graders, 48 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 134
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-11
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
Ghostwriter? Yes, Nola Thacker
Synopsis:
Creepy things are happening around the holidays. The main mystery takes place in Stoneybrook, where a series of vandalism and break-ins occurs in Kristy's neighborhood. Stacey and Claudia are in New York City, and deal with a strangely-distant Ethan who they think is reponsible for some freaky things. Turns out he's just distracted by creating a sculpture of Stacey, but his psycho ex is the one messing with Stacey. I'm not using the term "psycho" loosely either. It's kinda creepy.
Back to the 'Brook. The break ins (and even a burgary or two) come with spray paint designating the occupants of the houses as "naughty." A few other houses, including Kristy's and Abby's, are left notes marking them as "nice." Dawn stumbles upon a critical clue, which reveals the culprit: the gardener who works for many of the families (the "nice" ones), but had been let go from others ("naughty"). The police have Watson "fire" the man to set up a sting and catch him red-handed. I guess he was planning to scare his former clients and not be caught but have them make the connection that they should rehire him?
And another mystery: a very pregnant woman shows up at Mallory's church (she's religious for plot purposes, but not specifically Catholic which is kinda nice because of the stereotype of big Catholic families), with no idea who she is. Mallory and Jessi help her to back to the church, where someone gets to a hospital. During a visit, Mallory notices that the woman's sweater has a label from what seems to be an independent store in California. Mary Anne comes up with the idea to fax a picture of the woman's distinctive ring to some jewelry stores in the area in hopes that it was custom made. Because of cliches, the woman goes into labor on Christmas Eve. Just after she's been taken to the hospital, someone calls, recognizing the ring. The woman is Lisa, and with her husband in Australia on business, she went to visit some family on the East Coast (I wouldn't travel so far that late in pregnancy...). Her husband was due back Christmas Day, and just continues east to Connecticut, where his wife is regaining her memory after going through childbirth. She has a boy, Nicholas.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: none mentioned; she's in NYC for most of the book
Logan and Shannon have inconsistent hair these last couple books. Both have curly hair sometimes. Shannon is consistent in always wearing mascara, though.
Ethan won't let Stacey and Claudia see his room because it's messy (really it's because his work-in-progress is inside). Claudia says she doesn't mind a messy room, which I'm sure is absolutely true.
Dawn's trying to be polite about exposure to unusaul food,, but she slips and asks in a worried tone about how much fried food is involved in a Hanukkah dinner, during the festivities. If you have food restrictions that you can't ignore at a religious or cultural celebration, you need to talk to the hosts before the event to see what you should avoid (for example, what might have allergens).
Stacey and Claudia drink coffee. While that's not unusual for young teens today, it was pretty weird back when I was in high school, and that was a couple years after this book was published. AND I live in the Seattle area, where my dad and I may be the only people over the age of ten who don't drink coffee.
Their Families:
Mallory's family is apparently involved enough in a church that they always help with the Christmas pageant.
Becca's in the same pageant...so does Jessi's family attend the same church? Jessi's really the only one who even mentions the idea of prayer, and only vaguely. (For example, in Jessi and the Awful Secret her internal narration goes "I prayed Mme Noelle would take me seriously.")
Mrs. Pike very sweetly brings the pregnant woman some maternity clothes to replace her "drafty" hospital gown (Mrs. Pike's euphemism). I've worn a hospital gown twice, once for knee surgery and once in labor, and both times they tied at on side and wrapped around to tie again at the other side. These were both at the same hospital though, so perhaps the types with open backs are more common other places. But even gowns I've worn for exams have covered decently.
When Stacey graduates high school, her dad has promised to buy her earrings from Tiffany's.
Mallory's parents tell the Pike children they have an announcement. Mallory's first thought is that Mrs. Pike is pregnant, but it's that the pregnant woman with amnesia will spend Christmas with them.
Sharon drives a Subaru Outback. She wanted all-wheel drive for the snow, and Subarus comes with that standard. Makes sense.
It's not clear whether Jeff is visiting for Christmas.
The Club (and clients):
Jackie is also in the pageant, so perhaps the Rodowskys attend the same church as well.
SMS:
The school's boiler broker so Christmas break starts two days early for SMS. Claudia and Stacey would have missed those two days anyway, due to the timing of the NYC trip.
PSA Time:
If you happen upon a crime scene, DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING. The only exception is if a victim is still at the crime scene and alive. The Papadakises start cleaning up after a break-in and...just...all the evidence they're destroying...
Transporting a laboring woman in your car? Get a tarp or shower curtain or at least a towel for her to sit on. Childbirth is messy.
Misc:
This is the last Super Mystery. Yay! I don't like even the regular mysteries. Although I enjoyed this one more than most.
This copy used to belong to the Port Jefferson Free Library of Port Jefferson, NY. It was once sold for $4.50.
Slight typo on page 189 when Mary Anne is supposed to be the narrator but is referred to in third person.
This book has far more references to religion than most BSC books, but they're respectful and even informative, like the parts about Hanukkah and its traditions. It's too bad that there's no mention of the Papadakises celebrating Epiphany in place of Christmas. They're Greek, so I could see them being Greek Orthodox without too much trouble.
At least in the US, robbery and burglary aren't synonomous. The former is an attack on person, like a mugging, and the latter is a property crime, like a cat burglar sneaking in and stealing something. Both are theft, but they're done different ways.
It's hard to tell whether this is the same Christmas as in The Secret Life of Mary Anne Spier. Mary Anne's not in this book much, and she was busy with her secret life. But there's no mention of the fundraiser. Dawn's visiting, which is the same, but Mary Anne wouldn't have had to miss school to go to the airport if SMS closed two days early, and couldn't have had the conversation with Claudia that she does in the previous book. And Hanukkah starts before Christmas this time around, and you'd think Sharon and Richard driving an amnesiac woman in labor to the hospital Christmas Eve would be mentioned...I think I have enough to count this as a separate holiday season from the last book!
Actually, the church pageant director's decision to have identical triplets play the three wise men is funny but not brilliant or inspired, as Mallory claims. There's no indication in the Gospels of how many wise men there were, just that there were three gifts. Traditionally, they're depicted as three men who couldn't be less identical: one from Africa, one from Europe, and one from Asia; and are even different ages. They're a symbol of how the Gospel message is for everyone. It's cute to have triplets play them, and I might even jump at the chance, but I'd never call it inspired. Also, the wise men didn't show up when the shepherds did; they came later on.
There are a couple reference that lead me to believe the pregnant woman is swollen and retaining water more than normal. I hope the hospital checked her for pre-eclampsia. I had it with my first pregnancy, but so far nothing this time around. My blood pressure's been behaving very well, better that it was even at my first prenatal appointment in 2010. I've got about three months to go; fingers crossed!
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate in the plot of a book, not just reference): Christmas-5, Hanukkah-2, Kwanzaa-3
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 214: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 29 7th graders, 48 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 134
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-11
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
2/12/13
The Secret Life of Mary Anne Spier (RS#114)
Original Publication Date: 1997
Ghostwriter? Yes, Suzanne Weyn
Synopsis:
When Mary Anne's dad lends her his credit card to do Christmas shopping (...yeah), she quickly overspends and finds herself owing her dad more money than she has available. There's a little lesson/PSA about credit card debt and interest payments. Her solution is to get a parttime job as an elf in a Santa village at the mall. In a shocking turn of events, this one job in New England that actually requires its employees to be 16, unlike where Laine and Logan work. But another girl, Angela, helps Mary Anne disguise the 13 she's already written as a 16 (not sure how...) on her job application, and the two co-workers hit it off. Fortunately (?) for Mary Anne, who wants to keep her job a secret, she has to dress in an elf costume, complete with a giant fake head. She and Angela get to know each other better, and eventually Angela reveals that she's no longer welcome in her family's home, because she won't toe the line of her upper-crust, intolerant parents. Angela is trying to raise funds to pay her way to California where she can live with her friends (Angela is 17). When her parents won't even speak to her during the holiday season, Mary Anne invites Angela to her house for Christmas, at Dawn's suggestion. She also comes clean about her secret job, but not until after the last day.
Subplot is about the BSC helping a defunct toy drive.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: none mentioned
Mary Anne buys both Kristy and Abby catcher's mitts for Christmas. For those who don't know, a catcher's mitts is different from a regular baseball mitt. As far as I know, neither Kristy nor Abby are much interested in playing catcher. I hope Mary Anne at least remembered that Kristy is left-handed when she bought them.
Dawn (and Jeff) are visiting from California for Christmas, and Dawn has grown a bit distant. Not a ton, but you can tell she thinks of herself as visiting rather than at home.
Their Families:
A few posts ago, I mentioned that I thought Sharon shouldn't be sneaking things that Richard doesn't like into her cooking, but in this book he makes stew with beef in it for him and Mary Anne and tofu in it for Sharon. Because the meat juices won't get all over the rest of the ingredients at all.
Hunter Bruno is the only one to recognize Mary Anne in her elf costume.
Sharon loves It's a Wonderful Life. Smart woman.
The Club (and clients):
The club notebook is a spiral notebook, not a binder as I'd imagined. I wonder how many they've filled up at this point, eleven years after Kristy's Great Idea was published.
Mary Anne nearly books Stacey for a job when Stacey's not available (Stacey had forgotten as well) but catches herself just before Stacey accepts the sitting job.
SMS: nothing new.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
The BSC is surprised at how late some people are Christmas shopping. Some Christians exchange gifts on Epiphany, which is January 6. Plus some people don't have their Christmas get-togethers until a few days after the calendar day. So even after December 25 a few people will be looking for Christmas presents.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate in the plot of a book, not just reference): Christmas-4, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-2
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 214: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 29 7th graders, 48 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 134
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-11
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
Ghostwriter? Yes, Suzanne Weyn
Synopsis:
When Mary Anne's dad lends her his credit card to do Christmas shopping (...yeah), she quickly overspends and finds herself owing her dad more money than she has available. There's a little lesson/PSA about credit card debt and interest payments. Her solution is to get a parttime job as an elf in a Santa village at the mall. In a shocking turn of events, this one job in New England that actually requires its employees to be 16, unlike where Laine and Logan work. But another girl, Angela, helps Mary Anne disguise the 13 she's already written as a 16 (not sure how...) on her job application, and the two co-workers hit it off. Fortunately (?) for Mary Anne, who wants to keep her job a secret, she has to dress in an elf costume, complete with a giant fake head. She and Angela get to know each other better, and eventually Angela reveals that she's no longer welcome in her family's home, because she won't toe the line of her upper-crust, intolerant parents. Angela is trying to raise funds to pay her way to California where she can live with her friends (Angela is 17). When her parents won't even speak to her during the holiday season, Mary Anne invites Angela to her house for Christmas, at Dawn's suggestion. She also comes clean about her secret job, but not until after the last day.
Subplot is about the BSC helping a defunct toy drive.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: none mentioned
Mary Anne buys both Kristy and Abby catcher's mitts for Christmas. For those who don't know, a catcher's mitts is different from a regular baseball mitt. As far as I know, neither Kristy nor Abby are much interested in playing catcher. I hope Mary Anne at least remembered that Kristy is left-handed when she bought them.
Dawn (and Jeff) are visiting from California for Christmas, and Dawn has grown a bit distant. Not a ton, but you can tell she thinks of herself as visiting rather than at home.
Their Families:
A few posts ago, I mentioned that I thought Sharon shouldn't be sneaking things that Richard doesn't like into her cooking, but in this book he makes stew with beef in it for him and Mary Anne and tofu in it for Sharon. Because the meat juices won't get all over the rest of the ingredients at all.
Hunter Bruno is the only one to recognize Mary Anne in her elf costume.
Sharon loves It's a Wonderful Life. Smart woman.
The Club (and clients):
The club notebook is a spiral notebook, not a binder as I'd imagined. I wonder how many they've filled up at this point, eleven years after Kristy's Great Idea was published.
Mary Anne nearly books Stacey for a job when Stacey's not available (Stacey had forgotten as well) but catches herself just before Stacey accepts the sitting job.
SMS: nothing new.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
The BSC is surprised at how late some people are Christmas shopping. Some Christians exchange gifts on Epiphany, which is January 6. Plus some people don't have their Christmas get-togethers until a few days after the calendar day. So even after December 25 a few people will be looking for Christmas presents.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate in the plot of a book, not just reference): Christmas-4, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-2
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 214: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 29 7th graders, 48 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 134
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-11
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
2/9/13
Claudia Makes up Her Mind (RS#113)
Original Publication Date: 1997
Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis
Synopsis:
Claudia is disappointed to find out that the seventh grade class color for the SMS Color War (a school spirit thing combined with charity fundraising) is orange. I can relate; my school kept giving my year pink even though we expressly said we didn't want it and even coordinated to all come in black on one of the Class Color days. The yearbook staff even printed our senior year signatures in pink, the ink from which ran and made all our senior pictures look like we had sunburns. Anyway, Claudia decides to head up the committee for the Color War and come up with ways to make the orange work.
In other words, Claudia is doing really well in seventh grade. Her grades, self-esteem, everything. So naturally, the guidance counselor recommends that Claudia go back to eighth grade, assuming that Claudia's progress will continue. She leaves the decision up to Claudia, who suddenly finds herself pulled to both grades. Claudia's also torn on what to do about her relationship with her boyfriend, Mark Jaffe, who's becoming increasingly distant. Especially when Josh Rocker is so nice...
After talking with Mark, he and Claudia agree that a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship isn't right for them. Things start to fall into place. Several days after Claudia and Mark break up, Josh asks Claudia out and she accepts. Josh also helps Claudia figure out the grade decision, and Claudia agrees to move back to eighth grade. Her last act as Queen of the Seventh Grade is winning the Color War and accepting a check for her grade's chosen charity (an adult literacy program).
And because this is the BSC, we have a kid subplot. The charges hear about the Color War and want their own, so the BSC accomodates them.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Heath bars, candy corn, marshmallow jack-o-lanterns, orange lollipops, Doritos, orange soda, carrots (last one's for Stacey, of course)
Mallory should be an editor. She's been correcting people's word choices and grammar a lot.
Their Families:
Janine thinks genes can't skip generations, but that's actually really common. Maybe she meant in the specific case of personality skipping a generation, but that's not how it's phrased.
The Club (and clients): nothing new.
SMS:
New-to-us students: Jennifer Blye, Brandon Klein, Michael King, Nadine Luongo (7th) Sara Erickson (6th). We also find out that Frank O'Malley, a seventh grader introduced in an earlier book, is moving to Oregon, so I'll be subtracting one from the total number of students.
According to Claudia, Alan Gray has a crush on Kristy. He just doesn't know how to show it without being a moron.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
This book was withdrawn from circulation at the Smiths Grove Branch Library, like another I have.
So, there's this bit of dialogue...one boy to Claudia: "That's okay, you can make it up to me." Another boy, listening in: "Didn't I hear that line in a bad movie?" Oh, dear...he doesn't mean a low-budget B movie when he says bad, does he?
The last book was an October one, and this one is in mid-November, but no mention of Halloween. Stacey suggests Christmas shopping, since they forty-five days until the holiday, and Claudia and Kristy think that it's a little early for that. I...actually have some Christmas gifts ready for 2013. I bought them in January on clearance...and might have even picked up a thing or two in late December, I can't remember.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate, not just reference): Christmas-3, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-2
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 214: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 29 7th graders, 48 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 134
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-11
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis
Synopsis:
Claudia is disappointed to find out that the seventh grade class color for the SMS Color War (a school spirit thing combined with charity fundraising) is orange. I can relate; my school kept giving my year pink even though we expressly said we didn't want it and even coordinated to all come in black on one of the Class Color days. The yearbook staff even printed our senior year signatures in pink, the ink from which ran and made all our senior pictures look like we had sunburns. Anyway, Claudia decides to head up the committee for the Color War and come up with ways to make the orange work.
In other words, Claudia is doing really well in seventh grade. Her grades, self-esteem, everything. So naturally, the guidance counselor recommends that Claudia go back to eighth grade, assuming that Claudia's progress will continue. She leaves the decision up to Claudia, who suddenly finds herself pulled to both grades. Claudia's also torn on what to do about her relationship with her boyfriend, Mark Jaffe, who's becoming increasingly distant. Especially when Josh Rocker is so nice...
After talking with Mark, he and Claudia agree that a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship isn't right for them. Things start to fall into place. Several days after Claudia and Mark break up, Josh asks Claudia out and she accepts. Josh also helps Claudia figure out the grade decision, and Claudia agrees to move back to eighth grade. Her last act as Queen of the Seventh Grade is winning the Color War and accepting a check for her grade's chosen charity (an adult literacy program).
And because this is the BSC, we have a kid subplot. The charges hear about the Color War and want their own, so the BSC accomodates them.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Heath bars, candy corn, marshmallow jack-o-lanterns, orange lollipops, Doritos, orange soda, carrots (last one's for Stacey, of course)
Mallory should be an editor. She's been correcting people's word choices and grammar a lot.
Their Families:
Janine thinks genes can't skip generations, but that's actually really common. Maybe she meant in the specific case of personality skipping a generation, but that's not how it's phrased.
The Club (and clients): nothing new.
SMS:
New-to-us students: Jennifer Blye, Brandon Klein, Michael King, Nadine Luongo (7th) Sara Erickson (6th). We also find out that Frank O'Malley, a seventh grader introduced in an earlier book, is moving to Oregon, so I'll be subtracting one from the total number of students.
According to Claudia, Alan Gray has a crush on Kristy. He just doesn't know how to show it without being a moron.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
This book was withdrawn from circulation at the Smiths Grove Branch Library, like another I have.
So, there's this bit of dialogue...one boy to Claudia: "That's okay, you can make it up to me." Another boy, listening in: "Didn't I hear that line in a bad movie?" Oh, dear...he doesn't mean a low-budget B movie when he says bad, does he?
The last book was an October one, and this one is in mid-November, but no mention of Halloween. Stacey suggests Christmas shopping, since they forty-five days until the holiday, and Claudia and Kristy think that it's a little early for that. I...actually have some Christmas gifts ready for 2013. I bought them in January on clearance...and might have even picked up a thing or two in late December, I can't remember.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate, not just reference): Christmas-3, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-2
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 214: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 29 7th graders, 48 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 134
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-11
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
2/6/13
Maggie Diary 1 (CD#3)
Original Publication Date: 1997
Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis
Synopsis:
Maggie's first diary is about the pressure she feels to put up a good front at school, to live up to her dad's high expectations of her, and to deal with her mom's alcoholism. One big problem is that her dad wants her to be her best, so he's always pushing her to acheive more and in doing so, ignores the great things she HAS done. So no matter what Maggie does, she thinks it's not enough. In the midst of this, Maggie gets to know Amalia Vargas, who manages a high school band. Amalia overheard Maggie singing, and convinces her to become a singer for the band, Vanish. Maggie tries out for backup, but is given lead singer. Vanish ends up placing second in a Battle of the Bands contest, but when Maggie's father finds out, she can tell that even though he disapproves of her being in the band, he thinks they should have performed better and gotten first. And she agrees.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Ducky):
Sunny's taken to dressing wildly to deal with her mom's illness. She's also trying to set up her friends with dates, maybe so that her interest in boys seems less noticeable. She'd been somewhat boy-crazy in her appearance in regular BSC books, but it's increasing.
There's some foreshadowing of the anorexia-like tendencies that Maggie will later have.
Their Families:
Maggie has an eleven-year-old brother, Zeke, who acts out in response to their home life. The family also employs Pilar, a housekeeper.
Maggie's mother has a drinking problem, but is described fitting into a slinky gown. Doesn't too much alcohol lead to a bloated appearance? Maybe just around the face. But if it does, perhaps her mother has an eating disorder as well?
PSA Time:
If you ever think you're not worth it, you're wrong. Everyone has value.
Misc:
This book takes place from mid-November to early December.
Maggie has a conflict about how she shouldn't feel overwhelmed by the problems she's having, because so many people (Sunny in particular) have worse things to deal with (for example, dying parents). I remember that feeling VERY well when my first daughter was born; it's portrayed VERY realistically.
Maggie finds herself entertaining a daydream of singing in a band in front of a crowd at the Kingdome. Seattle shout-out! Kingdome's gone though. The ceiling kept falling. It existed when this book was written, but now the Seahawks (football) and Sounders (soccer) play at the CLink (Century Link Field), and the Mariners (baseball) play at Safeco.
This may be the only BSC book in which someone practices a scripted conversation in order to ask a favor or broach a difficult subject and actually sticks to her script.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 9
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate, not just reference): Christmas-3, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-2
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 209: 119 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 26 7th graders, 47 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 130
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-10
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis
Synopsis:
Maggie's first diary is about the pressure she feels to put up a good front at school, to live up to her dad's high expectations of her, and to deal with her mom's alcoholism. One big problem is that her dad wants her to be her best, so he's always pushing her to acheive more and in doing so, ignores the great things she HAS done. So no matter what Maggie does, she thinks it's not enough. In the midst of this, Maggie gets to know Amalia Vargas, who manages a high school band. Amalia overheard Maggie singing, and convinces her to become a singer for the band, Vanish. Maggie tries out for backup, but is given lead singer. Vanish ends up placing second in a Battle of the Bands contest, but when Maggie's father finds out, she can tell that even though he disapproves of her being in the band, he thinks they should have performed better and gotten first. And she agrees.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Ducky):
Sunny's taken to dressing wildly to deal with her mom's illness. She's also trying to set up her friends with dates, maybe so that her interest in boys seems less noticeable. She'd been somewhat boy-crazy in her appearance in regular BSC books, but it's increasing.
There's some foreshadowing of the anorexia-like tendencies that Maggie will later have.
Their Families:
Maggie has an eleven-year-old brother, Zeke, who acts out in response to their home life. The family also employs Pilar, a housekeeper.
Maggie's mother has a drinking problem, but is described fitting into a slinky gown. Doesn't too much alcohol lead to a bloated appearance? Maybe just around the face. But if it does, perhaps her mother has an eating disorder as well?
PSA Time:
If you ever think you're not worth it, you're wrong. Everyone has value.
Misc:
This book takes place from mid-November to early December.
Maggie has a conflict about how she shouldn't feel overwhelmed by the problems she's having, because so many people (Sunny in particular) have worse things to deal with (for example, dying parents). I remember that feeling VERY well when my first daughter was born; it's portrayed VERY realistically.
Maggie finds herself entertaining a daydream of singing in a band in front of a crowd at the Kingdome. Seattle shout-out! Kingdome's gone though. The ceiling kept falling. It existed when this book was written, but now the Seahawks (football) and Sounders (soccer) play at the CLink (Century Link Field), and the Mariners (baseball) play at Safeco.
This may be the only BSC book in which someone practices a scripted conversation in order to ask a favor or broach a difficult subject and actually sticks to her script.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 9
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate, not just reference): Christmas-3, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-2
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 209: 119 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 26 7th graders, 47 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 130
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-10
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
2/3/13
Kristy and the Sister War (RS#112)
Original Publication Date: 1997
Ghostwriter? Yes, Ellen Miles
Synopsis:
The BSC finds themselves sitting for Shannon's younger sisters more as their mother has decided to take some college courses in hopes of earning a teaching degree. Kristy has most of the jobs, and very quickly finds that the girls feel left out in their family and overshadowed by Shannon. Kristy offers some suggestions, and at first Tiffany and Maria try to help Shannon out, but they just make more work for Shannon. They then declare they will purposely make Shannon's life difficult. Things finally come to a head when Shannon admits how thin she's spread. While it stops the pranks, it doesn't really solve the root of the problem: that the Kilbournes are so busy they don't really have time to be a family. Kristy suggests that Tiffany and Maria write letters to their family explaining how they'd like more time together. It works at least in the short term, as Shannon and their parents show up at an event for the younger girls.
There are two dances being planned in the background: one for all the middle school students in Stoneybrook, which Shannon is involved in planning, and one for kids, suggested by Kristy when she sees that Tiffany and Maria feel left out. Both dances turn out to be fun for everyone.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: none mentioned
Mary Anne seems to think that Abby's impersonations of different people are mean-spirited.
Shannon's favorite kind of cookie is Snickerdoodle, which is a good choice. However, she likes them with raisins and walnuts. Bleh.
Shannon is in algebra classes, which would put her a grade ahead in math if her school is like mine was. Welcome Back, Stacey! told us that Stacey is also a grade ahead in math.
At first, it seems odd that the Sister War dissapates when Shannon realizes how stupid it all is and starts laughing, but that's pretty much what happened in Kristy and the Snobs.
Kristy postulates that Claudia is viewed as a sort of a queen to the seventh grade boys. Well, obviously! She's Claudia, Queen of the Seventh Grade!
Their Families:
Bizarrely specific continuity here: it's pointed out that the grandfather of Louie the collie was a sheepdog.
There is some semi-forshadowing of the Thomas-Brewer family training a seeing-eye dog (in #119): Emily Michelle is unusually good at getting Shannon the dog to listen to commands.
It's implied that Maria has only recently started swimming...but she's actually been on the team for quite a while, since before Tiffany started her garden in Stacey and the Cheerleaders. A few pages later, the book also states outright that Maria has earned several trophies and awards for swimming.
The Club (and clients): nothing new.
SMS: nothing new.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
It's October in this book.
I suddenly realized that I'm brilliant for having dark-colored bath towels. We just happen to like dark blue, but soon we'll have two girls, and if they decide to pull pranks involving hair dye like Tiffany and Maria do, then I won't need to worry about stained towels.
Here's an idea: when you're planning a dance with several hundred attendees and the committee can't decide on which ONE type of beverage to serve...why not have a three or four choices? A bowl of this, a bowl of that, and some pitchers of water.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate, not just reference): Christmas-3, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-2
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 210: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 26 7th graders, 47 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 131
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-10
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
Ghostwriter? Yes, Ellen Miles
Synopsis:
The BSC finds themselves sitting for Shannon's younger sisters more as their mother has decided to take some college courses in hopes of earning a teaching degree. Kristy has most of the jobs, and very quickly finds that the girls feel left out in their family and overshadowed by Shannon. Kristy offers some suggestions, and at first Tiffany and Maria try to help Shannon out, but they just make more work for Shannon. They then declare they will purposely make Shannon's life difficult. Things finally come to a head when Shannon admits how thin she's spread. While it stops the pranks, it doesn't really solve the root of the problem: that the Kilbournes are so busy they don't really have time to be a family. Kristy suggests that Tiffany and Maria write letters to their family explaining how they'd like more time together. It works at least in the short term, as Shannon and their parents show up at an event for the younger girls.
There are two dances being planned in the background: one for all the middle school students in Stoneybrook, which Shannon is involved in planning, and one for kids, suggested by Kristy when she sees that Tiffany and Maria feel left out. Both dances turn out to be fun for everyone.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: none mentioned
Mary Anne seems to think that Abby's impersonations of different people are mean-spirited.
Shannon's favorite kind of cookie is Snickerdoodle, which is a good choice. However, she likes them with raisins and walnuts. Bleh.
Shannon is in algebra classes, which would put her a grade ahead in math if her school is like mine was. Welcome Back, Stacey! told us that Stacey is also a grade ahead in math.
At first, it seems odd that the Sister War dissapates when Shannon realizes how stupid it all is and starts laughing, but that's pretty much what happened in Kristy and the Snobs.
Kristy postulates that Claudia is viewed as a sort of a queen to the seventh grade boys. Well, obviously! She's Claudia, Queen of the Seventh Grade!
Their Families:
Bizarrely specific continuity here: it's pointed out that the grandfather of Louie the collie was a sheepdog.
There is some semi-forshadowing of the Thomas-Brewer family training a seeing-eye dog (in #119): Emily Michelle is unusually good at getting Shannon the dog to listen to commands.
It's implied that Maria has only recently started swimming...but she's actually been on the team for quite a while, since before Tiffany started her garden in Stacey and the Cheerleaders. A few pages later, the book also states outright that Maria has earned several trophies and awards for swimming.
The Club (and clients): nothing new.
SMS: nothing new.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
It's October in this book.
I suddenly realized that I'm brilliant for having dark-colored bath towels. We just happen to like dark blue, but soon we'll have two girls, and if they decide to pull pranks involving hair dye like Tiffany and Maria do, then I won't need to worry about stained towels.
Here's an idea: when you're planning a dance with several hundred attendees and the committee can't decide on which ONE type of beverage to serve...why not have a three or four choices? A bowl of this, a bowl of that, and some pitchers of water.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 10
Halloweens in 8th grade: 6 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 3
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate, not just reference): Christmas-3, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-2
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 3
Summers after 8th grade: 10
BSC Fights: 11
SMS Staff and Faculty: 67
Students (other than the BSC): 210: 120 8th graders (not including Amelia Freeman, who is deceased), 26 7th graders, 47 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 37 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 131
Crushes:
Stacey-12
Claudia-10
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
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