tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92141933369969536672024-03-01T07:00:33.797-08:00BSC AGFirst I went through the BSC one by one to see just how well (or hilariously) the continuity held up...or didn't. Now: American Girl.SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.comBlogger593125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-7847529479743771522024-03-01T07:00:00.000-08:002024-03-01T07:00:00.141-08:00Claudia and the Bad Joke (GN#15)<p>Publication Date: 2024</p>Ghostwriter? No, the text copyright is for Ann M. Martin.<br /><br />Illustrator: Arley Nopra<br /><br />Synopsis:<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/04/claudia-and-bad-joke-rs19.html">One of my very favorite BSC books</a>! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />Established or continued in this book:<br /><br />The Girls (and Logan):</div><div><br /></div><div>Claudia candy: The "pant brushes" make an appearance<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingRVwTw1i3KwkaIguNPWmO2CnfLkIllSSgqFTHOICsZQadn0mA9HUhCbuuoHVDBTT9p22QvtKtLiu2yY4dDaaYJKGEBre2aZnjWvsQhSXHeIrozt9RET6BNu0l8n56iFB1CtDo9QqVjpA9_aNPImkKBHyMwEylCghY4CjdcD5wXaPV5mn98wfRnFOKrs/s4608/100_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingRVwTw1i3KwkaIguNPWmO2CnfLkIllSSgqFTHOICsZQadn0mA9HUhCbuuoHVDBTT9p22QvtKtLiu2yY4dDaaYJKGEBre2aZnjWvsQhSXHeIrozt9RET6BNu0l8n56iFB1CtDo9QqVjpA9_aNPImkKBHyMwEylCghY4CjdcD5wXaPV5mn98wfRnFOKrs/s320/100_0029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div><div>Their Families: </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpFV5J05h6X6L4FC4ZzFoncNNKE8Q9_1G4fuokToXhhKcQlq68DysvCFFz1Q4Ri2HB83veHmPiIplNbQ0At1FVkGI8dPL6GrDR1UVZ9riHUOWns-zbzXwPJet2bpiGP4NuHuY_hyphenhyphenmJ6wgQfdqZJsf1Lc0BP5yYS1MP26rnrXEG0O4iliqpgTytXs5DFw/s4608/100_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpFV5J05h6X6L4FC4ZzFoncNNKE8Q9_1G4fuokToXhhKcQlq68DysvCFFz1Q4Ri2HB83veHmPiIplNbQ0At1FVkGI8dPL6GrDR1UVZ9riHUOWns-zbzXwPJet2bpiGP4NuHuY_hyphenhyphenmJ6wgQfdqZJsf1Lc0BP5yYS1MP26rnrXEG0O4iliqpgTytXs5DFw/s320/100_0030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kishi family</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div>The Club (and clients): </div><div><br /></div><div>I was hoping this version would fix Claudia owing dues from her time in the hospital, but nope. That's just rotten. Also, who has the audacity to call the BSC back to baby-sit again with no attempt to make things right after your kid causes a sitter to break her leg so badly that she needs to be in a cast for months? </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMfERw8M7mPZyoxcrVlULg7DOOouytCxyJdwSihITw3OqLZUzVHoKRYudrSU2hKZI7ZcpEayBOf2lcnwkyz6HEXSxQIbO-dbWUOfvph48nNqc6farUZK2omUpBrU6W7ECDsrvTysYg9thpwKXyPA4rlcUSZl0kVGPbDSxmy0HJ1T0zsZLXrhpHUaPdBw/s4608/100_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMfERw8M7mPZyoxcrVlULg7DOOouytCxyJdwSihITw3OqLZUzVHoKRYudrSU2hKZI7ZcpEayBOf2lcnwkyz6HEXSxQIbO-dbWUOfvph48nNqc6farUZK2omUpBrU6W7ECDsrvTysYg9thpwKXyPA4rlcUSZl0kVGPbDSxmy0HJ1T0zsZLXrhpHUaPdBw/s320/100_0031.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I remember this scene well from the original</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div></div></div><div><div>SMS: </div><div><br /></div><div>Ashley Wyeth visits Claudia in the hospital.</div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTt8tlQLetj67gATak_50QQpTMogkWPjHg4OZT5qqg6gFvduYQFIweAnbRzbAdbks91AD0WBoYNHf2f235ygg5K-PNdfrtGsALQcV4Ar1zCY0mMu-DbPIAIJEAOQKL10adBb6k2RMoqjnMg_CHM0eJjcN2X9R-B01ktOOr1-rJUEhscDbbzlpppcQS30/s4608/100_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTt8tlQLetj67gATak_50QQpTMogkWPjHg4OZT5qqg6gFvduYQFIweAnbRzbAdbks91AD0WBoYNHf2f235ygg5K-PNdfrtGsALQcV4Ar1zCY0mMu-DbPIAIJEAOQKL10adBb6k2RMoqjnMg_CHM0eJjcN2X9R-B01ktOOr1-rJUEhscDbbzlpppcQS30/s320/100_0033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Claudia's homeroom calls her when she's recovering at home</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>PSA Time: </div><div><br /></div><div>A good rule for practical jokes: Confuse, don't abuse. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Misc:<br /><br />Martin dedicates this book to the memory of "Lyman Chamberlain Martin--Grandpappy--who always liked a good joke."<br /><br />Nopra dedicates it to "my family, who never stopped believing in me. For my grandmas, who I thought of fondly during the making of this book. For Thoa, who I could always count on to have my back. To everyone who reminded me to drink water, thank you! And for Bengee, who cheered me up when I needed it the most. You made me laugh and you are infinitely awesome for that!"</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The way Claudia reacts to having her leg broken is impressive when you remember she's 13. I nearly cut off part of my finger with hedge trimmers when I was 32, and like Claudia I had to take care of the kids (my toddler and preschooler) while treating the injury and figuring out a ride (we only had one car at the time, and my husband was at work 40 minutes away). My injury wasn't nearly as bad as Claudia's, but there were logistics to consider. And I purposely didn't call my mom until after I'd been seen at the hospital, because like Mimi, she wouldn't have been able to get to in a timely fashion and she would have just worried. Maybe Claudia's level-headedness was in the back of my mind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJFghgV3P_IROENwY8tVUVA_1N2dwE0ZSe2gTkLn4q9uqps4hBuuuogg90yq6Dnly6TuVe46ElrVRDBLvOclgXPuzZ9Ym1YEA1y3EOmIAd5erN6jXyMeQQx41YAmJtSRq8ItPz5hg8kQkDyVbeyszP-_gQZuMnQ6-D4ei6Jv1gQQAtB-S9daXLQrV3yQ/s4608/100_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJFghgV3P_IROENwY8tVUVA_1N2dwE0ZSe2gTkLn4q9uqps4hBuuuogg90yq6Dnly6TuVe46ElrVRDBLvOclgXPuzZ9Ym1YEA1y3EOmIAd5erN6jXyMeQQx41YAmJtSRq8ItPz5hg8kQkDyVbeyszP-_gQZuMnQ6-D4ei6Jv1gQQAtB-S9daXLQrV3yQ/s320/100_0032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Mary Anne brings a cute stuffed animal for Claudia instead of Tigger--expressly saying she wanted to bring the cat, but that this was more practical.</div>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-3543814740036257812024-02-01T07:00:00.000-08:002024-02-01T07:00:00.150-08:00World By Us: Maritza: Lead With Your Heart<p>Author: Angela Cervantes<br />Illustrator: Caroline Garcia and Flavia Conley<br />Published in 2021</p><p>Makena, Maritza, and Evette are three middle school girls in the Anacostia area of Washington, DC. They want to make the world a better place.</p><p>Summary</p><p>Maritza "Itza" Ochoa describes herself as "Bolivian on [her] mother's side, Colombian on [her] father's side, and 100% American soccer player." She loves her heritage and culture, and she's a fantastic athlete and a good friend, if spread a bit thin at times. She has a big heart, too, demonstrated early in the book when she successfully convinces an adult in charge of a soccer tournament to let girls play too (he'd been concerned about being blamed if they got hurt playing with the boys, but most of the middle schoolers already play together anyway, and he's known for being on top of watching for danger) and when she donates to a legal fund for a man in danger of deportation. Shortly after donating, she realizes the man is her friend Violeta's uncle.</p><p>It comes out that the uncle has been working and living in the US for a decade and trying to gain citizenship, but it's been difficult. Furthermore, he brought over other family members, including Violeta--Violeta isn't a US citizen. If her uncle is deported, she likely would be too, and Violeta doesn't even remember living in another country. With Itza's help (who in turn is encouraged and cheered on by Makena and Evette), Violeta tells her story to their school, bringing more attention to the fundraisers that are going to pay for an immigration lawyer. The upcoming soccer showcase that Itza and Violeta are playing in offers further publicity, and enough funds are raised. Violeta's uncle isn't a citizen just yet, but he's working on it and he can spend that time at home with his family.</p><p><br /></p><p>Misc<br /></p><p>Dedicated to "my abuelos: Esperanza and Andres."</p><p>I like having a Hispanic Heritage Month, which is a relatively new thing, at least in the Pacific Northwest. I am also confused by it running from the middle one month to the middle of the next.</p><p>I wish we could know what Itza's time in the 5k was. She won the race; I bet it was pretty fast!</p><p>One of Itza's friends wears an outfit described to have traditional Mexican embroidery, which calls to mind the embroidery in <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2014/04/josefinas-surprise.html" target="_blank">Josefina</a>'s stories. Several women at my church wear beautifully embroidered skirts, although it's a Guatemalan style.</p><p>This is the second time in a couple days that the distinction between violet and purple has come up in my life. Isn't violet a shade of purple? I guess I have a different definition of the colors than others.</p><p>Megan Rapinoe is mentioned; until her recent retirement she played for my local pro women's soccer team.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-87592366674611375152024-01-01T07:30:00.000-08:002024-01-01T07:30:00.159-08:00World by Us: Makena: See Me, Hear Me, Know Me<p>Author: Denise Lewis Patrick<br />Illustrator: Courtney Lovett<br />Published in 2021</p><p>Makena, Maritza, and Evette are three middle school girls in the Anacostia area of Washington, DC. They want to make the world a better place.</p><p>Summary</p><p>After months of remote learning and online classes, Makena ("ma-KAY-nuh" Swahili for "happy one") is excited to get back to what she's used to. Everything seems ready for adventure: her whole extended family is in great moods, her uncle's food truck business (his restaurant didn't survive the pandemic) is doing well, her friends are ready. It's going to be a great school year, at her new school. After a successful first day, Makena goes with her uncle to the new community center. There, she meets two girls, Maritza and Evette, and the trio quickly form a friendship.</p><p>Makena is grateful for all the extra support when she and her friend Najee (who is also Black) have to experience racism. They're at a park and see a young White girl who's lost. They go to help her, and Najee ends up carrying her while they search for her parents. But another White woman sees them and assumes that the Black boy is kidnapping the White girl. It's all resolved quickly, and the little girl's mother even witnesses Najee making her daughter laugh, but Makena hates the assumptions that the other woman had.</p><p>Makena takes to social media to voice her frustrations. Her clear points and unique style are eye-catching, and people seem sympathetic to her concerns.</p><p>But</p><p>One afternoon, Makena and her sister (two years younger) find themselves locked out of the house. They look for the spare key, see if the back door is unlocked--and suddenly they hear sirens. Two police officers, one Black and one White, approach with guns drawn. A couple neighbors soon appear, shouting that the sisters live there, and the danger is past. It seems that a new neighbor saw Makena and her sister and jumped to the conclusion that they were burglars. </p><p>Makena is understandably shaken, but also full of resolve. She makes a short video about the incident, challenges people to learn the facts before making assumptions, and gets her parents' approval and permission to post it online. It takes off. The new neighbor comes over, deeply ashamed of his actions, and watches Makena's video too. He humbly tells her he's going to work to be a better person.</p><p>Makena and her new friends put on a fashion show at the community center, focused on how what we chose to present to the world (rather than what we're born with) is the real statement we can make.</p><p><br /></p><p>Misc<br /></p><p>Dedicated to "Olympia and Avery and every girl who changes the world with style."</p><p>Ooh, the part with Makena's teacher confusing her for the only other Black girl in the class...I am so terrible with remembering faces and with remembering names (all races and colors). Because I know that, I tell people upfront and if I'm not sure of a name I don't try to guess. I hope I haven't given a poor impression to anyone.</p><p>There's a part at the end featuring Brandice Daniel, founder of Harlem's Fashion Row which showcases collections from designers who are women of color, ones who have often been left out of fashion.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-47999612099130260252023-12-01T07:30:00.000-08:002023-12-06T20:24:13.357-08:00World by Us: Evette: The River and Me<p>Author: Sharon Dennis Wyeth<br />Illustrator: Olivia Duchess<br />Published in 2021</p><p>Evette, Makena, and Maritza are three middle school girls in the Anacostia area of Washington, DC. They want to make the world a better place.</p><p>Summary</p><p>As the world emerges from the COVID-19 lockdowns and starts to find its new normal, Evette is cautiously optimistic. The caution is warranted; when she can finally attend school in person, her one-time friend Ashlyn has changed a lot. While change can be neutral, Ashlyn doesn't seem to have time for Evette any more, and says nothing when another girl blatantly scrutinizes Evette's appearance and asks with rude bluntness if Evette is Black or White (Evette's mother is Black and her father is White). That afternoon, Evette happens upon a vintage swimsuit at her grandmother's house (Evette's parents are at work; her grandmother provides help with childcare), prompting a story about her grandmother not being welcome at a swimming pool used mainly by white people. After that incident, her grandmother swam in a calm part of an Anacostia River tributary. Evette likes the sound of that, and the style of the swimsuit. Sadly, the place is now terribly polluted. And the odd comment her grandmother made about Evette's other grandparents...what was that about?</p><p>No time for questions now. Evette, her younger brother Bud, and their grandmother are taking some of the harvested fruits and vegetables from the garden to the community center. There, Evette is happy to meet Maritza, a soccer enthusiast, and Makena ("ma-KAY-nuh"), a girl she knows from social media. The three don't have long, but quickly begin a friendship.</p><p>Back at home, Evette asks her mother about the perceived tension between the two sides of her family. Her mother will only say that something happened a long time ago but won't go into details. Her dad won't talk either. But her other grandmother tells her: when Evette's parents announced their engagement and wedding plans, her paternal (white) grandparents insisted on holding the reception at their home instead of at her maternal (black) grandparents' house, citing safety and the fear of theft. Evette's paternal grandmother realizes now that her assumptions were coming from a racist mindset, but feels it's too late to make amends. She tried in years past, but her attempts were never reciprocated. </p><p>While talking with Itza and Makena at the community center, Evette gets an idea. There's a group dedicated to cleaning up the environment, and she suggests cleaning up the place where her grandmother used to swim--and inviting her other grandparents to the event too. For bonus points, Ashlyn wants to come, too, AND her new friends aren't as rude as they first appeared. The cleanup goes great...except that Evette's maternal grandmother doesn't show. Evette has to be brave and upfront, and finally helps her grandmothers reconcile, with a sincere apology from her paternal grandmother. Fittingly, it happens at the swimming hole. <br /></p><p>And while there, Evette sees the mechanic her father patronizes...illegally dumping. Evette knows he's struggling financially, but there has to be a better solution. Itza and Makena help her figure it out: they use the worn-out tires to make planters, selling them for $25 each. The mechanic apologizes and agrees to dispose of his shop's waste responsibly.</p><p><br /></p><p>Misc<br /></p><p>Dedicated to Sheri Dennis Isaac and Dr. Shelley Glover, "two essential workers in my family during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic."</p><p>While not commonly eaten, some flowers are edible. For example, chamomile tea is made from dried flowers.</p><p>The author picked good occupations to explain Evette's parents' busy schedules. Her mom is a pediatric cardiologist and her dad is in construction. Both have been incredibly busy careers in the last few years.</p><p>A blurb in the back of the book mentions a trio of fifth-grade students who transitioned their school cafeteria from using disposable utensils to reusable ones.</p><p>Were I the author or illustrator, I would have included face masks among the litter. It's absurd how many I saw on the ground in 2020 and 2021.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-63686733048223686542023-11-01T07:30:00.000-07:002023-12-06T19:01:25.596-08:00Meet Isabel and Nicki<p>Authors: Julia DeVillers and Jennifer Roy (yes, they are twins)<br />Illustrator: Maike Plenzke<br />Published in 2023</p><p>Summary</p><p>It's December of 1999, and nine-year-old twins Isabel and Nicki Hoffman have different reactions to the coming year. Isabel is excited, but Nicki is worried. One concern is the Y2K Bug (yes, it was a huge worry; my father-in-law was one of many computer programmers who helped mitigate the issue, just like the twins' mom is in the book). Isabel is far too involved with her many friends to worry, especially since one of them got the group space to dance in Seattle's New Year celebration--Nicki included! Plus the sisters just got pets for Hanukkah; a dog named Blossom for Nicki (after the Powerpuff girl) and a cat named Buffy for Isabel (for the vampire slayer).<br /></p><p>Soon, it seems the twins' perspectives have flipped. Nicki stumbles across a group of young skaters, finding a whole new group of great friends. Meanwhile, Isabel's friends start to drift away, influenced by a stuck-up mean girl. They even kick her out of the New Year dance performance. The twins' differences are feeling more magnified too, leading to fights. Isabel's feeling pretty lost until she also finds a new friend, Kat--one who appreciates her for who she is and doesn't try to change her. The sisters even make up, agreeing to learn to communicate better.</p><p>Then Nicki falls while skateboarding, spraining her ankle badly. Isabel rallies to her aid, and together the twins bond, growing closer over their school's winter break than they have in a long time. Both girls find themselves gaining confidence--Nicki is making a zine to pass out with her skateboarding friends at the New Year's party, and Isabel stands up for herself to the mean girl.</p><p>A spanner's thrown in the works when the party is cancelled (that really happened; Seattle's mayor called it off, citing safety concerns in light of the WTO protests). Nicki and Isabel are bummed, but soon they realize that the mayor didn't say people couldn't celebrate, just that the official party was cancelled. Their dad owns a coffee shop--what better place for Seattle-ites to celebrate? They quickly plan a party and invite their new friends. Admission is one book, to be donated to patients at the nearby hospital that treated Nicki's sprain. The party is a blast, and Isabel even makes up with her friends who ditched her (it's brief, but I think it's handled well; Isabel doesn't let them get off scot-free and they're properly chagrined for their actions). The mayor even stops by to donate books!</p><p>Nicki and Isabel ring in the new year as friends, confident in their future and excited to see what it holds for them.</p><p><br /></p><p>Inside Isabel and Nicki's World</p><p>This is a brief description of pop culture and news from the late 90s, focusing on Seattle. Y2K is mentioned, as is the advent of the 24-hours news cycle, which sensationalizes and often catastrophizes. Special focus is given to the rising representation of girls and women in the media, including the <i>American Girl</i> magazine.</p><p><br /></p><p>Misc</p><p>The authors dedicate their book to the readers.</p><p>There was no year 0. It started at AD 1 or 1 CE depending on which you prefer (yes, the AD goes first). 2000 was the last year of the millennium. When it ended, then a new one began. (rant over)</p><p>I was born a few years before Isabel and Nicki, and grew up in the greater Seattle area. One thing that stood out as accurate before even opening the book was an alien symbol. Aliens were EVERYWHERE here in the 90s. Frankly, twins made sense to me too. In my tiny high school class of under 70 people, nearly a tenth of the students were twins. And considering one of my grandmothers is a twin, I thought twins were way more common than they really are.</p><p>Nicki and Isabel are fraternal twins. Once my kids and I saw a dad at a store with two toddlers, a boy and a girl. One of my kids speculated to me that they might be twins and the dad confirmed that they were twins. I asked him how often people wonder if they're identical, and he said I might be the first person to NOT ask that.</p><p>Hanukkah ran from December 3 to December 11 in 1999. The Hoffman family also exchanges gifts on Christmas, but no religious observation is mentioned.</p><p>If you find yourself in need of crutches, don't lean on them with your armpits. You're meant to have them a couple inches below your armpits. You end up with callouses on the side of your rib cage, not chafing in your armpits.</p><p>Accurate Seattle things: <br />-It gets dark early in December. Sunset is around 4:15-4:25 most of the month.<br />-Grunge!<br />-"My cousin who goes to school in Olympia taught me how to make [zines]." Yep, that'd be Evergreen College, and yep, it'd have zines.<br />-Having a sprained ankle sounds right. I did that all the time. My parents ended up buying a pair of crutches after renting them so many times, and my nickname on the soccer team was The Broken Wonder.</p><p>Maybe inaccurate Seattle things:<br />-I've never known a Seattle-area adult born after about 1945 who had kids address them as Mr/Mrs/Ms LastName unless outside of a classroom.<br />-Having only lived in the Pacific and the Hawaiian Time Zones, I've never worried about the world ending at midnight on a given day. I'd have a heads-up because early time zones would get hit first: if Australia's still there when I wake up, the world didn't end.</p><p>Inaccurate Seattle thing:<br />-Mt. Rainier is too far west in the picture of the Hoffmans on the Space Needle observation deck. I understand wanting to include it because it's iconic and it seems nitpicky, but for someone who's very used to seeing the tallest peak in the state (more than 14,000 feet!), it immediately looks wrong to see it that close to Puget Sound. It needs to be a few inches to the left.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-39329597051305815222023-10-01T07:30:00.000-07:002023-12-06T17:48:22.675-08:00Girl of the Year 2023: It's Showtime, Kavi!<p>Author: Varsha Bajaj<br />Illustrator: Pavarti Pallai<br />Published: 2023</p><p>Summary</p><p>The book opens on the twelfth birthday of Kavika "Kavi" Sharma, who lives in a New Jersey suburb by New York City with her parents, younger brother Rishi, and Dadima (Hindi for paternal grandmother). She has plenty of reasons to be happy, including getting tickets to see <i>Wicked</i> on Broadway with her two best friends, Sophie and Pari. Even better, her school is going to host a talent show revue! Kavi just knows that she, Sophie, and Pari can impress everyone.</p><p>But that doesn't stop life from happening, especially now that her mom has re-entered the workforce. Kavi finds her self missing more and more details as she gets distracted by her passion for the stage. It's not long before Kavi feels overwhelmed and stuck. A lot of people offer help and support with varying success, but Kavi even considers quitting the revue. It's just too much. After a few days though, Kavi is able to overcome her worries and she dances with her best friends on stage, loving every minute. She even decides to try for the spring musical <i>Annie</i> and gets the part of one of the orphans. Pari is another, and Sophie is happy to be assigned to the stage crew.</p><p>That doesn't solve everything though. Kavi is still struggling with organization, focus, time blindness, executive function--does any of this sound familiar? It sounds like ADD or ADHD, and Kavi doesn't have any coping skills to manage it. And another fly in the ointment: a storm knocks a tree into the arts wing. There's no more stage to perform on; they might need to use the cafeteria. There is a community college with an auditorium, but the rental is expensive. Even with Kavi and the others coming up with fundraising ideas like selling cookies, shirts, and doing a car wash, they can't raise enough. Kavi asks if anyone has approached the community college to see if they can get a break on the rental given the situation. A quote from <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/12/meet-samantha.html" target="_blank">Meet Samantha</a></i> comes to mind: "The worst she can say is 'no.'" </p><p>It's a good thing Kavi suggested talking to the community college. The powers that be allow the group an extension: they have until the end of the school year to pay off the remainder of the fee and the show can go on. Kavi and her friends have an amazing time, and Kavi now feels confident that while she does need more than most to try to focus, she can do it.</p><p>Misc </p><p>The author dedicates her book to "Karishma and all the amazing Desi girls."</p><p>Huh. My younger brother used to call me "Didi" because he couldn't pronounce my name (never mind that my name has neither Ds nor Is in it). We never figured out how he came up with it. The Hindi word for "big sister" is Didi. I'm not sure how it's pronounced; my brother said it like "dee-dee."</p><p>There's a scene of Kavi mixing the ingredients for cookies, and by the dialogue you can pretty easily get the recipe. But I don't know anyone who would expositionally declare, "Put in two cups of all-purpose flour!" Everyone I know would just say "flour." There's quite a bit of exposition dumped in, but this is the one that stands out the most.</p><p>The science teacher is named Mr. Proton. *eyeroll*</p><p>I thought this book was heading to Kavi getting an official diagnosis of ADD or other neurodiveregence. The scene with her dad helping her focus could have been worked in with him realizing through his daughter's diagnosis that maybe he has something going on, too. It seems like a missed opportunity.</p><p>This book moves at a break-neck speed. Kavi is an energetic, outgoing young woman, and the writing portrays it SO WELL.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-31493961162255040842023-09-01T07:00:00.001-07:002023-10-27T12:02:17.052-07:00Stacey's Mistake (GN#14)<p> Publication Date: 2023</p>Ghostwriter? No, the text copyright is for Ann M. Martin.<br /><br />Illustrator: Ellen Crenshaw, with color by Braden Lamb and Hank Jones<br /><br />Synopsis:<div><br /></div><div>The plot is, as expected, pretty much like the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/04/staceys-mistake-rs18.html">non-graphic version</a>, although here the need for sitters is because of a fundraiser for a community theater rather than a meeting of the residents of Stacey's apartment building, and Mallory and Jessi are able to visit as well.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />Established or continued in this book:<br /><br />The Girls (and Logan):</div><div><br /></div><div>Claudia candy: none mentioned</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9MwJE1LlhrJkhpldXY1XHtR5BhSrqjsIQ2i_RNtHVR4-n0c-axMchbDggrbKNRm4FiYWHmPGoDM0fW0iPOvkqimeV-OtQcZafQ_Z7au3IgBu2zdJsrTADKIO1U8CDX4WzVjCghNNPTOL1H-YYETqo8BGBZrTpuad5ZO5-LKUduO30rl1s_zDOsfBYgU/s6043/ANMP0397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6043" data-original-width="3626" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9MwJE1LlhrJkhpldXY1XHtR5BhSrqjsIQ2i_RNtHVR4-n0c-axMchbDggrbKNRm4FiYWHmPGoDM0fW0iPOvkqimeV-OtQcZafQ_Z7au3IgBu2zdJsrTADKIO1U8CDX4WzVjCghNNPTOL1H-YYETqo8BGBZrTpuad5ZO5-LKUduO30rl1s_zDOsfBYgU/s320/ANMP0397.jpg" width="192" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1NeAMMMSt2isqMkJBqZ1-XmYuO16bS2fH5V2C-cqQ264uwOJLUGkKyqJd8jJq2wnyoF1jvAiflVePCEhf3c5Prm5c_E8r9ycOYRDXSHGPNkbW4W0tuTWu_v4DTavyGik_65tL4gqGvfDokx0WjS3q8b2ts9GbNpWCN0QoXoegDGVVqyEJc_gRw7VoWg/s5290/ANMP0399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3883" data-original-width="5290" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1NeAMMMSt2isqMkJBqZ1-XmYuO16bS2fH5V2C-cqQ264uwOJLUGkKyqJd8jJq2wnyoF1jvAiflVePCEhf3c5Prm5c_E8r9ycOYRDXSHGPNkbW4W0tuTWu_v4DTavyGik_65tL4gqGvfDokx0WjS3q8b2ts9GbNpWCN0QoXoegDGVVqyEJc_gRw7VoWg/s320/ANMP0399.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reuniting in New York City</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><div>Their Families: </div><div><br /></div></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTJhxZ0bJPr3gl1SXquuFUlwylNYseY8Bwll1Xi9Zb2_STQUt7_5x6QBfyU6rBid6MKYw-68zcIqdJR9DayY5pdntPaNWyQnCTs26QdgdQvDpsqIIHpD_fnk7HWNxdACHApnu1S9tmyKhRMKAQCCobCq_ArMopbulOZG8LSH4SLrzaPJRhiXj8oBcMA8/s6400/ANMP0398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="6400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTJhxZ0bJPr3gl1SXquuFUlwylNYseY8Bwll1Xi9Zb2_STQUt7_5x6QBfyU6rBid6MKYw-68zcIqdJR9DayY5pdntPaNWyQnCTs26QdgdQvDpsqIIHpD_fnk7HWNxdACHApnu1S9tmyKhRMKAQCCobCq_ArMopbulOZG8LSH4SLrzaPJRhiXj8oBcMA8/s320/ANMP0398.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tigger!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>The Club (and clients): </div><div><br /></div><div>When Stacey takes the club around to meet the families they'll be sitting, I was surprised to see Stacey call the first mother by her first name. I do NOT like being called Mrs. LastName, and encourage everyone regardless of age to just call me by my first name. I know that the BSC books were written a little while ago when it was more common for children to default to Mr. and Mrs. LastName for adults, so I figured this was an update. Then I realized that Stacey was greeting the nanny, not the mother--so she calls The Help by their first names, but not other adults...?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><div>SMS: nothing new</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>PSA Time: nothing stood out</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Misc:<br /><br />Martin dedicates this book to her new godson, Andrew Cleveland Gordon.<br /><br />Crenshaw dedicates it to "Chris and Erin, my first--and best--baby-sitters. May our fledgling film series, <i>The Average Family</i>, live forever in legend and infamy."</div></div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkET17-QsFsBji5GPMJrr8L9ZjfNDZE9fnGI6DEHzXzExu8XeVX_RPByT4Nk-pCKOV2NsRZF9t7GzgDkXEeNsexr0fwO3uGczbsb72UWkcqw8v5JpVGgzEGzenlO5neep1MUGIGOqVOiUwdUpiVTzb2L51fm5Pph5HOQIBz9DHoUiCywwUknRJiuF7U0/s4377/ANMP0400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4377" data-original-width="3412" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkET17-QsFsBji5GPMJrr8L9ZjfNDZE9fnGI6DEHzXzExu8XeVX_RPByT4Nk-pCKOV2NsRZF9t7GzgDkXEeNsexr0fwO3uGczbsb72UWkcqw8v5JpVGgzEGzenlO5neep1MUGIGOqVOiUwdUpiVTzb2L51fm5Pph5HOQIBz9DHoUiCywwUknRJiuF7U0/s320/ANMP0400.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFLyWwgbzVMFzcoEyLLJoUwMCDti0gy1SbNqA0mgNNfPq0Ez9gdPganC-jVZg7L6qS3gP4eBUICqQgVO8n_7XzyFnxxxS1g-yosTeP0ZUAH9VH6q_irWtl0TOjiRF113juiisYDqB9liE_LEsrktXT8CHGqhkBfjyx4F9-0ay8b7dOo_LWhMYnCIU5-o/s4120/ANMP0402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3953" data-original-width="4120" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFLyWwgbzVMFzcoEyLLJoUwMCDti0gy1SbNqA0mgNNfPq0Ez9gdPganC-jVZg7L6qS3gP4eBUICqQgVO8n_7XzyFnxxxS1g-yosTeP0ZUAH9VH6q_irWtl0TOjiRF113juiisYDqB9liE_LEsrktXT8CHGqhkBfjyx4F9-0ay8b7dOo_LWhMYnCIU5-o/s320/ANMP0402.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacey's party</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv3LfBJ0PrILqMLVKZpO1dHIA3as07yf7d69gq18ao1k4RHWPR3tjDk0gWQiYY8u1T0aA_ozdPZwPUe6dIs27qxLxYBRV1VxpxXCwZkYS2t67xL5mvhBblaUSCDjMAqVNjBtF5gDc-3ivnN4bK0F0fJXb6doX1ObTWTJ8dAlPsOmzmOYX-6Q3gQ8IHzQ/s4335/ANMP0403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3623" data-original-width="4335" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv3LfBJ0PrILqMLVKZpO1dHIA3as07yf7d69gq18ao1k4RHWPR3tjDk0gWQiYY8u1T0aA_ozdPZwPUe6dIs27qxLxYBRV1VxpxXCwZkYS2t67xL5mvhBblaUSCDjMAqVNjBtF5gDc-3ivnN4bK0F0fJXb6doX1ObTWTJ8dAlPsOmzmOYX-6Q3gQ8IHzQ/s320/ANMP0403.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The man with the long beard, tricycle, and cats in the wagon!<br />I remember him distinctly from the original book.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-90508904043123129742023-08-01T07:00:00.001-07:002023-12-06T10:27:58.495-08:00Adventures with Claudie<p> Author: Brit Bennett</p><p>Illustrator: Laura Freeman</p><p>Publication Date: 2023</p><p>Plot</p><p>Excited as she is for the road trip down to Georgia and to meet her mother's family, Claudie finds herself missing Harlem pretty quickly. The two are traveling down with her mother's cousin Sidney, who tells Claudie about the family she'll be meeting on the Georgia farm, including eleven-year-old twin cousins and Claudie's maternal grandmother. </p><p>He and Mama also warn Claudie about dangers they might face. Sidney never goes even a mile over the speed limit, for fear of giving a racist highway patrol office a reason to pull him over. They skip some gas stations, because they're in sundown towns. The three must be on their best behavior, and not draw attention to themselves. </p><p>Once at the family farm, Claudie feels more at ease. She's welcomed with open arms and Southern hospitality (and, having been spoiled by not only my grandmother but also her two sisters in Atlanta, I can tell you it's awesome). Her cousins teach her to climb trees, and her grandmother tells her stories about the family and also folk stories that Claudie's never heard before. </p><p>But the unfairness of Jim Crow laws, segregation, and racist hatred can't be ignored. A nearby farm, also owned by a Black family, is torched by an arsonist. Claudie's grandmother says that trying to find out who did it will just cause more problems, but Claudie knows that Mama can't leave the story alone. She and her cousins follow Mama when she goes to investigate the burnt property at night, and end up having to hide from the local sheriff who threateningly tells Mama to leave. Back at the family farm, Claudie accuses Mama of ignoring the desires of the people who live there and just wanting fame. In the morning, Claudie apologizes for her outburst, and Mama apologizes for her deception. She tells Claudie that as a young girl, she witnessed a lynching, and it motivated her to leave her childhood home and to tell the world about what was happening to inspire people to change the world for the better. Change like how Claudie's trying to save the boarding house. She also tells Claudie that she doesn't have to write about the way things are--she can write about the way she hopes things will be.</p><p>Back home in Harlem, Claudie and the rest of the boarders finalize plans for the variety show. The morning of, Claudie is thrilled to learn they've sold enough tickets to pay the back rent. Now they can perform the show with that weight gone!</p><p>The story Claudie tells is a version of one her grandmother told her, "The People Who Could Fly," which is about the people taken from Africa as slaves. In the story, they originally had wings, but lost them crossing the Atlantic. They still possessed the magic though, and one day, a man who knew the magic told the other slaves, and they sprouted wings and flew back their homes in Africa. In Claudie's version, they fly to Harlem.</p><p><br /></p><p>Inside Claudie's World</p><p>This time, this section explains in more detail the overt racism that was prevalent in the pre-Civil Rights South, and present but less blatant in other parts of the country. It also talks about the rich tradition and history of story-telling among African Americans in the South.</p><p><br /></p><p>Misc</p><p>Bennett dedicates the book to her family.</p><p>The same group of people advised this book as did <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2023/07/meet-claudie.html">Meet Claudie</a></i>. </p><p>At one point, Mama tells Claudie stories about Br'er Rabbit. I recently read <i>Who's Afraid of the Song of the South</i>, an interesting book about controversial Disney publications. Among other things, I learned that Br'er is short for "Brother" and not a version of "briar" as I'd previously thought.</p><p>"Claudie could hear owls swooping overhead." No, she couldn't. Owls have specialized flight feathers; they are silent when they fly. I've had large owls fly just feet from me (I live by a greenbelt; there are barred owls) and you can't hear a thing even though you can nearly touch them. The hooting, yes; the flying, no. It makes me very glad I'm not a prey animal to owls because I wouldn't stand a chance.</p><p>Claudie's books are, of course, primarily to teach about the historical facts of a Black girl's experience in the 1920s, and to impress upon the reader the importance of anti-racism. But there's also a persistent thread of responsible journalism and making sure the facts are accurate, which is important as well.</p><p>Claudie meets Langston Hughes! He sweetly encourages her that if she's written a sketch, she doesn't just <i>want</i> to be a writer: she already <i>is</i> a writer.<br /><br />I really liked Claudie's books, but they feel incomplete. Yes, we know what happens with the boarding house, but there are other loose ends like the news stories Mama was working on and the family in Georgia. What happens next? I don't know if there are plans to publish any more books about her story. I hope we get more than two not-even-eighty-page books. I know the last historical character (Courtney) had shorter books too, but her story felt complete.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-47307397502647440932023-07-01T07:00:00.001-07:002023-10-25T21:19:27.117-07:00Meet Claudie<p>Author: Brit Bennett<br /><br />Illustrator: Laura Freeman<br /><br />Publication Date: 2022</p><p>Plot</p><p>Nine-year-old Claudie Wells loves living in 1920s Harlem, New York, but she feels out of place. It seems everyone else has some sort of artistic talent, from dance to painting to poetry to the culinary arts. Claudie hasn't found her talent yet. Her father, a veteran of the Great War in the Harlem Hellfighters, reassures her that when started baking, his creations both looked and tasted terrible, but he practiced and now his beautiful cakes are famous in the neighborhood. But Claudie still feels like she doesn't belong, especially after her mother, a reporter for the <i>Amderstam News</i>, doesn't want Claudie coming on a trip to her mother's childhood home in Georgia. Claudie figures her mother views Claudie as a bother.</p><p>Still, Claudie is determined that this summer will be summer she finds a talent. She talks to many artists she knows in the neighborhood, learning about what fuels their passions and why they've followed the paths they have. And while she is enjoying learning about everyone, there's sometimes an unsettling undercurrent. People talk about leaving places where they weren't welcome due to the color of their skin, her father has nightmares about his time in the war and also laments the racism he and other veterans received upon returning home to America, her mother is writing an article about a lynching, the woman who runs the boarding house where her family lives is facing eviction... Suddenly, there are bigger problems than Claudie wanting to find her talent.</p><p>Pondering the problems one night, Claudie hits on the idea to coordinate a variety show and charge money for tickets. The money will make up the back rent the boarding house owes, and let Claudie and everyone else stay. Just as I was thinking Claudie's talent was going to be organizing things like <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/12/samanthas-special-talent.html">Samantha</a>, one of the other tenants says she'll only help if Claudie performs too--why not a puppet show like Claudie puts on for her little brother? But what to write about...</p><p>It's in talking to her mother that Claudie figures it out: she's going to accompany her on the trip to Georgia and find something to inspire her.</p><p>Inside Claudie's World</p><p>The historical retrospective talks about the Harlem Renaissance, and how it happened against the backdrop of numerous racist atrocities like lynchings. Harlem was, for some, a refuge from the danger that lurked in other parts of the country. But even there, there was segregation--Claudie and her brother attend a baseball game, but this is well before Jackie Robinson's time, so the league are separated by race. The progress in Harlem helped people believe more progress was possible. </p><p>Misc<br /><br />Bennett dedicates the book to all her "teachers who encouraged me to love books." There's also a forward that details how Bennett grew up loving reading, including the Addy books, and how she looked up to the author, Connie Porter, and even got to speak with Porter over the phone.</p><p>Advisors for the book include Keisha N. Blain, an author who teaches at the University of Pittsburgh (the field isn't specified); Marcia Chatelain, author and professor of history and African American studies at Georgetown University; Spencer R. Crew, the Clarence J. Robinson Professor of History at George Mason University, president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and director of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian; Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, an author and the Victor S. Thomas Processor of History and of African and African American students at Harvard; and Shannon King, author and associate professor of history at Fairfield University.</p><p>Just before the first page of the book, there's a note that the dialogue is period-accurate and thus uses now-outdated terms like "colored" and "Negro" to refer to Black people, and explains that while they wouldn't be used in most places today, they would have been used in Claudie's time and location.</p><p>It's 1922, and the narration implies that people are already calling the Great War "World War I." That didn't happen for a bit, until World War II, outside of a memoir by English soldier Charles a Court Repington.</p><p>I like this sentiment: "[Claudie] knew that a friend offering to teach you something she loved was offering you a special gift."</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-63962646547212351662023-06-01T07:00:00.001-07:002023-06-01T07:00:00.138-07:00The Complete Guide to the Baby-sitters Club<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyxLmIrQLEsjiQCjC2y_ZGluyIl5m80AxC63UuFB1_-tW0-foP2JLGOPSaGQC5Y7ikA-7Kutrpfc0IeaEOCzDRbjVpBRXhCkeZJxHnaFgvvN9vOCnbtS5KiK23nc6TNHtXL_FE33OA6AiKP_38LR0gEvjSHMBE1y1pbuGOFhc0ZU0Q-BeLRAu6DN3/s708/WIN_20230501_20_15_05_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="527" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyxLmIrQLEsjiQCjC2y_ZGluyIl5m80AxC63UuFB1_-tW0-foP2JLGOPSaGQC5Y7ikA-7Kutrpfc0IeaEOCzDRbjVpBRXhCkeZJxHnaFgvvN9vOCnbtS5KiK23nc6TNHtXL_FE33OA6AiKP_38LR0gEvjSHMBE1y1pbuGOFhc0ZU0Q-BeLRAu6DN3/s320/WIN_20230501_20_15_05_Pro.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><p>Published in 1996, around the same time as <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2012/11/kristys-worst-idea-rs100.html" target="_blank">Kristy's Great Idea</a></i><br /><br />Ghostwriter? Yes, David Levithan. Kim Dooley, Janet Vultee, Veronia Ambrose, Olivia Ford, and Charles Agvent also help fact-check.<br /><br />The 347-page book is divided into fact-filled sections on the club, the club members, their family members, their clients, other people in Stoneybrook, the city itself, different kid-related things specific to the series, and people and other things encounter by the club outside of Stoneybrook. I'm going to skim through them and see how they compare to what I gleaned from my re-read of the series that I began over a decade ago when I started this blog! The book is FAR more detailed, so I'll mention things that stand out.<br /><br />The sections on the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-club.html" target="_blank">club</a> and its clients includes details about individual items different members have in their Kid-Kits. It also has information on different events the club has organized, such as the fundraiser for the Zuni children in <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/12/dawn-and-big-sleepover.html" target="_blank">Dawn and the Big Sleepover</a></i>. The Guide includes client families that I didn't: ones they won't work with again like the Gardellas who accused Stacey of stealing a diamond ring in <i><a href="http://bscag.blogspot.com/2011/01/stacey-and-missing-ring-m1.html">Stacey and the Missing Ring</a> </i>or one-off families. There's a TON of information on each family! I counted BSC families, like the Pikes, while the Guide doesn't. I also included the Ohdners, who are mentioned but never featured in the books.<br /></p><p><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/09/kristy.html" target="_blank">Kristy</a>'s section includes her full name, Kristin Amanda Thomas, and birthday (August 20 at 4:00am). According to the Guide, her mom wanted to have another biological child, but she and Watson opted for adoption due to her age. Ben Brewer (yes, the ghost) has an entire paragraph and Karen and Andrew's mother Lisa has a long one, but their stepfather Seth only has seven words in two sentence fragments.</p><p><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/09/claudia.html" target="_blank">Claudia</a>'s section includes her full name, Claudia Lynn Kishi, and birthday (July 11 at 4:36am). The Guide was published just before Claudia gets sent back to seventh grade.<br /><br /><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/09/stacey.html" target="_blank">Stacey</a>'s section includes her full name, Anastasia Elizabeth McGill, and birthday (April 3 at 2:22am). Strangely, her quitting and rejoining the BSC is omitted.<br /><br /><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/09/mary-anne.html" target="_blank">Mary Anne</a>'s section includes her September 22 birthday, but not a time. There's no acknowledgement of her mother's name changing from Abigail to Alma.<br /><br /><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/09/dawn.html" target="_blank">Dawn</a>'s section includes her full name, Dawn Read Schafer, and her February 5 birthday, but not a time. The Guide was published before her baby sister was born.<br /><br /><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/09/abby.html" target="_blank">Abby</a>'s section is titled Abigail (Abby) Stevenson, with no middle name specified. It includes her October 15 birthday, but not a time.<br /><br /><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/09/jessi.html" target="_blank">Jessi</a>'s section includes her full name, Jessica Davis Ramsey, and her June 30 birthday, but not a time. There's no mention of her parents' fertility struggles and two late miscarriages/early stillbirths. It does include a list of ballet terminology.<br /><br /><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/09/mallory.html" target="_blank">Mallory</a>'s section makes no mention of a middle name. Her birthday is May 2. Her hair is described as chestnut brown, and it often is in the books, but it's always depicted as red in the illustrations and on TV and film. Even in this book, about fifty pages after her hair is first described as chestnut brown, Mallory is mentioned as the Pike with hair that's more reddish than anyone else's. The once-mentioned cat Sarge has a brief entry, and is confirmed to be deceased.<br /><br /><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/09/logan.html" target="_blank">Logan</a>'s section makes no mention of a middle name. His birthday is January 10.<br /><br /><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/09/shannon.html" target="_blank">Shannon</a>'s sections includes her full name, Shannon Louisa Kilbourne, and her birthday is March 17. Her parents' strained marriage is omitted.<br /><br />None of the baby-sitters were born in the same month as another, and none were born in November (I was, though!). The entries include their addresses, and their adult family members are listed very formally (e.g.; Dawn's stepmother is Ms. Carol Olson). The sections on the club members' family include extended family members if they were mentioned in the books.<br /><br />The entry on <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/08/bsc-stoneybrook-middle-school.html" target="_blank">Stoneybrooke Middle School</a> lists a few teachers I missed: Mr. Bailey (English), Mr. Bellafatto (substitute), Mr. Drubek (helped with the school production of <i>Peter Pan</i>), Ms. Flood (unspecified), and Mr. Leavitt and Mr. Mills (track and field coach and football coach, respectively--although you don't need to be staff or faculty to coach, so maybe?).<br /><br />I also missed these students: Jennifer Abrams, Roger Bucknell, Madeline Carver, Franklin Enell, Jason Henderson, Bobby Henson, Andrea Kirkland, Francie Ledbetter, Beverly McManiman, Terry Morgan, Darcy Morgan, Rodge Somerset, Amelia White, Correen ?, Danni?, Sean?, and Tallie ?. It seems I missed students and teachers mostly in <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/07/baby-sitters-winter-vacation-ss3.html" target="_blank">Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation</a>,</i> <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2011/07/starring-baby-sitters-club-ss9.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Starring the Baby-sitters Club!</a>, and<a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2011/11/kristy-and-copycat.html" target="_blank"> <i>Kristy and the Copycat</i></a>. <br /><br />Mariah and Miranda Shillaber have a combined entry.<br /><br />After the information on the faculty, staff, and students at SMS, the Guide lists other middle-school-aged characters the BSC comes across in the books, like the students in Jessi's ballet class. It then moves on to other Stoneybrook area residents. It does NOT list information about the school itself that I did, like its start and stop times and that Mallory and Jessi met on the playground which mysteriously disappears in later books. The next section has some more details about SMS but not those ones.<br /><br />Next is a section about Stoneybrook itself, including locations. The back of the book folds out into a map!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkwZmDoC5sKpKPNue9eGjPwZrv2Sum407wAN_pjNixcw1IJmYly09gwgSqxt3NUKhD-SOeqY8bQduSbcQXCstz4fn6aan9c1ig7UDLlj-tLDh0j9FIP0bZg3KE7x_sboLaGOx55_nqbJ2Od7xG4e9ki-6-UE0dL0x55Q5V4S2rEykhZGs4TTHaSt5/s570/il_570xN.3446920116_5d7h.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="570" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkwZmDoC5sKpKPNue9eGjPwZrv2Sum407wAN_pjNixcw1IJmYly09gwgSqxt3NUKhD-SOeqY8bQduSbcQXCstz4fn6aan9c1ig7UDLlj-tLDh0j9FIP0bZg3KE7x_sboLaGOx55_nqbJ2Od7xG4e9ki-6-UE0dL0x55Q5V4S2rEykhZGs4TTHaSt5/s320/il_570xN.3446920116_5d7h.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The next section is a listing of basically the rest of the miscellaneous things not yet mentioned, including Kristy's Krushers and the Baby-sitters Agency. There's even a list of books, most with one-sentence synopses, that are mentioned in the series. Even the fictional ones--although those are specified as being "only available in Stoneybrook."<div><br /></div><div>Finally, there's a section for all the people, places, things, and ideas mentioned in the series outside of Stoneybrook, including what shows up in Dawn's California books (not including the California Diaries, which hadn't started yet--interestingly, nothing is said of Jill Henderson being less mature than Dawn's other CA friends). It's divided into California, Hawaii, Kentucky (only mentions two kids who Logan baby-sat), Maynard, IA; New York City; Camp Mohawk, NY; Oakley, NJ; the <i>Ocean Princess</i> cruise ship; Sea City, NJ; Pine Island, ME; Reese, ME; Shadow Lake, MA; and Leicester Lodge, VT.<br /><br />Absolutely tons of information in this book! Being published when it was, it doesn't include the last 31 regular series books, the last two Super Specials, mysteries from #27 on, about half the Portrait Collections, half the Super Mysteries, or any of the California Diaries or Friends Forever books. But it's still an interesting and thorough resource.<br /><br />But there's no list of the types of <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/08/bsc-numbers.html" target="_blank">candy in Claudia's room</a>.</div>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-79383202853732703792023-05-01T07:00:00.001-07:002023-05-01T20:30:53.621-07:00The Baby-sitters Club Notebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROsVL9I0l8EyaSICh1CFLjJZMu9QuEAqMD21AMj4lSOkJl7sRt5Q5NAhTXfyIJffNg-objs1FqFKpp7TwGLWNS5WpiVWGCweQveqXOoXdT82kIzfnWetGbXmemMdX5sZ-SxIFE93KMDtYzI4AwFqIy7LyaVic-kT4B--JVw3L_XRlvqa1q-yzEYgU/s669/WIN_20230501_20_14_53_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="529" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROsVL9I0l8EyaSICh1CFLjJZMu9QuEAqMD21AMj4lSOkJl7sRt5Q5NAhTXfyIJffNg-objs1FqFKpp7TwGLWNS5WpiVWGCweQveqXOoXdT82kIzfnWetGbXmemMdX5sZ-SxIFE93KMDtYzI4AwFqIy7LyaVic-kT4B--JVw3L_XRlvqa1q-yzEYgU/s320/WIN_20230501_20_14_53_Pro.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><p>Written by Sonia Black and Pat Brigandi, designed by Ira Hechtlinger, Published in 1987, around the same time as <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2009/12/dawn-and-impossible-three-rs3.html" target="_blank">Dawn and the Impossible Three</a></i>, <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2009/12/kristys-big-day-rs6.html" target="_blank">Kristy's Big Day</a></i>, <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/01/claudia-and-mean-janine-rs7.html" target="_blank">Claudia and Mean Janine</a></i>, and <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/01/boy-crazy-stacey-rs8.html" target="_blank">Boy-Crazy Stacey</a></i>.</p><p>This is a pretty much a rough draft of last month's<a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-baby-sitters-club-guide-to-baby.html" target="_blank"> <i>Guide to Baby-sitting</i></a>. It's only 62 pages long instead of 128, and was published six years and dozens of books earlier. <br /><br />While the <i>Guide to Baby-sitting</i> is much more fleshed out, this one includes some silly jokes for young kids and more snack recipes. Half the slim book is fill-in-the-blank guides for various record-keeping like client information.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-22275171263405217502023-04-01T07:00:00.004-07:002023-05-01T19:46:41.576-07:00The Baby-sitters Club Guide to Baby-sitting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY-jBID9ftNNoVSwkJf86aH5YjP7ZcC03MfG8tgAcm0O220QRDkzjrk9cHlnF0Q3IyYpi1176IPIouG9y5XZFAwybWf5jHD5vQ0-p73NdoY9FXZRPPQcbaz1pw74cwwi_e8rXw9T6Xtf2TDrhoebz5VDHgVHbro676GZ4RHP2GKf2kcAq9ezTbcVG/s715/WIN_20230501_19_04_32_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="558" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY-jBID9ftNNoVSwkJf86aH5YjP7ZcC03MfG8tgAcm0O220QRDkzjrk9cHlnF0Q3IyYpi1176IPIouG9y5XZFAwybWf5jHD5vQ0-p73NdoY9FXZRPPQcbaz1pw74cwwi_e8rXw9T6Xtf2TDrhoebz5VDHgVHbro676GZ4RHP2GKf2kcAq9ezTbcVG/s320/WIN_20230501_19_04_32_Pro.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><p>Original Publication Date: 1993 (around the time of <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2011/10/get-well-soon-mallory-rs69.html" target="_blank">Get Well Soon, Mallory!</a></i> and <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2011/10/dawn-and-surfer-ghost-m12.html" target="_blank"> <i>Dawn and the Surfer Ghost</i></a>)</p><p><br />Ghostwriter? Yes and no--Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner, ghostwriting team of several books, are directly credited on the title page, but the spine of the book still lists the author's last name as Martin.</p><p>Synopsis</p><p>The book opens with a forward from Ann M. Martin,, who reminds the readers that although baby-sitting can be unpredictable, knowing what to do in emergencies and in likely scenarios (e.g.; a child crying when the parents leave) will help you feel more confident and keep calm. <br /><br />This is followed by a sentence or two from each of the then-current baby-sitters (Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey, Dawn, Mallory, Logan, Jessi, and Shannon) explaining what they think makes a good baby-sitter.<br /><br />From there, the book is divided into five sections: Baby-sitting (the basics of what to expect, how to advertise, and ideas of what do with your charges), Baby-sitting Clubs (ideas of how to run one and information on some real clubs across the US), Dear Ann (letters from BSC readers), Household and Medical Emergencies and First Aid (from bumps and bruises to loss of conscious and trouble breathing, including when to call for an adult or a medical professional), and My Baby-sitting Record Book (a fill-in-the-blank sample of what a baby-sitter might want to keep a log of.</p><p>Part I: Baby-sitting<br /><br />The book does a good job of providing a variety of ways to learn about baby-sitting. I also like that it recommends checking the local going rate for baby-sitters, so that you can set your prices accordingly, and suggests considering charging more for late hours. It has a lot of good advice to help a new baby-sitter not get in too deep, and be prepared. There are tips geared for different age levels, too, including safety concerns (e.g.; if you're watching an infant, don't pack choking hazards in your Kid- Kit). It really covers everything, including how to handle parents who can't pay (write them a bill, give them a week to remember, then call) and what to do if the parents seem under the influence and you're not comfortable with them driving you home (call your own parents or another trusted licensed driver for a ride and be firm in refusing a ride from the parents).<br /><br />Part II: Baby-sitting Clubs<br /><br />There's basic information you might want to set up your own club, and advice from four real clubs in the US.<br /><br />Part III: Dear Ann<br /><br />Most of the letters seem pretty run-of-the-mill ("What's a good activity for a wide age range?" "Art!"). One deals with a client who routinely ends up watching eight children at once when only expecting two, which Martin calls out as unsafe even by daycare ratio standards, and encourages the letter-writer to speak up, perhaps with a parent's help.<br /><br />Part IV: Household and Medical Emergencies and First Aid<br /><br />There's some really solid advice here. The books goes into different scenarios, some of which can be handled by a baby-sitters (power outage, lightning storm) and some of which require professionals. There's even a part about what to expect when calling 9-1-1. It's a valuable read for any age, really.<br /><br />Part V: My Baby-sitting Record Book<br /><br />This has a client directory with spaces for specific information on each charge, such as allergies and favorite toys. There's also a blank calendar to fill in, a spreadsheet to keep track of earnings, and lined paper to serve as a notebook. I bought this book second-hand; it was previously owned by a Krystle Sword, but nothing is filled out.</p><p>Misc<br /><br /></p><p>Special thanks is given to Dr, Mark Sorenson, MD, and Beth Sorenson, P-AC, for their help with the first aid and emergency sections.<br /><br />While Hodges Soileau is credited for the cover art as usual, Tony Talarico illustrated the medical and first aid pictures and Nancy Didion illustrated the other interior pictures.<br /><br />The book has tidbits of advice "from" the members of the BSC sprinkled in, all in their own handwriting. In her first note Claudia thanks Mary Anne for helping her with spelling, and her entries are without their usual grammatical and spelling errors.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-92162737230220632812023-03-01T07:00:00.079-08:002023-03-01T07:00:00.187-08:00Karen's Birthday (LSGN#6)<p>Publication date: 2023</p><p>Ghostwriter? No, the text copyright is for Ann M. Martin</p><p>Illustrators: Katy Farina, with color by Braden Lamb<br /><br /></p><p>Synopsis:</p><p>Karen is about to turn seven, and all she wants for her birthday is for everyone in her family to be together. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLls0ZU2v6Vyx54jSEyhCWxHoYC5yiBqAfjD3wlSP_lqzuMr6uGbjVI8Q84da6u4LRtfAwDuNeKYc2M7TUfaO94rgf8_RIfJBvS847Bl6YYlP-UavBrBzozyaBg0umGWvRZCx8KIhvcj9koI5WMT_xoL2-8zIb7y99d5WPuRhM9z-i8iekMmLBHps/s259/EVERYONE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLls0ZU2v6Vyx54jSEyhCWxHoYC5yiBqAfjD3wlSP_lqzuMr6uGbjVI8Q84da6u4LRtfAwDuNeKYc2M7TUfaO94rgf8_RIfJBvS847Bl6YYlP-UavBrBzozyaBg0umGWvRZCx8KIhvcj9koI5WMT_xoL2-8zIb7y99d5WPuRhM9z-i8iekMmLBHps/s1600/EVERYONE.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>That is, her mom and stepdad AND her dad and stepmom AND Andrew and her other siblings and Nannie. Her mom and dad don't talk much anymore, and the rare conversations tend to devolve into fights. What if... could Karen find a way to get her mom and dad talking, and maybe they could get married again?<br /><br />Karen knows the fastest way to get her mom and dad to talk is for them to come together over a problem. So she makes problems: when she gets hurt at school, she secretly calls her dad to pick her up while the school nurse calls her mom. She pretends to be a selfish monster over her birthday, forcing her parents to call each other.</p><p>Of course, it's not going to work. With help from Nannie and Seth (her stepdad), Karen is finally able to tell her mom and dad what's bothering her. They don't give her any false hope, but do acknowledge that at least as long as they're raising Karen and Andrew together, they need to communicate effectively. And they need to remember that Karen and Andrew are only seven and four--they're going to need help navigating the divorce and remarriages and complicated (though loving) families. When Karen's mom and stepdad arrive to pick her and Andrew up from her dad's house, they actually come inside and chat a little. It's not the party Karen wanted, but for a few minutes, her WHOLE family is under one roof.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2CHkyiAMgmXuvC8wYxgiiPzhJzFD-YIRvqH1094Tlw2Gfr5EPandfpaa4Z08e3ZvnR4HBugObRqn4I7t6Er5z2w2xymjtIuAzJPKqiiC1CTbSBxnqdjJSlYPtU_zhREkH5VZ1z4GRP5v9ysLT8xfi-g6trEMhtdh-RjJO_az0HsvlKb6-sZm6xu-/s5222/ANMP0014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5222" data-original-width="3430" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2CHkyiAMgmXuvC8wYxgiiPzhJzFD-YIRvqH1094Tlw2Gfr5EPandfpaa4Z08e3ZvnR4HBugObRqn4I7t6Er5z2w2xymjtIuAzJPKqiiC1CTbSBxnqdjJSlYPtU_zhREkH5VZ1z4GRP5v9ysLT8xfi-g6trEMhtdh-RjJO_az0HsvlKb6-sZm6xu-/s320/ANMP0014.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Continuity related to BSC books:</p><p>Emily Junior, the rat, is now part of the (Little House) family.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmV8VpKhpoMzVpcMyr-Sf5G4AOzg1sxd9FQcgb1qv_UhhtT37GHFYSQU8HiWhlYNqkLue27wQFftL8SHxkZD3J3hAv1i8LWhLeylJhyWAIE85b5_ma0YOuzSCKTr0RvI-MRoX_rrhVzcaf1Foy3yJ0MQvDVVTQmVMyOv3OnAqflVp1YT3AFJ2VERd/s3113/ANMP00101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3048" data-original-width="3113" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmV8VpKhpoMzVpcMyr-Sf5G4AOzg1sxd9FQcgb1qv_UhhtT37GHFYSQU8HiWhlYNqkLue27wQFftL8SHxkZD3J3hAv1i8LWhLeylJhyWAIE85b5_ma0YOuzSCKTr0RvI-MRoX_rrhVzcaf1Foy3yJ0MQvDVVTQmVMyOv3OnAqflVp1YT3AFJ2VERd/s320/ANMP00101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Misc:</p><p>Martin dedicates this book to "the Fultons--Pam and Jim, Andrew and Patrick." Farina dedicates it to "my grandma, who gives the best hugs and makes the best pasta."</p><p>Instead of the party Karen was hoping for, she gets a fancy dinner at her mom's house, and a day at the circus with the Big House family and some friends, plus cupcakes at school. She does have fun, but it's so understandable that she'd want her family to be able to all be together.</p><p>It will never not be weird to see a smartphone in BSC media.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-U0kigW4FOZP0IQMuxk1nGD99A2NfycUpj8ElOYgGtALyvBiISFGw5OpDSohnayDWsIrpqG5iCsmwB7-q79pkvlSA-LKzET78OXAMtDdDqtEI9FLW-SNcGBQedpgiZSm9mhjqBa-C6bNvTW2cQ87BTqxglcENLN6z3Q-OAU-86cPfbezSLmwNOYw1/s3822/ANMP0008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3822" data-original-width="3398" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-U0kigW4FOZP0IQMuxk1nGD99A2NfycUpj8ElOYgGtALyvBiISFGw5OpDSohnayDWsIrpqG5iCsmwB7-q79pkvlSA-LKzET78OXAMtDdDqtEI9FLW-SNcGBQedpgiZSm9mhjqBa-C6bNvTW2cQ87BTqxglcENLN6z3Q-OAU-86cPfbezSLmwNOYw1/s320/ANMP0008.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><p>Andrew, with Seth's help, makes Karen a rat maze for Emily Junior. It's a very thoughtful present, and Karen's favorite of the ones she gets.</p><p>I distinctly remember the whole scene with Karen peeking at her presents. I've done it, too!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuIyQhRZ4E5PyFJUJzxwJBq5wzuM82Hqzd2Nz9bu3uCIYni93z1r4GdNOflPZdZ7cHHjasiVlavK-CsYmz7KKsbAJ6hocxEjmj5uneH9RKpDzvUoFdrclQvBNOmntGhzMfYQMplg02KCwkpQYCI7DwGn5iCbs8FnL5tyighHq2FBvgUPiqEhuugop/s4918/ANMP00121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4217" data-original-width="4918" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuIyQhRZ4E5PyFJUJzxwJBq5wzuM82Hqzd2Nz9bu3uCIYni93z1r4GdNOflPZdZ7cHHjasiVlavK-CsYmz7KKsbAJ6hocxEjmj5uneH9RKpDzvUoFdrclQvBNOmntGhzMfYQMplg02KCwkpQYCI7DwGn5iCbs8FnL5tyighHq2FBvgUPiqEhuugop/s320/ANMP00121.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Of all the Little Sister books I remember (I didn't read all of them), this one made me feel for Karen the most. She and Andrew are the only links between two families, and they want to have the people they love together--but those two families don't exist in the same circles. Karen can certainly be annoying, but in this book I just want to comfort her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF66N6q3J6TzCgSaxjeJI36J5u1ljuukUZ-NFoX6RNkbDtPHIt41wd4PSJAPJITudY574KvwnhB1KzaSnjVPENtCYxT_5Srh6H6lFuBonYxn3dm-CLg6nstit4R4gc8OV9WQ0sAuazlSbOW2xVO9kbYwRqKrGSFuwtfkZlr27hvOmHxLQsvzSg43o/s5917/ANMP00111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3403" data-original-width="5917" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF66N6q3J6TzCgSaxjeJI36J5u1ljuukUZ-NFoX6RNkbDtPHIt41wd4PSJAPJITudY574KvwnhB1KzaSnjVPENtCYxT_5Srh6H6lFuBonYxn3dm-CLg6nstit4R4gc8OV9WQ0sAuazlSbOW2xVO9kbYwRqKrGSFuwtfkZlr27hvOmHxLQsvzSg43o/s320/ANMP00111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-69727848591600617912023-02-01T07:00:00.040-08:002023-02-01T07:00:00.203-08:00Mary Anne's Bad Luck Mystery (GN#13)<p>Publication Date: 2023</p>Ghostwriter? No, the text copyright is for Ann M. Martin.<br /><br />Illustrator: Cynthia Yuan Cheng<br /><br />Synopsis:<div><br /></div><div>The plot is, as expected, pretty much like the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/03/mary-annes-bad-luck-mystery-rs17.html">non-graphic version</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>My camera is behaving somewhat better; the colors aren't as weird as last month.<br /><br /><br />Established or continued in this book:<br /><br />The Girls (and Logan):</div><div><br /></div><div>Claudia candy: Tootsie Rolls</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75h-0-NG21lMavPlS-VS_fsi6ZTKENcJ7dBJoGLjLjegs172HyRaNGeSWczoo_LPmYAPZ6ydx0vx336zahYwjAsq-rKFbzSlCG4NY_64SJUCBf4ae4VraE_MShvJajByXdyqN1zPCPyFlvON2AIUiWxmVyD3c_7Z7qMMFOEwUk-Ix__GDdAJb0Ugt/s2760/ANMP0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2760" data-original-width="1419" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75h-0-NG21lMavPlS-VS_fsi6ZTKENcJ7dBJoGLjLjegs172HyRaNGeSWczoo_LPmYAPZ6ydx0vx336zahYwjAsq-rKFbzSlCG4NY_64SJUCBf4ae4VraE_MShvJajByXdyqN1zPCPyFlvON2AIUiWxmVyD3c_7Z7qMMFOEwUk-Ix__GDdAJb0Ugt/s320/ANMP0009.jpg" width="165" /></a></div><br /><div>One thing that seemed odd to me at first is how Dawn, the second-newest club resident of Stoneybrook (after Jessi), is the one who knows the legend of Old Man Hickory. It's the same in the original book, but there it's more established that Dawn loves ghost stories, so the readers can assume she'd been researching her new home.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><div>Their Families: </div><div><br /></div><div>Tigger and Mary Anne's dad being startled when she falls out of her bed after tossing the chain letter:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsDwK32Aax7Fwa8EYT-SgQVFCWNIxBG9hmh46l7lpm5c36KSPn3YhUl78pThn52v6z1vp8jpfRrI7Y22rb5adf3s-mufW7bw8uQAYvP-mqcMd5Ob9P5A5QK9uWA0vPqamryqlppFChfjr7CcinJGDRJAeKnSsnWMojRFeAWe33QR8igewsZrSX6zy/s6400/ANMP0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="6400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsDwK32Aax7Fwa8EYT-SgQVFCWNIxBG9hmh46l7lpm5c36KSPn3YhUl78pThn52v6z1vp8jpfRrI7Y22rb5adf3s-mufW7bw8uQAYvP-mqcMd5Ob9P5A5QK9uWA0vPqamryqlppFChfjr7CcinJGDRJAeKnSsnWMojRFeAWe33QR8igewsZrSX6zy/s320/ANMP0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Pikes' "Daddy Stew" which looks awful as the description in the original book sounds:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVLcuwXy94rapSNMAtq8QuPgquxF7OmxOJjP6Xq3g7-P3pS_AiDV4_RVxsHHZ-KKduWitgEXrCuYJAYxjATXaAtqjCMo3f-r-S4aPS8iLSK7auZPSNrfPCvy_yM6YZJ-oPDVhY42Lst0t_-b8qv2NrfXffx_tvG_LNSfLupz18gHE-0k31jNlHj_x/s6400/ANMP0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="6400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVLcuwXy94rapSNMAtq8QuPgquxF7OmxOJjP6Xq3g7-P3pS_AiDV4_RVxsHHZ-KKduWitgEXrCuYJAYxjATXaAtqjCMo3f-r-S4aPS8iLSK7auZPSNrfPCvy_yM6YZJ-oPDVhY42Lst0t_-b8qv2NrfXffx_tvG_LNSfLupz18gHE-0k31jNlHj_x/s320/ANMP0008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>The Club (and clients): </div><div><br /></div><div>Jacke Rodowsky spilling his mom's sewing supplies:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheklHRXNnEl5Y_1FlIT96LoiqvN6nfYpbyOT3td2TtBZ8_tW0F8NIYqpMYVd5t1xOGI4Xe2W94Rjg1Tjg8F-_TyQxW9wBf8Un3Ij5pk84E3YDJLSlyHBfbOVoT30eabMjPUB5Wnohb8Nie8MZTmAuLQt1MbBAL5chba1J3_grhF3dm9zBshp7MF3-Y/s3620/ANMP0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3620" data-original-width="3362" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheklHRXNnEl5Y_1FlIT96LoiqvN6nfYpbyOT3td2TtBZ8_tW0F8NIYqpMYVd5t1xOGI4Xe2W94Rjg1Tjg8F-_TyQxW9wBf8Un3Ij5pk84E3YDJLSlyHBfbOVoT30eabMjPUB5Wnohb8Nie8MZTmAuLQt1MbBAL5chba1J3_grhF3dm9zBshp7MF3-Y/s320/ANMP0004.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><div>SMS: </div><div><br /></div><div>Cokie and Grace in the cafeteria:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYEiGGLF6YTPV2t01TjpCX2Zd8TT_zaIxkpFTK3gdFwO1pQltXKGansZezdFN4U-1LMsn5R-2SwXLDn5Ex9sor7xPqrI0CqxGc2Lt7v-w6fI65TGwtXm7brJXQH4bo6i61Xg0LJ_tBMrOZeeTHyukgwq_MfALCgwT5M1jXYPO0ZtfrLtkJl0PBUfy/s3624/ANMP0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3593" data-original-width="3624" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYEiGGLF6YTPV2t01TjpCX2Zd8TT_zaIxkpFTK3gdFwO1pQltXKGansZezdFN4U-1LMsn5R-2SwXLDn5Ex9sor7xPqrI0CqxGc2Lt7v-w6fI65TGwtXm7brJXQH4bo6i61Xg0LJ_tBMrOZeeTHyukgwq_MfALCgwT5M1jXYPO0ZtfrLtkJl0PBUfy/s320/ANMP0000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The SMS Halloween Hop:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhdGuQ9KEgnMWeEsHp5viAEY4Fi7WUBnDZkBlPKgdK0yXRx0VquMRZxwHwubSctzBfo1A5x-q0GuTW8AyWROflJCfSYl4BBafQszudaG1F54CITHG8Ej-uQIWceenSH4CA7OX1oyJ44Pfuw1Z4VYKhDrHklC9LUpvDyoi1RR4RVLk7vmR42B_dtY2/s4050/ANMP0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4050" data-original-width="3256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhdGuQ9KEgnMWeEsHp5viAEY4Fi7WUBnDZkBlPKgdK0yXRx0VquMRZxwHwubSctzBfo1A5x-q0GuTW8AyWROflJCfSYl4BBafQszudaG1F54CITHG8Ej-uQIWceenSH4CA7OX1oyJ44Pfuw1Z4VYKhDrHklC9LUpvDyoi1RR4RVLk7vmR42B_dtY2/s320/ANMP0011.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>PSA Time: </div><div><br /></div><div>Fabric scissors are SO SHARP. Don't leave them out in the open or where little kids can easily get to them, and keep them closed and sheathed when you're not using them. It almost looks like Jackie uses the same scissors to cut the cardboard as he's making his robot costume--don't use fabric scissors for non-fabric things as it will dull the blades. Finally, related to sewing, Dawn was absolutely right to vacuum after the sewing notions spill. Little sharp things like pins are easy to miss.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Misc:<br /><br />Martin dedicates this book to Aunt Martha and to the memory of her Uncle Lyman.<br /><br />Yuan Cheng dedicates it to "Mom, who provided my foundation in both teaching kids and creating art. For Patrick, who would play the spooky <i>Halloween</i> soundtrack CD to scare me when we were little. To all the friends I've shared my Halloween adventures with over the years, I've been thinking of you fondly."</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Book number THIRTEEN is the bad luck mystery!</div><div><br /></div><div>The chain letter that starts it all:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73W8LjCEjMAfY0gJsQvGS1XizwmyKuGRpJoI6zaJ7_Ct0C7hFl9eOCI5hWhql6YExBxPpbLODpSV5OuYExZL7bqC3CMyQ83BMc-mGUJ78yFstfy1WjqePt5oPNLTww3fZ7wm3J-inoB4QjgDxo7d5gf9DIZeZEYNgVfNJoYww3j03q7wkxm8EZt1S/s4930/ANMP0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3314" data-original-width="4930" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73W8LjCEjMAfY0gJsQvGS1XizwmyKuGRpJoI6zaJ7_Ct0C7hFl9eOCI5hWhql6YExBxPpbLODpSV5OuYExZL7bqC3CMyQ83BMc-mGUJ78yFstfy1WjqePt5oPNLTww3fZ7wm3J-inoB4QjgDxo7d5gf9DIZeZEYNgVfNJoYww3j03q7wkxm8EZt1S/s320/ANMP0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The mustard seed necklace and accompanying threatening note:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DDbAxc87pX0Xo7TLKGtNqPtWoxpWs1rk-82BX4tLVTNtVvZ0IwNNjzVtJ805k2MGm1HmxJggkhpNyh_hSTn8JKmBmD8rG6OvnDfI_Ws1VgUuRa_OdFJPaRPLPSUPmSs0DtrEqrUT39q0XTDShmlhCpJg7h-z1f0sk9jV7Esx7IFCI4jRY3eVli_w/s4399/ANMP0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4399" data-original-width="2600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DDbAxc87pX0Xo7TLKGtNqPtWoxpWs1rk-82BX4tLVTNtVvZ0IwNNjzVtJ805k2MGm1HmxJggkhpNyh_hSTn8JKmBmD8rG6OvnDfI_Ws1VgUuRa_OdFJPaRPLPSUPmSs0DtrEqrUT39q0XTDShmlhCpJg7h-z1f0sk9jV7Esx7IFCI4jRY3eVli_w/s320/ANMP0007.jpg" width="189" /></a></div><div>Mary Anne and Logan in their <i>Cats</i> costumes:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgP13aTuezqTwY88xRxCFgTGcKFTfqwZzwfGgXX95PBGJWR1q-b3xUiI_1ih8svLgPfOK2GA6LTLUcFoTt7Edg4JngDiQpNNyEXasdX87QaCBaa89CwwWUrOcMZeuNJP5bBNTLFXrevQ0t7Llt1vii6HreSw3Vm-_awx-IsoK2fhxIthPAeyiIzBu/s4091/ANMP0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4091" data-original-width="3800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgP13aTuezqTwY88xRxCFgTGcKFTfqwZzwfGgXX95PBGJWR1q-b3xUiI_1ih8svLgPfOK2GA6LTLUcFoTt7Edg4JngDiQpNNyEXasdX87QaCBaa89CwwWUrOcMZeuNJP5bBNTLFXrevQ0t7Llt1vii6HreSw3Vm-_awx-IsoK2fhxIthPAeyiIzBu/s320/ANMP0010.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>Scaring Cokie, Grace, and their posse in the graveyard:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyDVjMGbCTmKKRkdHQYkWnFvWSbQtvLBM0OxxPDVen7lC9mkB6p9qkqoO7rWHeQRoaN1jt51Iw4iAYiRsOJcIu8jm41A4c0ZA7DlKewYcU9W930zUdBNhJVgT3Hf53oLPHMzLITKWH4mtOV3eOyHvaQ55opQcM3UGATesM6r6jB_pVV4IvuoMxkKX/s5921/ANMP0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4307" data-original-width="5921" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyDVjMGbCTmKKRkdHQYkWnFvWSbQtvLBM0OxxPDVen7lC9mkB6p9qkqoO7rWHeQRoaN1jt51Iw4iAYiRsOJcIu8jm41A4c0ZA7DlKewYcU9W930zUdBNhJVgT3Hf53oLPHMzLITKWH4mtOV3eOyHvaQ55opQcM3UGATesM6r6jB_pVV4IvuoMxkKX/s320/ANMP0012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTWRL3hY6bbMwliSlpgU9AAzd2yxBq407Pq1pcDrybc5hRzWsSiCZU2Yp_U_b5b1BSgJiDXGAJeq-BFfUFlBMTJgzi_NOvxg8-_kbUcKlvG7V8z8LUtAcZgObn0ih9R33orada65gOU5WGN7PqosgrdI7k0hD1cFIOgRsFa4fT08zC3vxuqtNh6l-/s5358/ANMP0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3584" data-original-width="5358" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTWRL3hY6bbMwliSlpgU9AAzd2yxBq407Pq1pcDrybc5hRzWsSiCZU2Yp_U_b5b1BSgJiDXGAJeq-BFfUFlBMTJgzi_NOvxg8-_kbUcKlvG7V8z8LUtAcZgObn0ih9R33orada65gOU5WGN7PqosgrdI7k0hD1cFIOgRsFa4fT08zC3vxuqtNh6l-/s320/ANMP0013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-91827263696838377692023-01-01T07:00:00.071-08:002023-01-01T07:00:00.228-08:00Jessi's Secret Language (GN#12)<p> Publication Date: 2021</p>Ghostwriter? No, the text copyright is for Ann M. Martin.<br /><br />Illustrator: Chan Chau<br /><br />Synopsis:<div><br /></div><div>The plot is, as expected, pretty much like the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/03/jessis-secret-language-rs4.html">non-graphic version</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also, my camera kept screwing up the colors. The actual book has much better colors.<br /><br /><br />Established or continued in this book:<br /><br />The Girls (and Logan):</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Claudia candy: chips, yet again; also Gummi worms:</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11dvtg5cTIHvtrJ2vZtyPQTFGettqh2Dzf6G27SH3dt-YeIQR2ZIlxxi6R1BCGOO9qPxw5bpDO3lp5JBjaERFltH4t0yx61Lyod9d8dAgWZkh8sdXYkyg8Km-BQIBMOklfap5YPAZrxS-ar7ciPa0A3WA0duBJZk-yntTFjZPI4Tt-AyDXSMDA-mI/s2946/ANMP0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1850" data-original-width="2946" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11dvtg5cTIHvtrJ2vZtyPQTFGettqh2Dzf6G27SH3dt-YeIQR2ZIlxxi6R1BCGOO9qPxw5bpDO3lp5JBjaERFltH4t0yx61Lyod9d8dAgWZkh8sdXYkyg8Km-BQIBMOklfap5YPAZrxS-ar7ciPa0A3WA0duBJZk-yntTFjZPI4Tt-AyDXSMDA-mI/s320/ANMP0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Jessi always wakes up just before her alarm. She and Becca are always shown wearing silk sleeping caps, which is common among people with textured hair like Black people, to keep their hair healthy:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h3n_OSL_zHL8iN4uHHxa8Ukrw8FTxyzzM53ZS6LreztIrfktbX5qhNUWinoZtt6RrhmdYjS71AfO8ik2eL9_IAQ8ws6mmDWHibPjDl-tNSu_0CQGgwg4dInG8hKu_onSke513f5xjuGQfG0ew4htYCEWdLQo4637dbh2wPrg5CQ10CA7RXwtZSA7/s3565/ANMP0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3565" data-original-width="2411" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h3n_OSL_zHL8iN4uHHxa8Ukrw8FTxyzzM53ZS6LreztIrfktbX5qhNUWinoZtt6RrhmdYjS71AfO8ik2eL9_IAQ8ws6mmDWHibPjDl-tNSu_0CQGgwg4dInG8hKu_onSke513f5xjuGQfG0ew4htYCEWdLQo4637dbh2wPrg5CQ10CA7RXwtZSA7/s320/ANMP0001.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><div><div>Their Families: </div><div><br /></div><div><div>Jessi's family at breakfast:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlAWBDnjBuCfmtkLYc_7S7rAISqd8UZ5-GPu68BKbpSDVPl6S9cl0iuYmkWBUOg8-CZKKyx_IVZDFrxXgma6KcEBxr5-LVu2zvePWowpmqcH--ZjvQC0Ailo5Iv6n0-GIhMam_wRs1t2Nc_S2m6H4cn-TGkOzd25Q-ck9H6i5OCtiMSEwbnuyUJaI/s4763/ANMP0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4689" data-original-width="4763" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlAWBDnjBuCfmtkLYc_7S7rAISqd8UZ5-GPu68BKbpSDVPl6S9cl0iuYmkWBUOg8-CZKKyx_IVZDFrxXgma6KcEBxr5-LVu2zvePWowpmqcH--ZjvQC0Ailo5Iv6n0-GIhMam_wRs1t2Nc_S2m6H4cn-TGkOzd25Q-ck9H6i5OCtiMSEwbnuyUJaI/s320/ANMP0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>The Club (and clients): </div><div><br /></div><div>New BSC picture, without Stacey:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1fdTMbykPwRT5u_aXKEZlcgQ-t16X5F3FKgVppm4C1nW_R4KHLYs_t0kJZO2hmgvLRm6AmWSlmHfvGb8Ja6rDWr7JhmPmiUGrSkyzhuSmujQrcfevRqFBTVqjjp2CVkyirSQU8VQv8F2T-QM_xs8jziCT5DdBtvGyltgBOQdaVAEKK_fzTjTG4fU/s5587/ANMP0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5587" data-original-width="3388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1fdTMbykPwRT5u_aXKEZlcgQ-t16X5F3FKgVppm4C1nW_R4KHLYs_t0kJZO2hmgvLRm6AmWSlmHfvGb8Ja6rDWr7JhmPmiUGrSkyzhuSmujQrcfevRqFBTVqjjp2CVkyirSQU8VQv8F2T-QM_xs8jziCT5DdBtvGyltgBOQdaVAEKK_fzTjTG4fU/s320/ANMP0000.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><div>SMS: nothing new</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>PSA Time: nothing stood out</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Misc:<br /><br />Martin dedicates this book to Cary.<br /><br />Epstein dedicates it to "Danya, Alice, Maddi, Harry, Ben, Brando, and Thomas. And to the lovely Erik, who helped carry me through the making of this book."</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>There's also a note thanking Lynne Kelly for "lending her expertise during the making of this book." Right by that is a note that while the book's font is all upper-case, it's appropriate to capitalize the word Deaf when referring to a person or to Deaf culture--essentially, if you're using it the way you'd describe an Irish or Japanese person or culture.</div><div><br /></div><div>The book does a good job with ASL, including necessary pieces such as the importance of facial expression, and even addresses the syntax difference between ASL and spoken English (the former is object-subject-verb while the latter is subject-verb-object and ASL doesn't use articles or auxiliary verbs and tense is inferred; e.g.; "Ball boy kick" vs "The boy kicked the ball"). It also shows Jessi's name sign, which now makes more sense than the description in the original book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLEgRoYruxfmsgbvyqbt5SUFGvuJiAAaHU7a34O2yaDr4ZvGhQXN5UhbjuFmciwjQd5UG2adkZt9EMgfISb-GnoNmVASo1pLS25d1q9M7hy5K3p42TTYx_9P8a5D2qpQ4-PVW76OJqov1bRudccEfmdjeX9C2Iff7PopaiKcafSBKnc9M66CjXwyQ/s3434/ANMP0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3434" data-original-width="2425" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLEgRoYruxfmsgbvyqbt5SUFGvuJiAAaHU7a34O2yaDr4ZvGhQXN5UhbjuFmciwjQd5UG2adkZt9EMgfISb-GnoNmVASo1pLS25d1q9M7hy5K3p42TTYx_9P8a5D2qpQ4-PVW76OJqov1bRudccEfmdjeX9C2Iff7PopaiKcafSBKnc9M66CjXwyQ/s320/ANMP0005.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLddiXH6bXzVsoH754A3PdBXxcfbYBY7-JKRMDXnsgjFvXDQjdlNBCtz0WA_WlhqXzGVMBLfPjJtDnNoqJopbX4eDvWEp355aGFB4wykXzPtkQU1XcYFXKwpDz1HqZ-rVRVLfO4YzC9OQ0WFD4rHczjVfH0-147e3_KRJNHLWcIkm8x0zM14NGmmM/s3814/ANMP0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3350" data-original-width="3814" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLddiXH6bXzVsoH754A3PdBXxcfbYBY7-JKRMDXnsgjFvXDQjdlNBCtz0WA_WlhqXzGVMBLfPjJtDnNoqJopbX4eDvWEp355aGFB4wykXzPtkQU1XcYFXKwpDz1HqZ-rVRVLfO4YzC9OQ0WFD4rHczjVfH0-147e3_KRJNHLWcIkm8x0zM14NGmmM/s320/ANMP0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>Jessi's ballet school with Madame Noelle:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPNCFWtCZMn2RoqeKOMdrWUPfbCswgAAXwyuM3bR_Q1QrQl-CunbrisbSf80e6bbBZyK73eWwLJxtrBePTloxccJjE4X8_WXAuh4sKBKMCb6OCfGUesUykWfABO53gTLHnFbpMSnPBvpd-JC6lZ0z4Ys2a6z3IUvOQi4kTSOqMSNE1p4UyESjjRL4/s4213/ANMP0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3403" data-original-width="4213" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPNCFWtCZMn2RoqeKOMdrWUPfbCswgAAXwyuM3bR_Q1QrQl-CunbrisbSf80e6bbBZyK73eWwLJxtrBePTloxccJjE4X8_WXAuh4sKBKMCb6OCfGUesUykWfABO53gTLHnFbpMSnPBvpd-JC6lZ0z4Ys2a6z3IUvOQi4kTSOqMSNE1p4UyESjjRL4/s320/ANMP0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-55422004203864762042022-12-01T07:00:00.070-08:002022-12-18T14:09:56.150-08:00The Baby-sitters Club Netflix TV series: Kristy and the Baby Parade<p>Netflix has a new original series: The Baby-sitters Club! The second season and final covers eight books: <i>Kristy and the Snobs</i>, <i>Claudia and the New Girl</i>, <i>Stacey's Emergency</i>, <i>Jessi and the Superbrat</i>, <i>Mary Anne and the Great Romance</i>, <i>Dawn and the Wicked Stepsister </i>(notice the title change?), <i> Claudia and the Sad Goodbye</i>, and <i>Kristy and the Baby Parade</i>. </p><p>The plot is a combination of the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/12/kristy-and-baby-parade-rs45.html" target="_blank">original</a> book, <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2013/05/kristys-big-news-ff1.html">Kristy's Big News</a></i>, and the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/search/label/BSC%20movie">movie</a>. Here are some things I noticed:</p><p>What stood out as surprisingly (not necessarily good or bad) different to me:</p><p>In this book, the baby parade is a tradition from World War II, and as prior winners, Kristy and her stepdad "get" to be on a float.</p><p>Kristy's biological father emails Kristy's mom to tell her that he and his new girlfriend will be passing through Stoneybrook with their new baby (Liz and Watson have stopped trying for a baby), and wants to meet up with Kristy and her brothers, including David Michael. But he bails on them at the last minute.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I was happy stayed the same:</p><p>The hot mess that is the clashing float goes as well as in the book.</p><p>While the situation itself sucks, the variety of reactions of Kristy, her brothers, and her mom are all understandable and relatable.</p><p>Again, not happy it's the same--Stacey's parents' divorce is pretty much inevitable at this point.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other interesting touches: </p><p>When Kristy's dad stands up the family, the Brewers and the BSC really step up. They say some truths that are hard to hear, but needed for healing.</p><p>Watson's offer to officially adopt the Thomas children is very touching. I do wish the Emily Michelle plot could have also stayed.</p><p>A cover of the song from the original TV show plays over this last episode's credits ("Say hello to your friends...").</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-9005874890157595362022-11-01T07:00:00.000-07:002022-12-10T01:53:14.069-08:00The Baby-sitters Club Netflix TV show: Claudia and the Sad Goodbye<p>Netflix has a new original series: The Baby-sitters Club! The second season and final covers eight books: <i>Kristy and the Snobs</i>, <i>Claudia and the New Girl</i>, <i>Stacey's Emergency</i>, <i>Jessi and the Superbrat</i>, <i>Mary Anne and the Great Romance</i>, <i>Dawn and the Wicked Stepsister </i>(notice the title change?), <i> Claudia and the Sad Goodbye</i>, and <i>Kristy and the Baby Parade</i>. </p><p>The plots are largely the same as the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/06/claudia-and-sad-goodbye-rs26.html" target="_blank">original</a> books, so I won't rehash that except for the episodes that veer way off. But here are some things I noticed:</p><p>What stood out as surprisingly (not necessarily good or bad) different to me:</p><p>Mimi dies quietly in her sleep, without a drawn-out hospital stay. The suddenness of it helps the audience feel as shocked as Claudia.</p><p>Ashley Wyeth is still around--because she's Janine's girlfriend.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I was happy stayed the same:</p><p>Another not happy about it same thing--Stacey's parents are fighting, badly.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other interesting touches: </p><p>Claudia has a few shirts with portraits of artists on them, like Salvador Dali and Frida Kahlo. </p><p>A personal thing--Claudia narrates that she has the next 80 years to feel sad about her grandparent's passing, so why start now? She's 13, so she expects to die at 93. My grandfather just passed away, at 93.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-2608456059916069452022-10-01T07:00:00.000-07:002022-12-10T01:52:38.682-08:00The Baby-Sitters Club Netflix TV show: Dawn and the Wicked Stepsister<p>Netflix has a new original series: The Baby-sitters Club! The second season and final covers eight books: <i>Kristy and the Snobs</i>, <i>Claudia and the New Girl</i>, <i>Stacey's Emergency</i>, <i>Jessi and the Superbrat</i>, <i>Mary Anne and the Great Romance</i>, <i>Dawn and the Wicked Stepsister </i>(notice the title change?), <i> Claudia and the Sad Goodbye</i>, and <i>Kristy and the Baby Parade</i>. </p><p>Again, Richard and Sharon are not married like in the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/08/dawns-wicked-stepsister-rs31.html" target="_blank">original</a> book: the Spiers are staying with the Schafers for a week while the formers' house is fumigated for termites. But a week is still plenty of time for tension to develop between the would-be step-sister. And here are some other things I noticed:</p><p>What stood out as surprisingly (not necessarily good or bad) different to me:</p><p>The secret passage was built for alcohol smuggling during the Prohibition, not as part of the Underground Railroad.</p><p>It's to drive home the point about the underlying tension, but it's very strange to see Mary Anne being sloppy and scatter-brained.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I was happy stayed the same:</p><p>Like in her very first appearances, Dawn is organized and neat.</p><p>The secret passage! Yay!</p><p>Mary Anne's aluminum can burglar alarm! Double yay!</p><p>There's shades of <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/10/poor-mallory-rs39.html">Poor Mallory!</a></i> in the subplot.</p><p>Okay, maybe not happy that it's the same, but some of the worse Dawn tendencies from the books show up, especially in her steam-rolling and her becoming insensitive to the point of hypocrisy to other people's needs when under stress.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other interesting touches: </p><p>One of the sources of tension between the Schafers and Spiers is food, due to difference in their cultural upbringings (e.g.; what level of "spicy" is enough).</p><p>The club is still doing charity donations as established a few episode back.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-81039845930252238422022-09-01T07:00:00.000-07:002022-12-10T01:52:24.113-08:00The Baby-sitters Club Netflix TV show: Mary Anne and the Great Romance<p> Netflix has a new original series: The Baby-sitters Club! The second season and final covers eight books: <i>Kristy and the Snobs</i>, <i>Claudia and the New Girl</i>, <i>Stacey's Emergency</i>, <i>Jessi and the Superbrat</i>, <i>Mary Anne and the Great Romance</i>, <i>Dawn and the Wicked Stepsister </i>(notice the title change?), <i> Claudia and the Sad Goodbye</i>, and <i>Kristy and the Baby Parade</i>. </p><p>The titular great romance in this book is actually Mary Anne and Logan, and while Richard confirms that he and Sharon are committed to each other, there's no wedding like in the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/07/mary-anne-and-great-romance-rs30.html" target="_blank">original</a> book. And here are some things I noticed:</p><p>What stood out as surprisingly (not necessarily good or bad) different to me:</p><p>Mary Anne and Logan don't officially become boyfriend and girlfriend until this episode. When they do, they're awkward and unsure of how to act around each other.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I was happy stayed the same:</p><p>There's an allusion to the ghost of Ben Brewer.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other interesting touches: </p><p>I probably only notice this because I drive school buses, but the school bus here is specifically labeled "Stoneybrook Middle School" rather than being for the whole district, because a bus driver will usually drive students for a high school, a middle school/junior high, and an elementary school in the same day. Usually school buses are labeled by district (if the district has its own buses) or company (if the district contracts with an outside company).</p><p>Richard Spier has a speech prepared--with notes--for handling the inevitability of Mary Anne dating.</p><p>Logan is accidentally served a glass of wine (it makes sense in context) and Sharon quickly volunteers to take care of it for him.</p><p>Richard to Mary Anne: "Your friends love you in an almost an almost concerningly aggressive fashion."</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-63899987349828419862022-08-01T07:00:00.000-07:002022-12-10T01:51:58.267-08:00The Baby-sitters Club Netflix TV Series: Jessi and the Superbrat<p> Netflix has a new original series: The Baby-sitters Club! The second season and final covers eight books: <i>Kristy and the Snobs</i>, <i>Claudia and the New Girl</i>, <i>Stacey's Emergency</i>, <i>Jessi and the Superbrat</i>, <i>Mary Anne and the Great Romance</i>, <i>Dawn and the Wicked Stepsister </i>(notice the title change?), <i> Claudia and the Sad Goodbye</i>, and <i>Kristy and the Baby Parade</i>. </p><p>The plots are largely the same as the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/06/jessi-and-superbrat-rs27.html" target="_blank">original</a> books, so I won't rehash that except for the episodes that veer way off. But here are some things I noticed:</p><p>What stood out as surprisingly (not necessarily good or bad) different to me:</p><p>Derek Masters is a TikTok star in this version. The nickname Superbrat is from an early viral video of his. Jessi's baby-sitting job mostly consists of helping Derek film.</p><p>Jessi's passion for ballet is more nuanced: she's unsure if she's good at ballet because she loves it, or if she just loves the feeling of being good at ballet, especially now that she's in a more competitive dance studio.</p><p>In fact, Jessi herself is more nuanced. In many BSC books, she has very few flaws and borders on a model minority. She's still at her core a very nice person, but she feels more relatable, especially after being a background character the previous few episodes.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I was happy stayed the same:</p><p>Jessi's family is very close and supportive.</p><p>Kristy also comes across as wonderfully supportive and protective of her friends, mirroring her best moments in books like <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2011/06/keep-out-claudia-rs56.html">Keep Out, Claudia!</a></i> when she unapologetically stands by her friends.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other interesting touches: </p><p>In the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2022/06/the-baby-sitters-club-netflix-tv-series.html">first episode</a> of this season, Kristy is annoyed that Amanda Delaney's mom wants to be called Mrs. Delaney rather than by her first name like many other parents. Jessi points out that Mrs. Delaney's desire isn't intrinsically bad (really, it's only when paired with her attitude that it's grating). In this episode, Mallory and Mary Anne refer to Jessi's parents as Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey, a good continuity nod.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-18979175858329899102022-07-01T07:00:00.000-07:002022-12-10T01:51:19.874-08:00The Baby-sitters Club Netflix TV Series: Stacey's Emergency<p>Netflix has a new original series: The Baby-sitters Club! The second season and final covers eight books: <i>Kristy and the Snobs</i>, <i>Claudia and the New Girl</i>, <i>Stacey's Emergency</i>, <i>Jessi and the Superbrat</i>, <i>Mary Anne and the Great Romance</i>, <i>Dawn and the Wicked Stepsister </i>(notice the title change?), <i> Claudia and the Sad Goodbye</i>, and <i>Kristy and the Baby Parade</i>. </p><p>The plots are largely the same as the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/12/staceys-emergency.html" target="_blank">original</a> books, so I won't rehash that except for the episodes that veer way off. But here are some things I noticed:</p><p>What stood out as surprisingly (not necessarily good or bad) different to me:</p><p>It's nice to see the friendship between the girls' parents, like Dawn's mom and Kristy's mom.<br /></p><p>Stacey's parents are still together at this point--they might not divorce at all in the Netflix series, come to think of it.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I was happy stayed the same:</p><p>I love seeing Jessi's barre.</p><p>Mary Anne struggles with sewing. It's subtle, but she pokes herself in the finger with a needle while hand-stitching.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other interesting touches: </p><p>Dawn's mom's absent-mindedness shows up in her casually telling Dawn that Kristy's mom and stepdad are considering having a baby together, without regard to whether there should be any discretion involved.<span> </span></p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-16027495741897854122022-06-01T07:00:00.000-07:002022-12-10T01:50:51.592-08:00The Baby-sitters Club TV Netflix Series: Claudia and the New Girl<p>Netflix has a new original series: The Baby-sitters Club! The second season and final covers eight books: <i>Kristy and the Snobs</i>, <i>Claudia and the New Girl</i>, <i>Stacey's Emergency</i>, <i>Jessi and the Superbrat</i>, <i>Mary Anne and the Great Romance</i>, <i>Dawn and the Wicked Stepsister </i>(notice the title change?), <i> Claudia and the Sad Goodbye</i>, and <i>Kristy and the Baby Parade</i>. </p><p>Unlike the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/02/claudia-and-new-girl-rs12.html" target="_blank">original</a> book, this episode focuses on Mallory trying to fit into the club and Claudia at first failing to help her (bringing to mind <i><a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/03/hello-mallory-rs14.html">Hello, Mallory!</a></i>), before some advice from Ashley Wyeth helps her be a better friend. Ashley's insight also helps Claudia understand Janine a little more.</p><p>What stood out as surprisingly (not necessarily good or bad) different to me:</p><p>Ashley Wyeth is Janine's friend here, and a well-known artist thanks to her social media following.</p><p>Dues change from a flat rate per week to a small flat rate with an added set percentage of each sitter's earnings for that week, and the club will donate half their dues to charity. The members will take turns picking a charity. Stacey goes first, picking the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I was happy stayed the same:</p><p>Claudia's self-confidence struggles are well-portrayed, fueled by Kristy naming Dawn (the alternate officer) as acting president rather than Claudia (the vice president).</p><p><br /></p><p>Other interesting touches:</p><p>Janine's interested in cryptocurrency.</p>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-79975588531231690772022-05-01T07:00:00.000-07:002022-12-10T01:50:11.616-08:00The Baby-sitters Club Netflix TV Series: Kristy and the Snobs<p> Netflix has a new original series: The Baby-sitters Club! The second season and final covers eight books: <i>Kristy and the Snobs</i>, <i>Claudia and the New Girl</i>, <i>Stacey's Emergency</i>, <i>Jessi and the Superbrat</i>, <i>Mary Anne and the Great Romance</i>, <i>Dawn and the Wicked Stepsister </i>(notice the title change?), <i> Claudia and the Sad Goodbye</i>, and <i>Kristy and the Baby Parade</i>. Due to being cast in <i>Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness</i>, Dawn's original actress Xochitl Gomez didn't return for the second season. She's replaced by Kyndra Sanchez, who returns from California feeling "like a new person" (subtle!).</p><p>Unlike the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/02/kristy-and-snobs-rs11.html" target="_blank">original</a> book, the only snobs are Amanda Delaney and her mom. The Kilbourne family isn't in it, and Louie dies offscreen. That was such a HUGE part of the plot in the book that I'm shocked it's glossed over--I count this as a bad change. Here are some other things I noticed:</p><p>What stood out as surprisingly (not necessarily good or bad) different to me:</p><p>Kristy meets the Delany family when Amanda delivers an invitation for tea, which a thinly-veiled excuse for Amanda and her mother to scope out the new neighbors, and to judge them. Mrs. Delaney flat-out states with palpable disdain, "I'm not sure how you met Watson."</p><p>The Delany family is limited to Amanda and her mom, who are both very socially awkward and shallow, and connect far better with animals than people. They host pet adoption events every few months, and in the series, this is how David Michael gets Shannon the dog--named her after Mrs. Shannon Delany. Shannon Kilbourne isn't in here.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I was happy stayed the same:</p><p>Mallory is appropriately awkward.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other interesting touches:</p><p>Mary Anne keeps the club schedule on an electronic tablet.</p><p>Dawn does a tarot reading for Mary Anne in an attempt to discern whether her relationship with Logan will be moving forward. Mary Anne's dad hilariously deadpans that they should finish their homework before they summon the devil.</p><p>Logan's mom, offscreen, as Logan obliviously answers the questions Dawn asks when calling from a blocked number and posing as a US Census Bureau worker: "Logan! Are you giving out personal information again?!"</p><p><br /></p><p>Season 2 Cast</p><p>Kristy Thomas: Sophie Grace<br />Claudia Kishi: Momona Tamada<br />Stacey McGill: Shay Rudolph<br />Mary Anne Spier: Malia Baker<br />Dawn Schafer: Kyndra Sanchez <br />Mallory Pike: Vivian Watson<br />Jessi Ramsey: Anais Lee<br />Logan Bruno: Rian McCririck</p><p><br />Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer: Alicia Silverstone<br />Charlie Thomas: Ethan Farrell<br />Sam Thomas: Dylan Kingwell<br />David Michael Thomas: Benjamin Goas<br />Watson Brewer: Mark Feuerstein<br />Karen Brewer: Sophia Reid-Gantzert<br />Andrew Bremer: Troy Ames (new actor)</p><p>Mimi Yamamoto: Takayo Fischer<br />Kimiko Kishi: Diana Bang<br />John Kishi: Kevan Ohtshi<br />Janine Kishi: Aya Furukawa</p>Edward McGill: Peter Benson<br />Maureen McGill: Shauna Johanssen<br /><p>Richard Spier: Marc Evan Jackson</p><p>Sharon Porter: Jessica Elaina Eason<br /></p><p>Byron Pike: Brock Brown<br />Vanessa Pike: Daphne Hoskins<br />Claire Pike: Sara Halliburton<br /></p><p>Janice Ramsey: Brandee Steger<br />John Ramsey: Doron Bell<br />Becca Ramsey: Isabel Birch</p><p>Kim Newton: Christina Sicoli<br />Mrs. Papadakis: Flora Karas<br />Linny Papadakis: Bear Blu Silverstone<br />Hannie Papadakis: Alethia Berry<br />Jacob: Romy Sanchez (played "Camper #2" in first season)<br />Derek Masters: Luke Roessler<br />Chaz Masters: Noah Bean<br />Mrs. Delaney: Jaycie Dotin<br />Amanda Delaney: Lia Frankland<br />Oliver: Kaiel Barreiro<br />Miranda Rose: Helen Mihlar<br />Small child #1: Naomi Rose MacFadden<br />Small child #2: Reyhan Jobanputra</p><div><div>Ashley Wyeth: Kelcey Mawema</div><div><br /></div><div>Mme. Noelle: Desiree Zurowski</div><div>Hailee: Charlotte Clayton<br />Clementine: Inca Scott<br />Dancer: Ava Burgham<br />Dancer: Ariel Price<br />Fellow Dancer: Ema Mlinar<br />Ms. Katimiski: Kimmi Gatewood</div><div><br /></div><div>Dr. Arevalo: Laara Sadiq<br />Hostess: Faith Wright<br />Restaurant waiter: Michael Sousa<br />Loud Kid: Eric Halliburton<br />JDRF President: Natalie Skye<br />Dreamy Boy: Alexander Dutkiewicz</div></div>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-67488919134511210142022-04-01T07:00:00.002-07:002022-12-28T18:37:39.582-08:00Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye (GN#11)<p>Publication Date: 2021</p>Ghostwriter? No, the text copyright is for Ann M. Martin.<br /><br />Illustrator: Gabriela Epstein with color by Braden Lamb<br /><br />Synopsis:<div><br /></div><div>The plot is, as expected, pretty much like the <a href="https://bscag.blogspot.com/2010/02/goodbye-stacey-goodbye-rs13.html">non-graphic version</a>. <br /><br /><br />Established or continued in this book:<br /><br />The Girls (and Logan):</div><div><br /></div><div>The club in its current form at the start of the book (minus associate members):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNJDoiknbi-2yBiF7mk316Jt691pPuKAy9FPsUAZgRdUlofZJvgf1NYRg5BJ56DsBl_4QKQfHqd_3-4i9VVTacJUDH1QR4Ml4zRSgRfolfq3MRXt2hO1bonqeKu8oXGTQSbB_OToeo3bHIdM10FCp3hK97Z0fZysgjgEEDtP3n-P7WijFgonRoOtnb=s2456" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2456" data-original-width="1092" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNJDoiknbi-2yBiF7mk316Jt691pPuKAy9FPsUAZgRdUlofZJvgf1NYRg5BJ56DsBl_4QKQfHqd_3-4i9VVTacJUDH1QR4Ml4zRSgRfolfq3MRXt2hO1bonqeKu8oXGTQSbB_OToeo3bHIdM10FCp3hK97Z0fZysgjgEEDtP3n-P7WijFgonRoOtnb=s320" width="142" /></a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We only see the older members get the news about the move, as Stacey announces it at an emergency club meeting during lunch. Mallory and Jessi are told off-screen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzczu7ukcGPjPbuHRCx0jXXcpDeh34uAx-FEKw6DJW_SEzXmNr1T9uaQB8XsEa5E90az3tgYfL81yymPS4uP2QsnVgg-lGIMdTDVyjC1gbHbypV_4O7H-6Jqnvff3AiPY9wY7bl5QJ27r2WtZPnCwF-FWXVHeucUxYXFLvB3zMbBt2DnUtGrQK0eT7=s3013" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2999" data-original-width="3013" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzczu7ukcGPjPbuHRCx0jXXcpDeh34uAx-FEKw6DJW_SEzXmNr1T9uaQB8XsEa5E90az3tgYfL81yymPS4uP2QsnVgg-lGIMdTDVyjC1gbHbypV_4O7H-6Jqnvff3AiPY9wY7bl5QJ27r2WtZPnCwF-FWXVHeucUxYXFLvB3zMbBt2DnUtGrQK0eT7=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Claudia candy: </div><div><br /></div><div>Just chips again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmR9Kwv5vQexeoo4vk1e2C7CGdIHm8xBVDadOoZTFoi_ns6k856G4y5g9lHJZkSBQGwwuZQYuFxGwlgH8CqXteaklLs1dmlN1GA5F1ZVSQAQ32iEY_r2xf6SXrRsZ4OUBjPuFPy7c9htEKFLKne_rYm7pnI86DRc0rEtY3Gb9pWJga3j4Ae6dgK4eo=s2257" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1746" data-original-width="2257" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmR9Kwv5vQexeoo4vk1e2C7CGdIHm8xBVDadOoZTFoi_ns6k856G4y5g9lHJZkSBQGwwuZQYuFxGwlgH8CqXteaklLs1dmlN1GA5F1ZVSQAQ32iEY_r2xf6SXrRsZ4OUBjPuFPy7c9htEKFLKne_rYm7pnI86DRc0rEtY3Gb9pWJga3j4Ae6dgK4eo=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div><div><br /><div><div><br /></div><div><div><div>Their Families: </div><div><br /></div></div><div>Gotta love the disgusted look on Stacey's mom's face when Stacey horks down her dinner:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0KF59ETrmz8KgTxoIbj1iy5J0gyQKqpW34o8qNf5gutD6n50OG1xeqvW8wrI56dQfcsNux9ODi2VIRZojJf1Pjcm-s39vqrpE_-L2PUkvZ0m-y7IL87iHCVY9uMVHi9qnAMEU2vFZVvS9W4vo9pQs4qMiypMZ4nRpbNSGXqtrIsDxVkdbiN2UI_Pw=s1683" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1683" data-original-width="1661" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0KF59ETrmz8KgTxoIbj1iy5J0gyQKqpW34o8qNf5gutD6n50OG1xeqvW8wrI56dQfcsNux9ODi2VIRZojJf1Pjcm-s39vqrpE_-L2PUkvZ0m-y7IL87iHCVY9uMVHi9qnAMEU2vFZVvS9W4vo9pQs4qMiypMZ4nRpbNSGXqtrIsDxVkdbiN2UI_Pw=s320" width="316" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Claudia's family reacting to the news:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPjq2t1Pjk17etGbg23GtuyAWODu1tuMOLy9k9xqPBIDmmmzxe2a3roB52_ypvOI3d82MVG3gM8Lc6hZZjkJjt8_QO-ChOO0RV5WuwU9F1bLJ61DypIrz3uyqs4_-yQUzip_QR8i-UgnPKPdCihp4pMVWO_0yfadRqIbPi35L7KD-gkK46wtA_ZU2z=s1800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="1800" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPjq2t1Pjk17etGbg23GtuyAWODu1tuMOLy9k9xqPBIDmmmzxe2a3roB52_ypvOI3d82MVG3gM8Lc6hZZjkJjt8_QO-ChOO0RV5WuwU9F1bLJ61DypIrz3uyqs4_-yQUzip_QR8i-UgnPKPdCihp4pMVWO_0yfadRqIbPi35L7KD-gkK46wtA_ZU2z=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Trouble brewing at Dawn's house with Jeff's wanting to move back to California:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLuZL9x2K2Suu1TSZNw6jRXfhtwH8JCBmtbCACuJ1MkYNhSrna96mp5gnYFVK3Ph_SGdBI3s354t2gOvB0Wz0KCYabEEThfq9Zp74jk-dEr7d-fEt3OhTdD4Xl47PbD7wS7D82csiA0Nd_VBKXkFwWE8HT4BRRvzsphkcfa_oBycXym0G0UYFT5lmN=s4494" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3111" data-original-width="4494" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLuZL9x2K2Suu1TSZNw6jRXfhtwH8JCBmtbCACuJ1MkYNhSrna96mp5gnYFVK3Ph_SGdBI3s354t2gOvB0Wz0KCYabEEThfq9Zp74jk-dEr7d-fEt3OhTdD4Xl47PbD7wS7D82csiA0Nd_VBKXkFwWE8HT4BRRvzsphkcfa_oBycXym0G0UYFT5lmN=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Club (and clients): </div><div><br /></div><div>Stacey's goodbye party with the baby-sitting clients:</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwsWTnbVQdOeKGGGz2d4yoWy3I9t0141LKDzSCiyUKZJu_SS-rnSzLdISIpUFHLSMwP1CPQmT1SVD-tqWunB-oi41l3AuYVBANTSD0H4AYSMDiOEM9KLEibDgjwUDN6TYFYTrx6dNGX5l8eBxYd3jLQDmXbe5xuZ1bUwewKzd6_zcYs17g41KfTxSh=s4271" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2697" data-original-width="4271" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwsWTnbVQdOeKGGGz2d4yoWy3I9t0141LKDzSCiyUKZJu_SS-rnSzLdISIpUFHLSMwP1CPQmT1SVD-tqWunB-oi41l3AuYVBANTSD0H4AYSMDiOEM9KLEibDgjwUDN6TYFYTrx6dNGX5l8eBxYd3jLQDmXbe5xuZ1bUwewKzd6_zcYs17g41KfTxSh=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>SMS: nothing new</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>PSA Time: nothing stood out</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Misc:<br /><br />Martin dedicates this "with love to Peanut Butter from Jelly."<br /><br />Epstein dedicates it to "the Menapace family: no matter what city you're in, you've always made your house a home to me. Thank you."</div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>A picture of Laine:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWSNvWXZJGOSllA7SzXKA4J9Uy9RQ81LqfHWHWdWeoUPe-_LcngMjp901UsxsgsaAtY4LY8BtN4ahpO_ouidhcplSwVaP1LEnkp6OdRR71ZRiGQljBMHvuIzprtQSU1XGqskNzpPG5lrQr5s2HtqwZna3bxj51u0PHAJ9-NzwenkygMjlKzvnQ--5-=s1351" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="1244" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWSNvWXZJGOSllA7SzXKA4J9Uy9RQ81LqfHWHWdWeoUPe-_LcngMjp901UsxsgsaAtY4LY8BtN4ahpO_ouidhcplSwVaP1LEnkp6OdRR71ZRiGQljBMHvuIzprtQSU1XGqskNzpPG5lrQr5s2HtqwZna3bxj51u0PHAJ9-NzwenkygMjlKzvnQ--5-=s320" width="295" /></a></div>A lot of little moments from this book have stuck in my memory for years: Stacey jumping on a box to help her mom close it only to find it's full of books instead of clothes, the BSC pricing all the garage sale items including how low things should be priced, Dawn selling spider plants, someone asking to buy the shutters off the house during the garage sale... I'm happy they made it in the graphic novel!<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkvZ976iEYWZpRgdVZrp6W6I4ICDuwsY0iwIZyQBKN1h_Uw1Eq7TVrlJIeZzjA8FnkjBIhONmgUioiuDY5De0amSGHD0xiZZ9JsXICfqnnjmx6dzApRfFMW3vxILUdMeg56WJ-_UiblEdL7kwIYMQ5ld69ys7U_DfRgvpu36xzQBYulVzR87GRkwre=s3608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3608" data-original-width="3236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkvZ976iEYWZpRgdVZrp6W6I4ICDuwsY0iwIZyQBKN1h_Uw1Eq7TVrlJIeZzjA8FnkjBIhONmgUioiuDY5De0amSGHD0xiZZ9JsXICfqnnjmx6dzApRfFMW3vxILUdMeg56WJ-_UiblEdL7kwIYMQ5ld69ys7U_DfRgvpu36xzQBYulVzR87GRkwre=s320" width="287" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJe-zbSU5RRCIumltXh5evOAg7CJe7xdNzMTN3QTHn8hJ9eO7ecSuxM20I6pClpoJ39G6xYAB9juc-fUXT-rZuFbz1t76O4nmgqREGgNGIe5O8uCXeQLo6AS3yW8CW_AfCMiIBpQjPQ3T_R6sT4Vf8iR3eKrwPqZgIN2eRowXujaRVhImudRTH_p0E=s4026" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3803" data-original-width="4026" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJe-zbSU5RRCIumltXh5evOAg7CJe7xdNzMTN3QTHn8hJ9eO7ecSuxM20I6pClpoJ39G6xYAB9juc-fUXT-rZuFbz1t76O4nmgqREGgNGIe5O8uCXeQLo6AS3yW8CW_AfCMiIBpQjPQ3T_R6sT4Vf8iR3eKrwPqZgIN2eRowXujaRVhImudRTH_p0E=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214193336996953667.post-87063338153114282992022-03-01T08:00:00.001-08:002022-03-01T08:00:00.187-08:00Karen's School Picture (LSGN#5)<p> Publication date: 2022</p><p>Ghostwriter? No, the text copyright is for Ann M. Martin</p><p>Illustrators: Katy Farina, with color by Braden Lamb<br /><br /></p><p>Synopsis:</p><p>Karen's been having headaches, especially when reading. Time for a trip to the eye doctor. Karen (like my same-age daughter who just got glasses) is very upset to learn she'll need glasses, but quickly recovers when she realizes how much better she can see and how her headaches and eye strain disappear. Her friends and family are complimentary, with Nancy telling her perhaps the best thing: that the glasses look great AND that Karen hardly looks different with them on. Nancy is an excellent friend throughout this book, reassuring Karen at every turn and standing up for her.</p><p>But at school, Rickey Torres, AKA Ricky the Pest, zeroes in on the glasses and mocks Karen relentlessly. Then a few days later, Ricky gets glasses! Karen is at first happy to see him getting teased with the same names he called her, but quickly decides to take the high road and not make life harder for him. She even steps in when he's being teased, but Ricky's so upset and embarrassed that he takes out his frustration on Karen, calling her more names and telling her to leave him alone.</p><p>Not to mention, as the title suggests, school pictures are coming up. Karen can't decide what to do: leave her glasses on and feel like she stands out as too different, or leave them off and feel like a coward for giving in to teasing? Fortunately, Kristy helps Karen feel confident with her glasses, taking her to the library to show her pictures of famous people wearing glasses and pointing out the people in her family who wear them (an idea I used when my daughter was upset about her glasses; now she's fine with them--though she did choose to take them off for her school picture, which was fine).</p><p>After a lot of pondering and seeing how her teacher and another classmate leave their glasses on but Ricky takes his off, Karen decides to leave hers one. A moment later when the class gathers for a group picture, Karen and Ricky make up from their fight. Karen tells Ricky about the famous people who wear glasses, and he leaves his on for the group picture.</p><p><br /></p><p>Continuity related to BSC books:</p><p>Emily Michelle and Nannie now live in the Big House:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHmqSNJXDgKR1cJt8pQlVbdRTGdoVkHlc7sZPgOV-GXLtI9FquAhyzR5TOALuc_gyujYMa657vRocY6PAxmRkLTdigdapwe2bgbf5WTLGEWrZBPIkO7xFPhOblgrsuWxqpxPCS-mnAe33kQpZhc-WbBxHdkPGKp81k1KMCZAUvCj7ReoBAxFuY3fek=s2451" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2451" data-original-width="1517" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHmqSNJXDgKR1cJt8pQlVbdRTGdoVkHlc7sZPgOV-GXLtI9FquAhyzR5TOALuc_gyujYMa657vRocY6PAxmRkLTdigdapwe2bgbf5WTLGEWrZBPIkO7xFPhOblgrsuWxqpxPCS-mnAe33kQpZhc-WbBxHdkPGKp81k1KMCZAUvCj7ReoBAxFuY3fek=s320" width="198" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Misc:</p><p>Dedicated to Ashley Vinsel and "my friends, my unyielding pillars of love and support."</p><p>Doesn't Karen have two pairs of glasses in the original books, one for distance and one for reading; one pink and one blue? She wore one pair on her face and another on a chain around her neck for the picture, right? Here she just gets pink ones that, from the descriptions of what she can see, are bifocals.</p><p>According to my uncle and cousin who are optometrists, kids should start having eye exams at kindergarten age (five), unless they're showing signs of eye problems before that. Regular exams are how we found out that my youngest needs reading glasses, and how I learned in third grade that I needed glasses for distance vision--I didn't know you could make out street signs from the back seat of a car; I figured no one else could read them from back there either!</p><p>When I got glasses in third grade, my teacher also rearranged the classroom so that I sat in the front, like Ms. Coleman does. That never made sense to me--before I got glasses, I hadn't been able to read the board from my seat in the back (I am VERY near-sighted), but now the problem was fixed. I should have been in the front BEFORE getting glasses, not after.</p><p>One boy teases Ricky for having "boring" brown glasses that match his "boring" brown eyes. First, having brown eyes myself, I've always disliked the idea that an eye color can be superior--maybe it can be striking, like my middle kids' piercing blue eyes, but not inherently better. Second, the boy teasing him also has brown eyes. </p><p>Karen narrates that she and Andrew are "visiting" her dad's house--does she not think of it as her house since she spends less time there? Could be a factor of why in later books she and Andrew spend a full month at each house then a full month at the other.</p><p>Karen's handwriting (and spelling) is noticeably better. A combination of learning more in school and getting glasses?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2F_0AWTWE-w4dB-KP2qgRJbzDB_tDO17X2xxj2atTB8vVWNU_O6YIiIhvGw5bYBVcV5n3fyu3uONDwMYkjt8eRGsLuw3fAaDHqLvjShTiohHEWPXgtxTENrvRzzOGsj-eBXtJhTcsIWD_vMrehKiuQMuKp6kUWwvik1yH7QeVG72-5dxBNUNLtijs=s1758" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="1570" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2F_0AWTWE-w4dB-KP2qgRJbzDB_tDO17X2xxj2atTB8vVWNU_O6YIiIhvGw5bYBVcV5n3fyu3uONDwMYkjt8eRGsLuw3fAaDHqLvjShTiohHEWPXgtxTENrvRzzOGsj-eBXtJhTcsIWD_vMrehKiuQMuKp6kUWwvik1yH7QeVG72-5dxBNUNLtijs=s320" width="286" /></a></div>Karen's classroom:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBx0j2bzPJRWhMRNZDrNXxIidWzAYonyTeCWya8iNCHGa-F22kseTJZOEwIawMNmqEmnUczACLlb7GspybcYs81g83_UImWNkdFnj72eiZmHBhkgvt4FDAVhi62mx-FnTKCOIB4GRQJqHcTOAVAIcT6Ef44vb1_lXy8et6WYLg7oQETDuFDceRQ-9y=s2344" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2344" data-original-width="1568" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBx0j2bzPJRWhMRNZDrNXxIidWzAYonyTeCWya8iNCHGa-F22kseTJZOEwIawMNmqEmnUczACLlb7GspybcYs81g83_UImWNkdFnj72eiZmHBhkgvt4FDAVhi62mx-FnTKCOIB4GRQJqHcTOAVAIcT6Ef44vb1_lXy8et6WYLg7oQETDuFDceRQ-9y=s320" width="214" /></a></div>The titular picture:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsIrTaP_BbpBwEOw85P2chl5egQazIlAU169-xtbrgixLPrN2UQyiJe3BO4_qpoo1geb0V6lQnL0niiDK5aDxnSsjLOUX6EAZ2DhuyIg2v8QAhruksIWddBvThdTCUEkX3X0z9TYL_J3OeaWC8nftGz5aHDaE0Pxhu1oklUyfrVuaIIEZ-TC-3G_L8=s1617" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="1187" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsIrTaP_BbpBwEOw85P2chl5egQazIlAU169-xtbrgixLPrN2UQyiJe3BO4_qpoo1geb0V6lQnL0niiDK5aDxnSsjLOUX6EAZ2DhuyIg2v8QAhruksIWddBvThdTCUEkX3X0z9TYL_J3OeaWC8nftGz5aHDaE0Pxhu1oklUyfrVuaIIEZ-TC-3G_L8=s320" width="235" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><div><br /><p><br /></p><div><div></div></div></div></div></div>SJSiffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00996362396265436534noreply@blogger.com1