Dawn's Big Date (RS#50)

Original Publication Date: 1992

Ghostwriter? Yes, Suzanne Weyn

Synopsis:

Remember a few books back when Dawn had a crush on a high schooler, Travis, and let him change all sorts of things? At the end of that book, she became pen pals with Logan's cousin, Lewis. Now he's coming for a visit, and Dawn decides that she needs to update her look and act cool so she can impress him. Most of the BSC thinks she's going overboard, although Mary Anne is eager to help. Naturally, Lewis is confused and disappointed to find that the girl he'd been getting to know is completely different in person. Dawn has a revelation before he leaves and goes back to her true self. She and Lewis get along much better when they're both being who they are, and the rest of his visit goes well. They continue writing letters when he returns to Kentucky.

At the same time, the BSC sits a few times for a new family, the Hills. Norman (7) has a weight problem, while his parents and older sister are thin. They're always on his case about it, belittling and nagging him rather than helping him. The BSC helps him stand up to his sister's bullying and inspire him to talk to his parents about the situation, too. He ends up getting respect from his sister, showing his parents how to help him better, and resolving to get to healthier weight.


Established or continued in this book:

The Girls (and Logan):

Claudia candy: regular, cheese, and caramel popcorn under her bed

Dawn has stationery with a tiny silver unicorn printed on the corner of each sheet. I wouldn't mention it except that when they went to Disney World, the boy she had a crush on bought her a charm bracelet with a tiny glass unicorn on it.

Dawn points out what we've all thought about the Kishis' ban on Nancy drew books: at least Claudia's reading something. (A theory I've heard is that her parents let Claudia think they're forbidden fruit to make them more interesting.)

This book marks the first time Dawn's ever chewed bubblegum (sugarless, of course).


Their Families:

Dawn's mom and Mary Anne's dad are doing better at working together despite their differences: Sharon is more organized and Richard is less uptight.


The Club:

New clients: the Hills, seven-year-old Norman and nine-year-old Sarah


SMS:

Students: Sue Archer, Bill Torrance (8th)

Staff: Ms. Harris (science)


PSA time:

Dawn says (judgmentally) that she and her mom are very health-conscious in their eating, for example, they eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables. Generally better than cooked, although at least carrots and tomatoes are healthier when they're cooked.


Misc:

Whoever bought this at a used bookstore (maybe me; I can't remember) paid $1.60 for it.


The numbers:

Starting 8th grade: 3

Halloweens in 8th grade: 2 (plus one in seventh)

Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 1


Summers after 8th grade: 2

BSC Fights: 6

SMS Staff: 23

Students (other than the BSC): 62; 43 8th graders, 10 sixth-graders, nine unspecified

Clients: 28

Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 52 (bubble gum, Butterfingers, butterscotch candy, candy hearts, Cheese Doodles, Cheetos, a chocolate bar, chocolate-covered cherries, Chunky bar, cookies, Cracker Jacks, crackers (unspecified and whole wheat), cupcakes, dark-chocolate caramels, Ding-Dongs, Doritos, Fig Newtons, Fritos, gumdrops, Gummi Bears, Heath bars, Hershey's kisses, Ho Hos, jawbreakers, Kit-Kats, licorice, licorice whips, Lifesavers, M&Ms (regular and peanut), Mallomars, marshmallows, Mentos, mini candy bars, Necco wafers, Oreos (Double Stuf), Planter's Peanut bar, popcorn, potato chips, pretzels, pretzel sticks, red hots, Ring Dings, root beer barrels, salt water taffy, Snickers, taco chips, Tootsie Roll Pops, Tootsie Rolls, Triscuits, Twinkies, Yodels)

Crushes: Claudia-8 (Guy, Terry, Austin Bentley, Timothy Carmody, Arthur Feingold, Woody Jefferson, Trevor Sandbourne, Will Yamakawa), Dawn-5 (Travis, Lewis Bruno, Parker Harris, Price Irving, Richie Magnesi), Mary Anne-2 (Alex, Logan Bruno), Stacey-7 (Toby, Kelsey Bauman, Pete Black, Ross Brown, Pierre D'Amboise, Scott Foley, Sam Thomas), Kristy-1 (Bart Taylor), Mallory-1 (Ben Hobart), Jessi-1 (Quint Walter)

Snowbound! (SS#7)

Original Publication Date: 1991

Ghostwriter? No

Synopsis:

A blizzard hits Stoneybrook, and the BSC has various adventures:

Kristy had invited Bart over for dinner earlier, and he stays the night, since the weather's so bad. Kristy gets up crazy-earlier to preen, but once she gets over the awkwardness of having him stay over, she enjoys it.

Claudia is sitting for the Perkins and their parents get stuck wherever they are, so she stays the night with them. They lose Chewy for a while, but find out he's been hiding in the garage.

Dawn and her mom get stranded at the airport, where they've gone to pick up Jeff. His flight ends up diverted to DC and he gets in the next morning.

Mallory and Mary Anne are sitting for Mallory's siblings. The Pike parents aren't expected back until two in the morning anyway, and have just about enough food to last until the morning. Of course, they get stranded and Mallory and Mary Anne have to keep things together as the food dwindles. The Pikes are resourceful though, and Logan skis over the next morning with supplies.

Stacey and her mom get stranded in their car on the way back from the mall (Stacey needed to redo her perm before the school's winter dance). The concern is not only the cold, but also Stacey's diabetes. Fortunately, someone with all-wheel drive spies them and they spend the night at the home of a nice young family. Because this book was written before cell phones became wide-spread and the phone lines are out, no one knows where they are and the BSC gets pretty worried.

Jessi is at the ballet studio, rehearsing or her role as the King of Mice in the Nutcracker. Quint is taking the train in to meet her there. When the storm hits, the dancers end up having to stay the night.

The BSC members have their stories in the paper. The snow's impact is short-lived, though: SMS is still able to put on the Winter Wonderland Dance which culminates in the most awkward group photo ever (those of you who have seen the last picture in this book know what I mean).


Established or continued in this book:

The Girls (and Logan):

Mallory allows for seven rings before giving up that anyone will answer a phone. My dad taught me the same thing.

Stacey says she's never fallen in love. I guess LUV doesn't count.

However, Mary Anne and Logan say "I love you" to each other.


Their Families:

Stacey's mom has a rear-wheel drive car (which is the worst kind for snow).

Charlie uses a hair dryer.


The Club:

You'd think the All-Knowing Myriah Perkins would recognize that "funner" isn't a word, but you'd be wrong.

OF COURSE "even little babies like to be read to." Stacey acts like it's an epiphany. I thought the BSC was comprised of people who knew their stuff.


SMS:

Students: Price Irving and Iri Mitsuhashi (8th grade)


PSA time:

If you drive often especially long trips, get AAA. It's worth it, just for the peace of mind.


Misc:

Oops...the picture if the newspaper shows a headline proclaiming 23 inches of snow, while four pages later, Kristy tells us there was 28 inches.

You know Karen's sweater-pants? Apparently sewing patterns exist for repurposing adult sweaters into children's pants.

A little girl rehearsing with Jessi has a baby doll named Caboose. When he was four, my husband named his cat Caboose.

I remember getting seriously confused reading this book as a kid when Jeff's plane is rerouted to Washington, DC. The book refers to it a few times as just "Washington" which is the state I live in. Especially when it's mentioned it's raining in Washington. Why would you divert a plane from Connecticut to Seattle or Spokane?

"This [snow] might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. What with global warming and all." How's that 2010-2011 winter treating you, east coast? (I know, it's really climate change. But I still laughed.)


The numbers:

Starting 8th grade: 3

Halloweens in 8th grade: 2 (plus one in seventh)

Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 1


Summers after 8th grade: 2

BSC Fights: 6

SMS Staff: 21

Students (other than the BSC): 59; 40 8th graders, 10 sixth-graders, nine unspecified

Clients: 27

Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 52 (bubble gum, Butterfingers, butterscotch candy, candy hearts, Cheese Doodles, Cheetos, a chocolate bar, chocolate-covered cherries, Chunky bar, cookies, Cracker Jacks, crackers (unspecified and whole wheat), cupcakes, dark-chocolate caramels, Ding-Dongs, Doritos, Fig Newtons, Fritos, gumdrops, Gummi Bears, Heath bars, Hershey's kisses, Ho Hos, jawbreakers, Kit-Kats, licorice, licorice whips, Lifesavers, M&Ms (regular and peanut), Mallomars, marshmallows, Mentos, mini candy bars, Necco wafers, Oreos (Double Stuf), Planter's Peanut bar, popcorn, potato chips, pretzels, pretzel sticks, red hots, Ring Dings, root beer barrels, salt water taffy, Snickers, taco chips, Tootsie Roll Pops, Tootsie Rolls, Triscuits, Twinkies, Yodels)

Crushes: Claudia-7 (Guy, Terry, Austin Bentley, Timothy Carmody, Woody Jefferson, Trevor Sandbourne, Will Yamakawa), Dawn-5 (Travis, Lewis Bruno, Parker Harris, Price Irving, Richie Magnesi), Mary Anne-2 (Alex, Logan Bruno), Stacey-7 (Toby, Kelsey Bauman, Pete Black, Ross Brown, Pierre D'Amboise, Scott Foley, Sam Thomas), Kristy-1 (Bart Taylor), Mallory-1 (Ben Hobart), Jessi-1 (Quint Walter)