Karen's Kittycat Club (LSGN#4)

Publication date: 2021

Ghostwriter? No, the text copyright is for Ann M. Martin

Illustrators: Katy Farina, with color by Braden Lamb

Synopsis:

Karen really looks up to Kristy. She's excited for when she's old enough to join the Baby-sitters Club. When Hannie announces that she just got a kitten, Karen has an idea: she, Hannie, and Amanda can form a Kittycat Club! Sure, Hannie and Amanda don't get along, but maybe if they focus on what they have in common they'll be okay (not a terrible idea, honestly). After consulting with Kristy on clubs, she invites her two friends over to discuss the idea. They'll make up fliers advertising their services as cat sitters, just like the BSC passes out fliers. It doesn't go as smoothly as starting the BSC did (for example, they draw names for officers and Karen is disappointed that she's not president), and they don't have any jobs flooding in...but surely they will soon...right? Karen's Little House best friend, Nancy Dawes, is also very hurt to find out that Karen not only started a club without telling but that she's not allowed in it, since she doesn't have a cat. And when a job finally does come in, it gets cancelled before it can start because Karen, Hannie, and Amanda are too young for the cat owner to feel comfortable with.

Karen ends up talking to Kristy about different kinds of clubs and what's reasonable to expect. Karen and her friends decide to disband the Kittycat Club. Karen also calls Nancy to apologize leaving her out, and Nancy suggests they create a club that's more focused on fun rather than trying to be a business. They tell their friends at school, and a few days later, the Fun Club is a big success.

Continuity related to BSC books:

Karen asks Kristy to tell her how the BSC started, and the story is the same.

There's a picture of the BSC in a meeting.

Misc:

Dedicated to "Jennifer Esty, a big sister" (AMM) and "my cats, Poe, and Guinness, and to every animal that warms our hearts" (KF).

See the cats on the shelf above Karen's bed? Nice touch!

Fliers for the Kittycat Club. Guess which one is Boo-Boo.

Priscilla, Pat, and Boo-Boo get along about as well as their owners:

The Fun Club (Nancy is in the witch hat with the broom):

Another angry Boo-Boo drawing!