Original Publication Date: 1995
Ghostwriter? Yes, Nola Thacker
Synopsis:
Ugh, mysteries. Ugh, SUPER mysteries. I just don't like them! This one could have been suspenseful even, but the pacing is bizarre and a lot of the "scary" parts are told through third-person rather than first-person narration. So annoying! But I had my wisdom teeth removed Friday morning (uppers in my sinus cavities, lowers impacted and erupting) and I've taken my percocet, so I should be able to make it through. I blame any typos on the narcotics.
The BSC returns to Shadow Lake. Well, Kristy, Claudia, and Mary Anne do, with Abby coming along too, while the rest stay behind for various reasons. Before they leave, the mysteries start. Kristy and Abby witness a breaking-and-entering (turns out to be the home-owner's son having money troubles), Mary Anne and Logan seem to be passing each rude notes but neither of them actually authored any...and then things get weirder.
Kristy is threatened with a rock thrown through a downstairs window, the rock reading "You're next." Mary Anne sees a prowler outside her house. Someone starts a fire in Claudia's family's outdoor trash cans. There are threatening calls to the original four of the BSC. Stacey is almost run down by a car.
It gets really dicey later on: someone is stalking the four girls at Shadow Lake, and Shannon, Jessi, and Mallory discover they're in real danger. Turns out that Karl Tate, who was running that dog-napping ring back in Mystery #7, is back. The Shadow Lake girls get stranded on ski lifts, snow-bound with power outages (but not fun ones like in that Super Special), and unknowingly lead by the culprit through a blizzard. Also, Stacey's insulin is stolen, which is just creepy (she has an emergency kit though).
Then the twist: Karl Tate IS at Shadow Lake, but the protect the BSC. His son is after the girls, seeking revenge. Things are revealed and solved just in the nick of time, and the book sort of fizzles out. Again, could have been good. But the extraneous plot points, the poor pacing, the illogical narrations, the outright STUPID notebook enteries...this is a hard book for me to get through.
So...did I throw up from a combination of swallowed blood and anesthesia, or from the overwrought melodrama of this book?
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: none mentioned
Abby knows some Yiddish.
Logan's main sports are baseball and track. Football's come up a lot too, though. In fact, his being on the team is mentioned in chapter 4.
Claudia lends Mary Anne a pair of earrings. Claudia has clip-ons? Or Mary Anne suddenly has pierced ears? Chapter 2 is silent on the matter.
A line of Kristy's narration reveals that she might not think of herself as such a bossy personality as others do; she might think that some things she states as commands are suggestions. (page 154)
Their Families:
Sam Thomas breaks up with his girlfriend early in the book. Stacey, are you paying attention? Leave Robert.
Neither the Kishis nor the Schafer-Spiers have regular answering machines (although Claudia does).
The Club (and clients):
This book sees the advent of the mystery notebook. Mallory compiles it.
Claudia gets to fill in as president when both Kristy and Abby miss a meeting due to being interviewed by police after witnessing a potential buglary.
SMS: nothing new.
PSA Time:
Once upon a time, Mary Anne warned us that many cats are lactose intolerant, especially the males, and that milk should only be a small occasional treat. Here she gives Tigger milk with no such warning.
Misc:
I think it's weird that Super Specials have pictures, but Super Mysteries don't.
If you're in the Seattle area and need dental work, I highly recommend the UW School of Dentristy. I had a consult Thursday morning at 10, a nice low insurance quote by 2:00 pm, set up surgery for Friday at 9, and was home recovering before noon.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 8
Halloweens in 8th grade: 5 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 2
Winter holidays in 8th grade (that BSC members celebrate, not just reference): Christmas-2, Hanukkah-1, Kwanzaa-1
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 54
Students (other than the BSC): 177; 113 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 117
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
6/5/12
Claudia and the First Thanksgiving (RS#91)
Original Publication Date: 1995
Ghostwriter? Yes, Nola Thacker
Synopsis:
Claudia's short takes class is assigned to write and direct a play for the third-graders at Stoneybrook Elementary. They choose a Thanksgiving theme, and in doing the research, learn that they've been viewing the origins of the holiday through rose-colored glasses. They mention how life was actually pretty difficult for the Pilgrims, trying to eke out a living on a land totally alien to them, and how women were subservient to men. They also talk about how some native tribes today mark Thanksgiving as a solemn time of mourning rather than a celebration. Because of this, several parents and teachers protest the script as un-American (well, it wasn't the USA yet...) and demand it be changed to the "traditional" story. Claudia's class relents, but the playbills, publicity, and buttons they wear at the performance make it clear that this is not the original play. They also put on the original at SMS, complete with the original complainers picketing it.
But...as someone who had finished third grade a couple years before this book came out and who attended a teeny tiny private conservative Christian school for it...I have a hard time seeing this protest happening. We learned about the things that were "un-American" and it was a non-issue. Still, the book shows some good ideas for dealing with censorship.
Also, everyone in the BSC starts out with grandiose Thanksgiving plans involving relatives and trips, and all the plans fall through (worst is Mallory's family has to miss the Macy's parade again, just like the last Thanksgiving book when she had mono). So the BSC gets all their families together to celebrate and have a good time anyway. Even Dawn flies in for a surprise visit. Of course, Shannon's and Logan's families aren't part of it.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: potato chips, pretzels, candy corn, chocolate
Stacey likes the Marx Brothers. Smart girl.
Logan likes pecan pie, a traditionally southern dish.
Their Families:
Claudia's family is all dressed in navy blue on the same day. Did they coordinate?
The Pike triplets are all going to dress as Groucho Marx, rather than two of them being Harpo and Chico (maybe Nicky could be Zeppo?). In a past Halloween of the same school year, they were considering the Three Stooges. How long before they let Nicky trick-or-treat with them and be Abbott and Costello AND Laurel and Hardy? Byron would have to be Costello or Hardy since his character trait is eating.
Kristy mentions some of her extended family, and the descriptions fit with the ones she gave way back in Kristy's Big Day.
Mimi used to take Claudia and Janine to the library. I do that with my daughter, too. I hope she likes reading more than Claudia...
The Club (and clients):
The BSC still sits for Betsy Sobak. In case you've forgotten, her practical joke broke Claudia's leg.
Claudia lets us know that Kristy does understand BSc members missing a meeting if they're at a sitting job. How gracious of her.
SMS:
New teacher: Ms. Garcia teaches a short takes class.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
It's Thanksgiving for the second time. Halloween is also briefly mentioned, but seems to be the same one from the last book, as it's mostly past tense.
A couple things I would have included in the history bits: it wasn't just that only men could vote, it was only white male land-owners. The Pilgrims first settled in Denmark, but still didn't find the freedoms they wanted there. The illness that killed Squanto's tribe was widespread across the Americas, similar to the Bubonic Plague of the Middle Ages, and wiped out up to ninety percent of the native population, which is why the European settlers had so much space to settle.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 8
Halloweens in 8th grade: 5 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 2
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC has celebrated it--yet)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 54
Students (other than the BSC): 177; 113 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 116
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
Ghostwriter? Yes, Nola Thacker
Synopsis:
Claudia's short takes class is assigned to write and direct a play for the third-graders at Stoneybrook Elementary. They choose a Thanksgiving theme, and in doing the research, learn that they've been viewing the origins of the holiday through rose-colored glasses. They mention how life was actually pretty difficult for the Pilgrims, trying to eke out a living on a land totally alien to them, and how women were subservient to men. They also talk about how some native tribes today mark Thanksgiving as a solemn time of mourning rather than a celebration. Because of this, several parents and teachers protest the script as un-American (well, it wasn't the USA yet...) and demand it be changed to the "traditional" story. Claudia's class relents, but the playbills, publicity, and buttons they wear at the performance make it clear that this is not the original play. They also put on the original at SMS, complete with the original complainers picketing it.
But...as someone who had finished third grade a couple years before this book came out and who attended a teeny tiny private conservative Christian school for it...I have a hard time seeing this protest happening. We learned about the things that were "un-American" and it was a non-issue. Still, the book shows some good ideas for dealing with censorship.
Also, everyone in the BSC starts out with grandiose Thanksgiving plans involving relatives and trips, and all the plans fall through (worst is Mallory's family has to miss the Macy's parade again, just like the last Thanksgiving book when she had mono). So the BSC gets all their families together to celebrate and have a good time anyway. Even Dawn flies in for a surprise visit. Of course, Shannon's and Logan's families aren't part of it.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: potato chips, pretzels, candy corn, chocolate
Stacey likes the Marx Brothers. Smart girl.
Logan likes pecan pie, a traditionally southern dish.
Their Families:
Claudia's family is all dressed in navy blue on the same day. Did they coordinate?
The Pike triplets are all going to dress as Groucho Marx, rather than two of them being Harpo and Chico (maybe Nicky could be Zeppo?). In a past Halloween of the same school year, they were considering the Three Stooges. How long before they let Nicky trick-or-treat with them and be Abbott and Costello AND Laurel and Hardy? Byron would have to be Costello or Hardy since his character trait is eating.
Kristy mentions some of her extended family, and the descriptions fit with the ones she gave way back in Kristy's Big Day.
Mimi used to take Claudia and Janine to the library. I do that with my daughter, too. I hope she likes reading more than Claudia...
The Club (and clients):
The BSC still sits for Betsy Sobak. In case you've forgotten, her practical joke broke Claudia's leg.
Claudia lets us know that Kristy does understand BSc members missing a meeting if they're at a sitting job. How gracious of her.
SMS:
New teacher: Ms. Garcia teaches a short takes class.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
It's Thanksgiving for the second time. Halloween is also briefly mentioned, but seems to be the same one from the last book, as it's mostly past tense.
A couple things I would have included in the history bits: it wasn't just that only men could vote, it was only white male land-owners. The Pilgrims first settled in Denmark, but still didn't find the freedoms they wanted there. The illness that killed Squanto's tribe was widespread across the Americas, similar to the Bubonic Plague of the Middle Ages, and wiped out up to ninety percent of the native population, which is why the European settlers had so much space to settle.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 8
Halloweens in 8th grade: 5 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 2
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC has celebrated it--yet)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 54
Students (other than the BSC): 177; 113 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 116
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
5/19/12
Stacey and the Haunted Masquerade (M#22)
Original Publication Date: 1995
Ghostwriter? Yes, Ellen Miles
Synopsis:
Stacey joins the decorating committee for the latest SMS dance: the Mischief Night Masquerade (held the day before Halloween, called Mischief Night in some areas). But while she and the committee are working hard, strange things keep happening. Some are harmless pranks, like switching the contents of adjacent lockers, while other are destructive or downright scary. A heretofore unknown group calling themselves the Michief Knights claims responsibililty for the harmless stuff, but not the rest. What is going on?
Stacey and the BSC decide to investigate. It turns out that the reason there hasn't been a Masquerade in almost three decades is that at the last one there was a stampede of panicked students and a teacher died of a heart attack during it. Further investigation reveals that the teacher who's advising the committee was at that dance with a date that he was dared to take as a joke. Only she didn't know it was a joke. When she found out, the lights suddenly went out then the fire alarm went off, causing the panic. Despite the concern, SMS goes ahead with the Masquerade as planned. But who should come to the dance but the jilted date herself, by now filled with a crazy obsession about that night. Fortunately she's taken to a mental hospital without further incident. The next school day, the Mischief Knights are back to their old tricks. Is the new student Cary Retlin behind the group?
Subplot: the BSC clients are obsessed with the Ghostbusters movie.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Twizzlers
Okay, everyone knows Claudia can't spell and Claudia herself acknowledges it. So tell me, when she's creating artwork for whatever activity, why doesn't anyone write out the correct spelling on a scrap of paper for her? Then she could make it all artistic and it still have the right spelling.
Their Families:
Stacey narrates that it's impressive how Abby not only remembers all the names of the Pike kids but something specific about each one. But with the triplets, she asks Jordan how his piano lessons are going, and just says what's up to Adam and Byron. Because Byron's personality is that he's sensitive and Adam's personality is that his brothers are Jordan and Byron.
The Club (and clients): nothing new.
SMS:
Good continuity with teachers' jobs: Ms. Levine is still homeroom, and Mr. Fiske, Mrs. Simon, and Mrs. Hall are still English.
SMS's mascot is the Chargers. Horses, maybe? Cavalry?
Alan Gray shows a bit of maturity in this book. Just a bit, but it makes sense in retrospect if you've read the Friends Forever series (which I'll eventually get to for this blog).
New student: Cary Retlin (8th).
New teachers: Ms. Dwyer (art), Mr. Rothman (6th grade science). A substitute named Ms. Bryan also gets mentioned.
PSA Time:
If you're trying to keep a rodent out of somewhere even temporarily, cardboard won't help you. Rodents have crazy-strong jaws.
Misc:
This is the fifth Halloween Stacey and her friends have celebrated in her 8th grade year.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 8
Halloweens in 8th grade: 5 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC has celebrated it--yet)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 53
Students (other than the BSC): 177; 113 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 116
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
Ghostwriter? Yes, Ellen Miles
Synopsis:
Stacey joins the decorating committee for the latest SMS dance: the Mischief Night Masquerade (held the day before Halloween, called Mischief Night in some areas). But while she and the committee are working hard, strange things keep happening. Some are harmless pranks, like switching the contents of adjacent lockers, while other are destructive or downright scary. A heretofore unknown group calling themselves the Michief Knights claims responsibililty for the harmless stuff, but not the rest. What is going on?
Stacey and the BSC decide to investigate. It turns out that the reason there hasn't been a Masquerade in almost three decades is that at the last one there was a stampede of panicked students and a teacher died of a heart attack during it. Further investigation reveals that the teacher who's advising the committee was at that dance with a date that he was dared to take as a joke. Only she didn't know it was a joke. When she found out, the lights suddenly went out then the fire alarm went off, causing the panic. Despite the concern, SMS goes ahead with the Masquerade as planned. But who should come to the dance but the jilted date herself, by now filled with a crazy obsession about that night. Fortunately she's taken to a mental hospital without further incident. The next school day, the Mischief Knights are back to their old tricks. Is the new student Cary Retlin behind the group?
Subplot: the BSC clients are obsessed with the Ghostbusters movie.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Twizzlers
Okay, everyone knows Claudia can't spell and Claudia herself acknowledges it. So tell me, when she's creating artwork for whatever activity, why doesn't anyone write out the correct spelling on a scrap of paper for her? Then she could make it all artistic and it still have the right spelling.
Their Families:
Stacey narrates that it's impressive how Abby not only remembers all the names of the Pike kids but something specific about each one. But with the triplets, she asks Jordan how his piano lessons are going, and just says what's up to Adam and Byron. Because Byron's personality is that he's sensitive and Adam's personality is that his brothers are Jordan and Byron.
The Club (and clients): nothing new.
SMS:
Good continuity with teachers' jobs: Ms. Levine is still homeroom, and Mr. Fiske, Mrs. Simon, and Mrs. Hall are still English.
SMS's mascot is the Chargers. Horses, maybe? Cavalry?
Alan Gray shows a bit of maturity in this book. Just a bit, but it makes sense in retrospect if you've read the Friends Forever series (which I'll eventually get to for this blog).
New student: Cary Retlin (8th).
New teachers: Ms. Dwyer (art), Mr. Rothman (6th grade science). A substitute named Ms. Bryan also gets mentioned.
PSA Time:
If you're trying to keep a rodent out of somewhere even temporarily, cardboard won't help you. Rodents have crazy-strong jaws.
Misc:
This is the fifth Halloween Stacey and her friends have celebrated in her 8th grade year.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 8
Halloweens in 8th grade: 5 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC has celebrated it--yet)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 53
Students (other than the BSC): 177; 113 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 116
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
5/3/12
Welcome to the BSC, Abby (RS#90)
Original Publication Date: 1995
Ghostwriter? Yes, Nola Thacker
Synopsis:
This is Abby Stevenson's introductory book. She's just moved from Long Island to Stoneybrook, and is enjoying life so far. The plot centers around a funding problem with SMS, which will lead to cuts in the school's art and music programs. Since the only reason Abby attends SMS rather than Kelsey Middle School, whose district she lives in, is that her twin sister needs the more challenging orchestra of SMS, this could be a problem. Abby is spurred into action, organizing a fundraising fair. The whole town gets really into it, and it's a huge success.
Although it would seem Abby in integrating well, a particularly bad asthma attack concerns Kristy enough that she wonders if Abby should be sitting as much as she has. What if Abby has another bad attack during a job and can't get help? But Abby proves herself capable, and Kristy lets her worries drop.
There's also a very touching moment when Abby and Anna find a box of their late father's things while unpacking. They show their mom and bond over memories.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Dove chocolates, barbecue potato chips, and pretzels
Kristy and Mary Anne are both described as stubborn.
Mallory gets Abby's jokes better than the rest of the BSC. Perhaps because she's a writer?
Until this book, Shannon had never been in a food fight (Anna helped her out with that).
Their Families:
Anna Stevenson is more serious than Abby. Her passion is playing classical music, violin in particular. She has none of Abby's allergies or asthma, but needs corrective lenses like her twin. However, she prefers glasses to contacts. She ends up becoming good friends with Shannon.
Abby's mom is a widow, Abby's dad having been killed in a car crash four years before this book. She throws herself into her work as an editor. She commutes to New York every day for her job, about a two-hour trip on the train.
Abby and her family are Jewish, of eastern European descent.
The Club (and clients):
Abby is Dawn's official replacement as alternate officer.
SMS:
Two new SMS students: Abby and Anna Stevenson.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc: nothing stood out
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 8
Halloweens in 8th grade: 4 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC has celebrated it--yet)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 48
Students (other than the BSC): 176; 112 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 116
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
Ghostwriter? Yes, Nola Thacker
Synopsis:
This is Abby Stevenson's introductory book. She's just moved from Long Island to Stoneybrook, and is enjoying life so far. The plot centers around a funding problem with SMS, which will lead to cuts in the school's art and music programs. Since the only reason Abby attends SMS rather than Kelsey Middle School, whose district she lives in, is that her twin sister needs the more challenging orchestra of SMS, this could be a problem. Abby is spurred into action, organizing a fundraising fair. The whole town gets really into it, and it's a huge success.
Although it would seem Abby in integrating well, a particularly bad asthma attack concerns Kristy enough that she wonders if Abby should be sitting as much as she has. What if Abby has another bad attack during a job and can't get help? But Abby proves herself capable, and Kristy lets her worries drop.
There's also a very touching moment when Abby and Anna find a box of their late father's things while unpacking. They show their mom and bond over memories.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Dove chocolates, barbecue potato chips, and pretzels
Kristy and Mary Anne are both described as stubborn.
Mallory gets Abby's jokes better than the rest of the BSC. Perhaps because she's a writer?
Until this book, Shannon had never been in a food fight (Anna helped her out with that).
Their Families:
Anna Stevenson is more serious than Abby. Her passion is playing classical music, violin in particular. She has none of Abby's allergies or asthma, but needs corrective lenses like her twin. However, she prefers glasses to contacts. She ends up becoming good friends with Shannon.
Abby's mom is a widow, Abby's dad having been killed in a car crash four years before this book. She throws herself into her work as an editor. She commutes to New York every day for her job, about a two-hour trip on the train.
Abby and her family are Jewish, of eastern European descent.
The Club (and clients):
Abby is Dawn's official replacement as alternate officer.
SMS:
Two new SMS students: Abby and Anna Stevenson.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc: nothing stood out
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 8
Halloweens in 8th grade: 4 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC has celebrated it--yet)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 48
Students (other than the BSC): 176; 112 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 116
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Abby-0
4/26/12
Kristy and the Dirty Diapers (RS#89)
Original Publication Date: 1995
Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis
Synopsis:
With Dawn permanently in California, the BSC is busier than ever. Kristy is spread thin between her responsibilities there, the upcoming school year, and her Krushers softball team. She's also trying to help out Mrs. Porter's granddaughter (Kristy's next-door neighbor, AKA Mordbidda Destiny), whose parents are divorcing. When a businessman approached Kristy with an offer to sponsor her team, she jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, his business is a diaper service, and he expects the team to change its name to the Diapers. The kids are less than thrilled. Furthermore, he tries to take over the team, interrupting practices and games with unhelpful and discouraging advice. It isn't long before Kristy and the Krushers decide they don't need his sponsorship.
Meanwhile, a new family moves in two doors down from Kristy: a (widowed) mother and her twin daughters, the Stevensons. Kristy gets along better with the quieter twin, Anna, at first. She and the other twin, Abby, bond over the Krushers, Abby even becoming the assistant coach. The rest of the BSC likes Anna and Abby too, and invites the twins to join. Surprisingly, Anna declines, citing her music lessons. But Abby readily accepts, and becomes the newest full-time member.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: mini-Snickers and Candy Corn in her closet, Milk Duds
I keep forgetting that Logan plays volleyball too. In Washington (where I live), volleyball is only offered for girls.
Shannon is "energetic."
Abby's an inch and a half taller than I am (well, Anna too). Five-foot-seven.
One of the many things Abby's allergic to is tomatoes. My mom is allergic to them only when raw, but Abby can't eat the cooked ones either.
Their Families:
Emily Michelle's Engligh is improving.
The Club (and clients):
Abby is the new alternate officer. Stacey initially voices concern about the possibility of her having an asthma attack on the job, which Kristy dismisses by asking what if Stacey has a diabetic reaction. This will be important next book.
Kristy makes sure to explain the BSC rules to Abby and Anna when she invites them to join. Must have learned her lesson after the fiasco with Jessi's friend.
SMS:
School's back in session, for the eighth time. Abby and Anna attend SMS rather than Kelsey Middle School, which is the one in their district, because only SMS has a large enough orchestra for Anna.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
There are cicadas out. Yuck.
Abby and Anna were named by a reader in a contest, but I don't know if we ever find out who won.
For some reason I'm making a million typos. Apologies if I didn't catch any before publishing this.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 8
Halloweens in 8th grade: 4 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC celebrates it--yet)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 48
Students (other than the BSC): 175; 111 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 114
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Ghostwriter? Yes, Peter Lerangis
Synopsis:
With Dawn permanently in California, the BSC is busier than ever. Kristy is spread thin between her responsibilities there, the upcoming school year, and her Krushers softball team. She's also trying to help out Mrs. Porter's granddaughter (Kristy's next-door neighbor, AKA Mordbidda Destiny), whose parents are divorcing. When a businessman approached Kristy with an offer to sponsor her team, she jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, his business is a diaper service, and he expects the team to change its name to the Diapers. The kids are less than thrilled. Furthermore, he tries to take over the team, interrupting practices and games with unhelpful and discouraging advice. It isn't long before Kristy and the Krushers decide they don't need his sponsorship.
Meanwhile, a new family moves in two doors down from Kristy: a (widowed) mother and her twin daughters, the Stevensons. Kristy gets along better with the quieter twin, Anna, at first. She and the other twin, Abby, bond over the Krushers, Abby even becoming the assistant coach. The rest of the BSC likes Anna and Abby too, and invites the twins to join. Surprisingly, Anna declines, citing her music lessons. But Abby readily accepts, and becomes the newest full-time member.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: mini-Snickers and Candy Corn in her closet, Milk Duds
I keep forgetting that Logan plays volleyball too. In Washington (where I live), volleyball is only offered for girls.
Shannon is "energetic."
Abby's an inch and a half taller than I am (well, Anna too). Five-foot-seven.
One of the many things Abby's allergic to is tomatoes. My mom is allergic to them only when raw, but Abby can't eat the cooked ones either.
Their Families:
Emily Michelle's Engligh is improving.
The Club (and clients):
Abby is the new alternate officer. Stacey initially voices concern about the possibility of her having an asthma attack on the job, which Kristy dismisses by asking what if Stacey has a diabetic reaction. This will be important next book.
Kristy makes sure to explain the BSC rules to Abby and Anna when she invites them to join. Must have learned her lesson after the fiasco with Jessi's friend.
SMS:
School's back in session, for the eighth time. Abby and Anna attend SMS rather than Kelsey Middle School, which is the one in their district, because only SMS has a large enough orchestra for Anna.
PSA Time: nothing stood out.
Misc:
There are cicadas out. Yuck.
Abby and Anna were named by a reader in a contest, but I don't know if we ever find out who won.
For some reason I'm making a million typos. Apologies if I didn't catch any before publishing this.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 8
Halloweens in 8th grade: 4 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC celebrates it--yet)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 48
Students (other than the BSC): 175; 111 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 114
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
4/25/12
Portrait Collection: Dawn's Book
Original Publication Date: 1995
Ghostwriter? Yes, Jeanne Betancourt
Synopsis:
Although Dawn has moved back to California, she still gets assigned an autobiography. Her strongest memories include:
West Coast Beginnings: Dawn is born, gets a baby brother when she's three, and attends nursery school, where she builds block towers with her friend Ruthie. But soon her family moves to Palo City.
The New Girl on the Block: Dawn has fun playing with Jill and Maggie at school but has no friends in her neighborhood. Until a hippie family moves in, that is (and gets Dawn started with environmentalism). At first Dawn finds them incredibly bizarre and a little judgemental, but she gets to know them better, and they calm down a bit too. Dawn and Sunny end up best friends.
The Golden Anniversary: Dawn's parents fly her grandparents to San Francisco so all six can celebrate Granny and Pop-pop's fiftieth wedding anniversary (I'd find it odd that my kid was planning my anniversary, but whatever). Because her grandparents don't seem to enjoy the same things or want to spend as much time together as her own parents, Dawn surmises that they don't love each other. But as the trip continues, she sees that they are truly in love.
Fire!: In the midst of her parents' marriage troubles, Dawn deals with a bit of a fire phobia. She gets pretty obsessed thinking about fires and the damage they can cause. She worries that if a fire happens, she won't know what to do, and so plan and plans and plans. Then one day at a sitting job, there is a fire--for real. Dawn is able to stay level-headed and gets her charges (Clover and Daffodil) safely out, and call 911. The fire is confined to the kitchen, fortunately. Dawn receives a medal from the mayor, and, having seen how things turned out, stops panicking about fire. But there's another reason fire no longer weighs so heavily on her mind: her parents divorce soon after.
A New Life on the East Coast: Dawn relates some backstory about moving to Connecticut and joing the BSC. Then she talks about a client for whom she sat twice, and screwed up big time. She was sifting through some papers and saw that the daughter was going to have to be held back in school, and mentioned it to her. But her parents hadn't told her yet, and were going to wait until summer was ending so she wouldn't worry. They never call the BSC again, but in the summer rush, no one notices and Dawn has never told anyone until now.
Dawn ends on that note. She gets an A- for content and a B for presentation. The note her teacher writes doesn't mention that she did anything wrong, so her grade's a little confusing to me, but Dawn's happy with it.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: none mentioned
Jill Henderson reminds Dawn of Mary Anne. Dawn soon outgrows Jill, and also somewhat outgrows Mary Anne.
Dawn was born 8 days after her due date. I'd cite this as evidence of her being mean, but I was 15 days late myself (sorry, Mom).
Their Families:
Dawn and Carol have close enough shoe sizes that they can share rollerblades. I think that was mentioned before, even.
There's a picture of Dawn with her parents and newborn Jeff. NO WAY her mom would look that thin right after having a baby. Even if you only gain the baby weight, you come home from the hospital looking seven months pregnant because you just had a human being inside you. Takes a bit for your body to get back to how it was (if it ever does. Sorry again, Mom?).
The Club (and clients): nothing new.
SMS:
There's some continuity weirdness here. Stacey and Claudia wrote their autobiographies "last" school year, and Dawn says that at her going-away party, the BSC was saying she decided to move to avoid the assignment. Dawn moved at the end of summer vacation, and her California school started one week before SMS. She was assigned the autobiography on the first day of school. I guess SMS let it be known about the assignment before school started back up?
PSA Time:
As a child, I was always told to not let callers know that there are no adults home. For example, if I were home alone with my younger brother and someone called asking for my mom or dad, I was supposed to say, "She's not available right. Can I take a message?" rather than, "She's not home right now." That way random callers don't know that the oldest person home is only 12.
Misc:
Interesting how few of the girls' most vivid memories from Super Special #11 make it in their autobiographies.
To this day, I can't figure out how to do Morse code with wooden blocks. What's the difference between a dot and a dash when banging blocks together?
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 7
Halloweens in 8th grade: 4 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC celebrates it)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 48
Students (other than the BSC): 175; 111 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 112
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Ghostwriter? Yes, Jeanne Betancourt
Synopsis:
Although Dawn has moved back to California, she still gets assigned an autobiography. Her strongest memories include:
West Coast Beginnings: Dawn is born, gets a baby brother when she's three, and attends nursery school, where she builds block towers with her friend Ruthie. But soon her family moves to Palo City.
The New Girl on the Block: Dawn has fun playing with Jill and Maggie at school but has no friends in her neighborhood. Until a hippie family moves in, that is (and gets Dawn started with environmentalism). At first Dawn finds them incredibly bizarre and a little judgemental, but she gets to know them better, and they calm down a bit too. Dawn and Sunny end up best friends.
The Golden Anniversary: Dawn's parents fly her grandparents to San Francisco so all six can celebrate Granny and Pop-pop's fiftieth wedding anniversary (I'd find it odd that my kid was planning my anniversary, but whatever). Because her grandparents don't seem to enjoy the same things or want to spend as much time together as her own parents, Dawn surmises that they don't love each other. But as the trip continues, she sees that they are truly in love.
Fire!: In the midst of her parents' marriage troubles, Dawn deals with a bit of a fire phobia. She gets pretty obsessed thinking about fires and the damage they can cause. She worries that if a fire happens, she won't know what to do, and so plan and plans and plans. Then one day at a sitting job, there is a fire--for real. Dawn is able to stay level-headed and gets her charges (Clover and Daffodil) safely out, and call 911. The fire is confined to the kitchen, fortunately. Dawn receives a medal from the mayor, and, having seen how things turned out, stops panicking about fire. But there's another reason fire no longer weighs so heavily on her mind: her parents divorce soon after.
A New Life on the East Coast: Dawn relates some backstory about moving to Connecticut and joing the BSC. Then she talks about a client for whom she sat twice, and screwed up big time. She was sifting through some papers and saw that the daughter was going to have to be held back in school, and mentioned it to her. But her parents hadn't told her yet, and were going to wait until summer was ending so she wouldn't worry. They never call the BSC again, but in the summer rush, no one notices and Dawn has never told anyone until now.
Dawn ends on that note. She gets an A- for content and a B for presentation. The note her teacher writes doesn't mention that she did anything wrong, so her grade's a little confusing to me, but Dawn's happy with it.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: none mentioned
Jill Henderson reminds Dawn of Mary Anne. Dawn soon outgrows Jill, and also somewhat outgrows Mary Anne.
Dawn was born 8 days after her due date. I'd cite this as evidence of her being mean, but I was 15 days late myself (sorry, Mom).
Their Families:
Dawn and Carol have close enough shoe sizes that they can share rollerblades. I think that was mentioned before, even.
There's a picture of Dawn with her parents and newborn Jeff. NO WAY her mom would look that thin right after having a baby. Even if you only gain the baby weight, you come home from the hospital looking seven months pregnant because you just had a human being inside you. Takes a bit for your body to get back to how it was (if it ever does. Sorry again, Mom?).
The Club (and clients): nothing new.
SMS:
There's some continuity weirdness here. Stacey and Claudia wrote their autobiographies "last" school year, and Dawn says that at her going-away party, the BSC was saying she decided to move to avoid the assignment. Dawn moved at the end of summer vacation, and her California school started one week before SMS. She was assigned the autobiography on the first day of school. I guess SMS let it be known about the assignment before school started back up?
PSA Time:
As a child, I was always told to not let callers know that there are no adults home. For example, if I were home alone with my younger brother and someone called asking for my mom or dad, I was supposed to say, "She's not available right. Can I take a message?" rather than, "She's not home right now." That way random callers don't know that the oldest person home is only 12.
Misc:
Interesting how few of the girls' most vivid memories from Super Special #11 make it in their autobiographies.
To this day, I can't figure out how to do Morse code with wooden blocks. What's the difference between a dot and a dash when banging blocks together?
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 7
Halloweens in 8th grade: 4 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC celebrates it)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 48
Students (other than the BSC): 175; 111 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 112
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
4/19/12
Farewell, Dawn (RS#88)
Original Publication Date: 1995
Ghostwriter? Yes, Suzanne Weyn
Synopsis:
When Dawn learned that her best friend's mom had lung cancer, it got her thinking more about California. To the point that now, she's decided it's best to move back permanantly. She decides this pretty early on in the book, but before she thinks of a good way to tell Mary Anne without devastating her too much, the news gets leaked and Mary Anne is pissed. They have a big fight, but then Mary Anne just acts numb around Dawn. There's no huge resolution or explanation, but Mary Anne does start to act normal again before Dawn leaves and they're able to have a real goodbye.
Subplot, because we can't have a book without one: James Hobart breaks his leg and has to be stuck in a cast for the end of summer, so the BSC helps his friends do a Christmas in the summer for him. Of course, he gets confused because in the Southern Hemisphere Christmas is in the summer. Those wacky Australians!
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Cheez Doodles
With all the moral crusades Dawn goes on, I'm surprised she has yet to jump on Shannon's family for breeding their dog. Presumably they're responsible in doing so, but I could see Dawn going off about pet overpopulation.
Back in Baby-sitters' Summer Vacation, Mallory was described as someone who would eventually grow into her looks and become pretty (or something like that); here Dawn tells us that "if you really study Mallory you can tell she'll look just fine as she gets older."
Jessi cautions the kids against buying a little gun toy for James Hobart becase DAWN doesn't like toy guns (it just sparks, not even a cap gun). Guys! She's not even going to be in this time zone in two weeks! Let the kid with a broken leg have a fun toy if he wants it.
Dawns gets a really sweet letter from Jessi, who once described herself as a terrible letter writer but also resolved to change that. Looks like she's succeeded.
Their Families:
Karen and Andrew now live at the Brewers' house every other month, a development which happens in the Little Series (which I am NOT subjecting myself to).
Dawn refers to Carol as her dad's new wife, rather than step-mother (and she really hasn't lived with Carol in the house, so understandable).
The Club (and clients):
Dawn sits for Sara and Norman Hill in the first chapter. Sara's still friends with Elizabeth, who had relentlessly tormented Norman for being overweight.
Stacey nixes the idea of inviting kids to Dawn's going away party, because it will feel like work if they have to keep an eye on them. And they let her back in the BSC?! (being facetious there)
Shannon agrees to take over as alternate officer, but once school starts up she probably won't be able to come to many meetings.
SMS:
I question the rigor of Stoneybrook's schools if kids make it to eighth grade without knowing that the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. Also, in Dawn's Wicked Stepsister, Dawn thinks that scientists invented time zones very recently, instead of the idea sort of occuring naturally because of Earth's revolving around the sun.
PSA Time:
Mary Anne tells Dawn she's being selfish for not thinking of how everyone in Stoneybrook feels. Here's the thing, though: while Dawn is thinking primarily of herself, sometimes you have to put yourself first.
Misc:
This book has a few examples of "I can't believe how dumb all the rest of America is--oh, I'm enlightened though!" which bug me. Like Dawn complaining about the diet of OTHER Americans or Mallory proclaiming that American football is stupid in name and practice. Girls, it's fine to not like something, but don't be holier-than-thou about it.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 7
Halloweens in 8th grade: 4 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC celebrates it)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 48
Students (other than the BSC): 175; 111 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 112
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Ghostwriter? Yes, Suzanne Weyn
Synopsis:
When Dawn learned that her best friend's mom had lung cancer, it got her thinking more about California. To the point that now, she's decided it's best to move back permanantly. She decides this pretty early on in the book, but before she thinks of a good way to tell Mary Anne without devastating her too much, the news gets leaked and Mary Anne is pissed. They have a big fight, but then Mary Anne just acts numb around Dawn. There's no huge resolution or explanation, but Mary Anne does start to act normal again before Dawn leaves and they're able to have a real goodbye.
Subplot, because we can't have a book without one: James Hobart breaks his leg and has to be stuck in a cast for the end of summer, so the BSC helps his friends do a Christmas in the summer for him. Of course, he gets confused because in the Southern Hemisphere Christmas is in the summer. Those wacky Australians!
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Cheez Doodles
With all the moral crusades Dawn goes on, I'm surprised she has yet to jump on Shannon's family for breeding their dog. Presumably they're responsible in doing so, but I could see Dawn going off about pet overpopulation.
Back in Baby-sitters' Summer Vacation, Mallory was described as someone who would eventually grow into her looks and become pretty (or something like that); here Dawn tells us that "if you really study Mallory you can tell she'll look just fine as she gets older."
Jessi cautions the kids against buying a little gun toy for James Hobart becase DAWN doesn't like toy guns (it just sparks, not even a cap gun). Guys! She's not even going to be in this time zone in two weeks! Let the kid with a broken leg have a fun toy if he wants it.
Dawns gets a really sweet letter from Jessi, who once described herself as a terrible letter writer but also resolved to change that. Looks like she's succeeded.
Their Families:
Karen and Andrew now live at the Brewers' house every other month, a development which happens in the Little Series (which I am NOT subjecting myself to).
Dawn refers to Carol as her dad's new wife, rather than step-mother (and she really hasn't lived with Carol in the house, so understandable).
The Club (and clients):
Dawn sits for Sara and Norman Hill in the first chapter. Sara's still friends with Elizabeth, who had relentlessly tormented Norman for being overweight.
Stacey nixes the idea of inviting kids to Dawn's going away party, because it will feel like work if they have to keep an eye on them. And they let her back in the BSC?! (being facetious there)
Shannon agrees to take over as alternate officer, but once school starts up she probably won't be able to come to many meetings.
SMS:
I question the rigor of Stoneybrook's schools if kids make it to eighth grade without knowing that the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. Also, in Dawn's Wicked Stepsister, Dawn thinks that scientists invented time zones very recently, instead of the idea sort of occuring naturally because of Earth's revolving around the sun.
PSA Time:
Mary Anne tells Dawn she's being selfish for not thinking of how everyone in Stoneybrook feels. Here's the thing, though: while Dawn is thinking primarily of herself, sometimes you have to put yourself first.
Misc:
This book has a few examples of "I can't believe how dumb all the rest of America is--oh, I'm enlightened though!" which bug me. Like Dawn complaining about the diet of OTHER Americans or Mallory proclaiming that American football is stupid in name and practice. Girls, it's fine to not like something, but don't be holier-than-thou about it.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 7
Halloweens in 8th grade: 4 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC celebrates it)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 48
Students (other than the BSC): 175; 111 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 112
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
4/9/12
BSC Movie Novelization
Original Publication Date: 1995
Written by A. L. Singer
Synopsis:
In August of 1995, The Baby-sitters Club was released in theatres. Its plot isn't exactly canon in my mind, but does have similarities to a few books, including Kristy's portrait collection. I won't be counting anything in this book toward my totals, but I'll note things that stand out.
The basic plot is that the BSC decides to run a summer camp (like in Mary Anne and Camp BSC). They have some issues with a neighbor, but she ends up helping them later on after talking to Dawn: the BSC restores an old greenhouse and the neighbor helps convinces the historical society to give it the BSC so they can use it as a clubhouse. But they decide to continue in Claudia's room as it's always been, and give the greenhouse to the neighbor. It's odd.
There's also some stuff that happens when Kristy's father (I'm not calling him her "dad" as he hasn't acted like a dad) shows up and he doesn't want her to reveal that he's in town. He stands her up on her birthday, but the BSC saves the day.
Subplots include Stacey having a crush on Rosie Wilder's seventeen-year-old Swiss cousin, Alan Gray having one on Dawn, Cokie Mason trying to steal Logan from Mary Anne again, and Claudia needing to pass summer school in order to remain in the BSC.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Hershey's kisses in her dresser and licorce in her nightstand. Also, Dawn brings some health-food chips
Mary Anne must have shrunk, because she and Kristy are the same height again and Kristy's still five feet tall.
Their Families:
Hunter Bruno is now allergic to wheat as well. Poor kid.
Patrick Thomas was married for a while after abandoning Kristy and her family.
The Club (and clients):
Dawn sits for a kid named Margie Klinger; Mallory sits for twins Terri and Tammy Barkan. The twins try to switch on Mallory but she's able to tell who is who because of having triplet brothers...funny, that didn't work with the Arnold twins.
No, Kristy's missed more than one meeting. She skipped a few during their fight in Mary Anne Saves the Day.
Oh, and Mallory? "We never fight"? Did you hit your head or something?
SMS: summer break.
PSA Time:
I hope it doesn't need to be said, but if the secret you're keeping could hurt someone it's a bad secret to keep.
Misc:
Despite being about 20 pages shorter than a regular BSC book, this has 22 chapters plus an epilogue like a Super Special. And it's written in third person.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 7
Halloweens in 8th grade: 4 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC celebrates it)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 48
Students (other than the BSC): 175; 111 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 112
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
Written by A. L. Singer
Synopsis:
In August of 1995, The Baby-sitters Club was released in theatres. Its plot isn't exactly canon in my mind, but does have similarities to a few books, including Kristy's portrait collection. I won't be counting anything in this book toward my totals, but I'll note things that stand out.
The basic plot is that the BSC decides to run a summer camp (like in Mary Anne and Camp BSC). They have some issues with a neighbor, but she ends up helping them later on after talking to Dawn: the BSC restores an old greenhouse and the neighbor helps convinces the historical society to give it the BSC so they can use it as a clubhouse. But they decide to continue in Claudia's room as it's always been, and give the greenhouse to the neighbor. It's odd.
There's also some stuff that happens when Kristy's father (I'm not calling him her "dad" as he hasn't acted like a dad) shows up and he doesn't want her to reveal that he's in town. He stands her up on her birthday, but the BSC saves the day.
Subplots include Stacey having a crush on Rosie Wilder's seventeen-year-old Swiss cousin, Alan Gray having one on Dawn, Cokie Mason trying to steal Logan from Mary Anne again, and Claudia needing to pass summer school in order to remain in the BSC.
Established or continued in this book:
The Girls (and Logan):
Claudia candy: Hershey's kisses in her dresser and licorce in her nightstand. Also, Dawn brings some health-food chips
Mary Anne must have shrunk, because she and Kristy are the same height again and Kristy's still five feet tall.
Their Families:
Hunter Bruno is now allergic to wheat as well. Poor kid.
Patrick Thomas was married for a while after abandoning Kristy and her family.
The Club (and clients):
Dawn sits for a kid named Margie Klinger; Mallory sits for twins Terri and Tammy Barkan. The twins try to switch on Mallory but she's able to tell who is who because of having triplet brothers...funny, that didn't work with the Arnold twins.
No, Kristy's missed more than one meeting. She skipped a few during their fight in Mary Anne Saves the Day.
Oh, and Mallory? "We never fight"? Did you hit your head or something?
SMS: summer break.
PSA Time:
I hope it doesn't need to be said, but if the secret you're keeping could hurt someone it's a bad secret to keep.
Misc:
Despite being about 20 pages shorter than a regular BSC book, this has 22 chapters plus an epilogue like a Super Special. And it's written in third person.
The numbers:
Starting 8th grade: 7
Halloweens in 8th grade: 4 (plus one in seventh)
Thanksgivings in 8th grade: 1
Christmases in 8th grade: 1 (Hanukkah is also mentioned, but no one in the BSC celebrates it)
Valentine's Days in 8th grade: 2
Summers after 8th grade: 8
BSC Fights: 10
SMS Staff and Faculty: 48
Students (other than the BSC): 175; 111 8th graders, 6 7th graders, 42 6th graders, 15 unspecified. Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation tells us that SMS has about 380 students.
Clients: 33 families
Types of candy in Claudia’s room: 112
Crushes:
Stacey-11
Claudia-9
Dawn-5
Jessi-3
Mallory-2
Mary Anne-2
Kristy-1
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