This is the book before the Baby-Sitters Club (BSC) began.
It is the summery story about the four original members: Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi and Stacey McGill, before seventh grade.
During that summer, each of them in their own ways had to deal with change and growing up. Claudia began to feel that she is growing up and drifting away from Kristy and Mary Anne. At the same time, Kristy and Mary Anne felt left out that Claudia has other friends and also a boyfriend during that summer. In New York City, Stacey also felt alone, having had her friends shunned her out. This is the part where I don’t get it. Why does Laine Cummings (Stacey’s ex-best friend) has to be so mean? What’s wrong with her? Maybe I’ll find out about this in the later books.
Before this book, I didn’t know what Mary Anne was not allowed to baby-sit until this summer before seventh grade. I also didn’t know that Janine Kishi (Claudia’s genuis sister) has any interest in boys. As far as I can recall, the other books has portrayed Janine to be only interested in her studies. When she admitted that she kinda like Frankie (her classmate and Claudia’s summer romance), I realized that in all her geekiness, there is still a girl in her. Sweet.
My favourite part of this book is where Mary Anne used the money earned from baby-sitting to organize Kristy Day, the day after Kristy’s birthday to cheer her up. That is so sweet of Mary Anne. I’ve only had a close girlfriend once, and never had any real close girlfriend growing up. That is one thing I really missed having. So everytime I read about real close and solid friendship like what Mary Anne and Kristy shared, I feel a tugged in my heart.
I also like the part when Stacey starts school at Stoneybrook Middle School (SMS). It was such a nice change for her after her horrible time in New York City. I’m glad that SMS is such a nice school and I’ve often wished I’ve had such a nice school to go to.
So, here it is, my first post about the Baby-Sitters Club. Stay tuned for my next post about Book #1: Kristy’s Great Idea… till then!
