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!

Ok, I’ve a confession to make. I absolutely love children’s books and series. I have my secret stash at home, a small collection built up with savings from my allowances. I’ve read them over and over again, from my tween years to my twenties. I read them when I’m happy. I read them when I’m down. I’ve expanded my collection and I’ve read more. Nothing’s better to read these books when life becomes a little too complicated and all I need is to escape to a world of innocence where all that matters are friendship, school work and maybe some after school activities.

When Scholastic announced that it will be re-releasing the Baby-Sitters Club (BSC) series, starting with a new book “The Summer Before”, I was escatic. I was determine to collect them all! So over the last year, I started collecting the new releases and reading the other BSC books that I’ve collected. And then, I started reading all the other series that I’ve collected: Stephanie, Sweet Valley, Enid Blyton’s St Claire’s and Mallory Towers series and of course, the Anne of Green Gables books. It  brought me such pleasure!

Recently, I started reading blogs about people revisiting some of these books and it brought me so much joy. I too, would love to join the fun!

So here goes…

It’s New Year’s Eve: 2 hours to the New Year, and here I am sitting in my jammies in front my laptop, writing this blog.

Instead of going to some party downtown or splurging on a really fancy dinner with my boyfriend, this year, I chose a quiet New Year Countdown in my very own brand new apartment.

Earlier in the afternoon my boyfriend and I went to the cinema to watch New Year’s Eve. As I liked to put it, I watched New Year’s Eve on New Year’s Eve! It was a feel-good movie and it warmed my heart. Movies like this always portray love as the central theme. And having faith. And new beginnings. It got me thinking.

Love. Faith. New beginnings. That’s the magic of a brand new year. No matter how the past year has been, you get another chance again in the new year. You get a do-over. And I look forward to it.

2011 wasn’t a bad year: I moved into my very first apartment. I made changes at work that will support a career change in 2012. I found a personal trainer that I would work with to correct my posture (and hopefully fix my neck and help me lose that extra pounds). I found and started going to a spirituality study group. I discovered Ursula Le Guin and my new found love in Fantasy books.

But I’m looking forward to 2012. I want to Do more. Live more. Be more.

I can’t wait!