Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Somewhat satisfying, not because it's actually original, but because if you're someone who read these books as a kid, you'll recognize bits from the "Super Specials" and the "[Name's] Book" editions, and it's cute. So yeah.
Three stars for nostalgia, and the fact that my expectations were extremely low so it was a little better than I anticipated. And this book made me remember what I'd always loved about the BSC books: simple lives that are mostly easy and fun, with a few real problems thrown in for variety. Worth the 2 hours or so for a BSC fan!
This was a great nostalgic read. It makes me want to go back and re-read the first few books in the series.
It was so awesome to connect with my old friends from the Babysitter's Club again 30 years later.
It's so awesome that Ann M. Martin decided to release this prequel, even if it is in a way both a money-spinning idea and a way to get interest into the re-released books. I was admittedly a bit pumped when I heard this was going to be released. I gobbled down the BSC series when I was young.
This prequel isn't bad. It isn't the best book, but it's not bad. I found Kristy's story perhaps the saddest, then Stacey's, Mary Anne's, and finally Claudia's being the least. Really, I just found Claudia to be a bit selfish the entire time. Dude, dating your sister's fancy? Not on. And hell, he's entering high school while you're only twelve. Did you think he was going to keep you hanging along? Not really.
I wouldn't recommend starting with this book, though. There's a lot of pre-assumed knowledge, even if that's not what Martin intended. Furthermore, I can't help but feel that this is more of a gift to Martin's now-adult readers.
If you love the BSC, then you will probably enjoy this.
This prequel isn't bad. It isn't the best book, but it's not bad. I found Kristy's story perhaps the saddest, then Stacey's, Mary Anne's, and finally Claudia's being the least. Really, I just found Claudia to be a bit selfish the entire time. Dude, dating your sister's fancy? Not on. And hell, he's entering high school while you're only twelve. Did you think he was going to keep you hanging along? Not really.
I wouldn't recommend starting with this book, though. There's a lot of pre-assumed knowledge, even if that's not what Martin intended. Furthermore, I can't help but feel that this is more of a gift to Martin's now-adult readers.
If you love the BSC, then you will probably enjoy this.
My heart!!! 💗 "I would have allowed the friendship to slip away if that was what was meant to be. After all, you can't force a friendship. But I desperately did not want that to happen." (pg 183)
"I think we'll have to try really hard... to stay friends even if we keep changing." (pg 190)
"I think we'll have to try really hard... to stay friends even if we keep changing." (pg 190)
Fantastic books for young girls getting into reading!! Great stories about friendship and life lessons. The characters deal with all sorts of situations and often find responsible solutions to problems.
I loved this series growing up and wanted to start my own babysitting business with friends. Great lessons in entrepreneurship for tweens.
The books may be dated with out references to modern technology but the story stands and lessons are still relevant.
Awesome books that girls will love! And the series grows with them! Terrific Author!
I loved this series growing up and wanted to start my own babysitting business with friends. Great lessons in entrepreneurship for tweens.
The books may be dated with out references to modern technology but the story stands and lessons are still relevant.
Awesome books that girls will love! And the series grows with them! Terrific Author!
What an entertaining trip back down memory lane! I loved the BSC books as a kid, so reading this just made me happy. Nothing challenging or mind-blowing, just entertaining Babysitters Club goodness.
This book was pretty good, I think I was expecting more. I was OBSESSED with the Babysitter's Club growing up. But it would be a good read for a middle school girl.
First, you must understand that the Babysitters Club is a MAJOR blast from my past - of all the crappy YA series in the world, this is the one I collected and read the most from oh, maybe 1989-1992ish. I still have my old books (and then some) and once in a while break one out when I need a security blanket.
But this. I have never felt any need to go beyond the BSC of my youth, whether the later series like California Diaries and Friends Forever or new additions like this. Once I got past the "AW, MY CHILDHOOD!" reaction, the revival of an 80s/90s artifact like this just seems *weird*. Really, aren't we all just fans of Claudia's outfits now? Is babysitting still a draw for YA readers? Can't we remember the 10+ years of perspective that have created the BSC-snark movement that I so loooooooooooove? Why did ANM seem to forget that Mary Anne doesn't know Jenny Prezzioso four books later?
Anyway, kudos to ANM (yes. ANM in my brain) and Scholastic for resuscitating the BSC and reminding me (again) of how funny my old fictional BFFs are.
(As for this book in particular: it's a little weird to read a BSC book written in retrospective voice - and sometimes using overly adult phraseology, but that was always a delightful feature of the series, I guess - and I'm disappointed they didn't put the girls' names in their own handwriting as headers, but it was a good revisit to Stoneybrook. And I didn't remember what a huge bitch Laine was!
But this. I have never felt any need to go beyond the BSC of my youth, whether the later series like California Diaries and Friends Forever or new additions like this. Once I got past the "AW, MY CHILDHOOD!" reaction, the revival of an 80s/90s artifact like this just seems *weird*. Really, aren't we all just fans of Claudia's outfits now? Is babysitting still a draw for YA readers? Can't we remember the 10+ years of perspective that have created the BSC-snark movement that I so loooooooooooove? Why did ANM seem to forget that Mary Anne doesn't know Jenny Prezzioso four books later?
Anyway, kudos to ANM (yes. ANM in my brain) and Scholastic for resuscitating the BSC and reminding me (again) of how funny my old fictional BFFs are.
(As for this book in particular: it's a little weird to read a BSC book written in retrospective voice - and sometimes using overly adult phraseology, but that was always a delightful feature of the series, I guess - and I'm disappointed they didn't put the girls' names in their own handwriting as headers, but it was a good revisit to Stoneybrook. And I didn't remember what a huge bitch Laine was!