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magic_at_mungos's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
2.75
finesilkflower's review
3.0
Kristy’s hip young English teacher, Ted, assigns the class to read from a list and to do a biography of a classmate. Kristy is paired with Cary Retlin, her archnemesis. She’s not excited about having to worm truth out of the insincere trickster Cary--and he does give flip joke answers to her interview questions--but when she visits him at his home, he’s nice and gives her total freedom to interview his brothers about him. One of his brothers mysteriously clams up when she asks why they moved, sparking Kristy’s curiosity. She sneaks into his room, ♪ just to read his diary ♫, it was just to see ♪, just to see ♪, all the things he’d written about getting kicked out of his old school and mixed up in the law for computer hacking. Kristy is shocked and confused. Should she follow up, do research, find out the details of the crime, and turn in a super juicy biography? Or should she back off, since Cary obviously wants to keep all this secret?
Of course, it’s Kristy, and she can’t just sit on information. She ends up blurting out a leading question full of references to the incident. Cary is confused at first, and then angry. He’s seriously upset that Kristy violated his privacy. Kristy feels terrible. Cary is not his usual self at all for the rest of the project; he just gives her a list of boring questions to answer and no longer seems interested in either speaking to her or annoying her. Kristy misses it.
Meanwhile, Ted is suspended after a parents’ group goes after him for including controversial books on his reading list. The new substitute allows the class to vent their feelings. Although Cary is still angry at Kristy, he publicly agrees with her pro-Ted stance and supports her decision to speak at a town hall meeting about the case. A cookie-cutter but still reasonably exciting censorship battle plotline proceeds apace, and in the end Ted is reinstated.
Cheers, hurrah, you knuckleheads still have work to do! Ted approves of Kristy and Cary’s progress on the biography project and asks Cary how his novel is coming. (That it was a Salinger homage should have been obvious from the reference to 'phonies.') Kristy realizes she has been brooding over false information. She feels betrayed--she felt really bad for Cary, but this has all been one of his elaborate tricks! Cary tells her that he really was genuinely upset that she read his work without his permission. The story was fiction, but it was still personal to him. Kristy apologizes.
The final scene has Kristy throwing a Christmas party with various little moments of drama as Stacey and Claudia continue feuding over Jeremy and Mary Anne shaken to find Logan chatting with Emily Bernstein. Kristy is pleased/annoyed to find Cary back to his usual level of insincerity.
Cary Retlin is weird creature. He seems like something out of a different plane of reality. I do appreciate him--he's funny and oddly dashing, and he has some moments in this book, such as answering Kristy’s question about what state he was born in “A state of innocence.” Writing dialogue for Cary gives the BSC writers who want to attempt it a chance to try for Howard Hawkes type banter, and it sometimes almost kind of works. I like that we're getting a character story about him that treats him as a person more than a plot device; it’s nice to see some real feelings from him, though I would have liked to see it go further (in the end, it is, after all, much ado about nothing). I respect that this didn’t go to a romantic place, although Cary has more convincing romantic tension with Kristy than any male ever has.
Author Gratefully Acknowledges: Ellen Miles, which you can tell from the fact that there's so many feelings over so little actually happening (in the Kristy/Cary storyline, anyway). Miles is great at writing tortured internal monologue and not so great at constructing plots, so that people often end up brooding mightily over the tiniest non-events.
Lingering Questions: So why did Ben clam up when Kristy asked why they moved?
Blatant Plagiarism from Calvin and Hobbes: Cary threatens to reveal “The Spaghetti Episode.”
Read as a kid? No--I was thirteen and in my “too old for BSC” stage (ha!) when it came out. This was the first Friends Forever book I read, and my first introduction to Cary Retlin, but I read it originally as an electronic fan-scan. Cary was Gary half the time and it was the longest time before I was sure of the character’s name. Also, the scanner didn’t pick up the handwritten parts, which include both Kristy and Cary’s interview questions and Cary’s pivotal diary entry, so the book really made about zero sense.
Timing: December (lead-up to Christmas)
Revised Timeline: December of third academic year postgrad. There’s a lot of school stuff here, but I suppose if we update it we can say that Cary is Kristy’s annoying work frenemy. Perhaps he keeps a juicy fictionalized blog under an assumed name, but Kristy recognizes his photo from his distinctive nipple piercing. I make my own fun.
Of course, it’s Kristy, and she can’t just sit on information. She ends up blurting out a leading question full of references to the incident. Cary is confused at first, and then angry. He’s seriously upset that Kristy violated his privacy. Kristy feels terrible. Cary is not his usual self at all for the rest of the project; he just gives her a list of boring questions to answer and no longer seems interested in either speaking to her or annoying her. Kristy misses it.
Meanwhile, Ted is suspended after a parents’ group goes after him for including controversial books on his reading list. The new substitute allows the class to vent their feelings. Although Cary is still angry at Kristy, he publicly agrees with her pro-Ted stance and supports her decision to speak at a town hall meeting about the case. A cookie-cutter but still reasonably exciting censorship battle plotline proceeds apace, and in the end Ted is reinstated.
Cheers, hurrah, you knuckleheads still have work to do! Ted approves of Kristy and Cary’s progress on the biography project and asks Cary how his novel is coming. (That it was a Salinger homage should have been obvious from the reference to 'phonies.') Kristy realizes she has been brooding over false information. She feels betrayed--she felt really bad for Cary, but this has all been one of his elaborate tricks! Cary tells her that he really was genuinely upset that she read his work without his permission. The story was fiction, but it was still personal to him. Kristy apologizes.
The final scene has Kristy throwing a Christmas party with various little moments of drama as Stacey and Claudia continue feuding over Jeremy and Mary Anne shaken to find Logan chatting with Emily Bernstein. Kristy is pleased/annoyed to find Cary back to his usual level of insincerity.
Cary Retlin is weird creature. He seems like something out of a different plane of reality. I do appreciate him--he's funny and oddly dashing, and he has some moments in this book, such as answering Kristy’s question about what state he was born in “A state of innocence.” Writing dialogue for Cary gives the BSC writers who want to attempt it a chance to try for Howard Hawkes type banter, and it sometimes almost kind of works. I like that we're getting a character story about him that treats him as a person more than a plot device; it’s nice to see some real feelings from him, though I would have liked to see it go further (in the end, it is, after all, much ado about nothing). I respect that this didn’t go to a romantic place, although Cary has more convincing romantic tension with Kristy than any male ever has.
Author Gratefully Acknowledges: Ellen Miles, which you can tell from the fact that there's so many feelings over so little actually happening (in the Kristy/Cary storyline, anyway). Miles is great at writing tortured internal monologue and not so great at constructing plots, so that people often end up brooding mightily over the tiniest non-events.
Lingering Questions: So why did Ben clam up when Kristy asked why they moved?
Blatant Plagiarism from Calvin and Hobbes: Cary threatens to reveal “The Spaghetti Episode.”
Read as a kid? No--I was thirteen and in my “too old for BSC” stage (ha!) when it came out. This was the first Friends Forever book I read, and my first introduction to Cary Retlin, but I read it originally as an electronic fan-scan. Cary was Gary half the time and it was the longest time before I was sure of the character’s name. Also, the scanner didn’t pick up the handwritten parts, which include both Kristy and Cary’s interview questions and Cary’s pivotal diary entry, so the book really made about zero sense.
Timing: December (lead-up to Christmas)
Revised Timeline: December of third academic year postgrad. There’s a lot of school stuff here, but I suppose if we update it we can say that Cary is Kristy’s annoying work frenemy. Perhaps he keeps a juicy fictionalized blog under an assumed name, but Kristy recognizes his photo from his distinctive nipple piercing. I make my own fun.
sammah's review
3.0
Oh, Cary Retlin. You were so great, and I wish we'd had more time together! You saved an otherwise dreadful and boring Kristy book. I mean it was still pretty dull, but you made it less so! So thank you, so much!
pixieauthoress's review
4.0
I have to admit, this storyline was very clever. I vaguely remember Cary from the original series and it was nice to have some conflict with a non-BSC character for once. I've read two of the FF books and quite enjoy them. Slightly more mature than the original books as there aren't any contrived babysitting sub-plots shoved alongside the main story. Overall, a fun and unique book. 8/10
ssshira's review
2.0
this is my first time reading this book.
in this book by resident bsc mystery ghostwriter [a:Ellen Miles|286072|Ellen Miles|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], kristy’s young cool teacher ted gives her class an assignment: get to know your assignment partner very well, then write their biography. kristy is paired with mischief knight cary retlin (see [b:Stacey and the Haunted Masquerade|1812364|Stacey and the Haunted Masquerade (Baby-Sitters Club Mystery, #22)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387703554l/1812364._SX50_.jpg|1811734] for his introduction and [b:Kristy and the Middle School Vandal|646477|Kristy and the Middle School Vandal (Baby-Sitters Club Mystery, #25)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1417652438l/646477._SX50_.jpg|632624] for his most memorable plotline), much to her chagrin. claud is paired with jeremy, much to stacey’s chagrin (they bond a lot, and stacey gets super jealous). cary asks kristy weird, pointless questions like what she thinks aliens look like, and he gives her weird, evasive answers to her straightforward questions. it’s frustrating until she stumbles upon his journal which alludes to his being kicked out of his previous school. later, cary is teasing kristy, and she says, “at least I didn’t get kicked out of school!” cary is understandably pissed and makes kristy fill out a sheet of questions instead of continuing the interview process. finally, kristy discovers that it wasn’t cary’s journal, it was a novel he’s working on. but she still learns her lesson about being a judgmental snoop, I guess? meanwhile, the young cool teacher ted also told the class they had to read a fiction book from a list he put together. it includes all kinds of scandalous titles like [b:The Catcher in the Rye|5107|The Catcher in the Rye|J.D. Salinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398034300l/5107._SY75_.jpg|3036731], so mrs. dow, the mom of one of the girls in the class, tries to get ted fired for it. it basically just turns into an obvious anti-censorship story, which the bsc has already done ([b:Mary Anne and the Library Mystery|433227|Mary Anne and the Library Mystery (Baby-Sitters Club Mystery, #13)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387742600l/433227._SX50_.jpg|422170] and [b:Claudia and the First Thanksgiving|371065|Claudia and the First Thanksgiving (The Baby-Sitters Club, #91)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387713856l/371065._SX50_.jpg|361032]). in the end, they win and ted is reinstated as their teacher
highlights:
-ted’s substitute dresses like a fuddy duddy so kristy is disappointed. but she actually encourages the kids to get involved in ted’s case. maybe kristy should consider being less judgmental.
-kristy says that she doesn't have an issue with any of the books on the list, but if she or her parents did, she would have chosen not to read those books (since there were plenty of options). mrs. cow (wait, I mean dow) says that kristy doesn't speak for everyone in the class, but then merrie, mrs. dow’s daughter, says that kristy DOES in fact speak for everyone in the class. boom.
-at the end of the book, kristy tries to get cary to explain why his family actually moved to stoneybrook and cary says the townspeople accused him of being a witch
lowlights/nitpicks:
-kristy thinks it's weird that cary has a poster of melting clocks and one of a man with an apple where his head should be. apparently kristy just doesn't have sophisticated tastes or interests.
-it’s like, did we really need another book about banned books?
-claud's mom speaks against censorship at the meeting, which really annoys me because she's a censorer too, with nancy drew
outfits
holiday party outfits:
-kristy: 'I was wearing a holiday version of my usual "uniform": instead of jeans I wore dark green corduroys, and I'd topped them with a bright red turtleneck.'
-stacey "was wearing a red woolen miniskirt topped with a little red woolen jacket (she looked like a very hip Mrs. Claus)."
-claudia "had on red-and-white-striped stockings (the candy cane look) and a white dress with red polka dots. Miniature green Christmas tree earrings dangled from her ears."
-mary anne "looked beautiful in a navy blue velvet dress."
-dawn "was doing Christmas California-style, in a white denim miniskirt and green silk blouse."
ms. dewey (substitute for ted):
-"She was wearing a beige skirt, a lighter-beige blouse, a darker-beige jacket, and brown shoes."
snacks in claudia’s room:
-mallomars (n.s.)
-pretzels (n.s.)
in this book by resident bsc mystery ghostwriter [a:Ellen Miles|286072|Ellen Miles|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], kristy’s young cool teacher ted gives her class an assignment: get to know your assignment partner very well, then write their biography. kristy is paired with mischief knight cary retlin (see [b:Stacey and the Haunted Masquerade|1812364|Stacey and the Haunted Masquerade (Baby-Sitters Club Mystery, #22)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387703554l/1812364._SX50_.jpg|1811734] for his introduction and [b:Kristy and the Middle School Vandal|646477|Kristy and the Middle School Vandal (Baby-Sitters Club Mystery, #25)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1417652438l/646477._SX50_.jpg|632624] for his most memorable plotline), much to her chagrin. claud is paired with jeremy, much to stacey’s chagrin (they bond a lot, and stacey gets super jealous). cary asks kristy weird, pointless questions like what she thinks aliens look like, and he gives her weird, evasive answers to her straightforward questions. it’s frustrating until she stumbles upon his journal which alludes to his being kicked out of his previous school. later, cary is teasing kristy, and she says, “at least I didn’t get kicked out of school!” cary is understandably pissed and makes kristy fill out a sheet of questions instead of continuing the interview process. finally, kristy discovers that it wasn’t cary’s journal, it was a novel he’s working on. but she still learns her lesson about being a judgmental snoop, I guess? meanwhile, the young cool teacher ted also told the class they had to read a fiction book from a list he put together. it includes all kinds of scandalous titles like [b:The Catcher in the Rye|5107|The Catcher in the Rye|J.D. Salinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398034300l/5107._SY75_.jpg|3036731], so mrs. dow, the mom of one of the girls in the class, tries to get ted fired for it. it basically just turns into an obvious anti-censorship story, which the bsc has already done ([b:Mary Anne and the Library Mystery|433227|Mary Anne and the Library Mystery (Baby-Sitters Club Mystery, #13)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387742600l/433227._SX50_.jpg|422170] and [b:Claudia and the First Thanksgiving|371065|Claudia and the First Thanksgiving (The Baby-Sitters Club, #91)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387713856l/371065._SX50_.jpg|361032]). in the end, they win and ted is reinstated as their teacher
highlights:
-ted’s substitute dresses like a fuddy duddy so kristy is disappointed. but she actually encourages the kids to get involved in ted’s case. maybe kristy should consider being less judgmental.
-kristy says that she doesn't have an issue with any of the books on the list, but if she or her parents did, she would have chosen not to read those books (since there were plenty of options). mrs. cow (wait, I mean dow) says that kristy doesn't speak for everyone in the class, but then merrie, mrs. dow’s daughter, says that kristy DOES in fact speak for everyone in the class. boom.
-at the end of the book, kristy tries to get cary to explain why his family actually moved to stoneybrook and cary says the townspeople accused him of being a witch
lowlights/nitpicks:
-kristy thinks it's weird that cary has a poster of melting clocks and one of a man with an apple where his head should be. apparently kristy just doesn't have sophisticated tastes or interests.
-it’s like, did we really need another book about banned books?
-claud's mom speaks against censorship at the meeting, which really annoys me because she's a censorer too, with nancy drew
outfits
holiday party outfits:
-kristy: 'I was wearing a holiday version of my usual "uniform": instead of jeans I wore dark green corduroys, and I'd topped them with a bright red turtleneck.'
-stacey "was wearing a red woolen miniskirt topped with a little red woolen jacket (she looked like a very hip Mrs. Claus)."
-claudia "had on red-and-white-striped stockings (the candy cane look) and a white dress with red polka dots. Miniature green Christmas tree earrings dangled from her ears."
-mary anne "looked beautiful in a navy blue velvet dress."
-dawn "was doing Christmas California-style, in a white denim miniskirt and green silk blouse."
ms. dewey (substitute for ted):
-"She was wearing a beige skirt, a lighter-beige blouse, a darker-beige jacket, and brown shoes."
snacks in claudia’s room:
-mallomars (n.s.)
-pretzels (n.s.)
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