The Baby-Sitters Club: The Summer Before

I was beyond thrilled to hear that Ann M. Martin was writing a prequel to the BSC. I've been a fan of the books since I was 7 years old - more than 20 years now. The book is set the summer before the BSC begins (if that isn't obvious from the title) and stars Mary Anne, Claudia, Kristy, and Stacy, with a cameo from Mallory. We see a lot of our favorite baby-sitting charges too. Although this book is written for tweens, I think adults will relate to it best - especially those of us who have "known" the BSC girls for years. All four of the girls are struggling. It really is a difficult summer - that awkward time when you're no longer a little child, but you're not even a full teenager yet. Mary Anne is feeling tied down by her strict father and trying to learn everything she can about her deceased mother. Kristy is devastated that her father is completely absent and resents Watson's intrusion. Claudia is ready to grow-up and clashes with her still childish friends - she gets her first boyfriend and learns that's not always as great as it seems. Stacy is about to move away from NYC, has no friends, and still getting used to being diabetic. I felt sad throughout a lot of the book - relating to the girls now more as a parent than as a friend - you just want to give them a hug and try to ease the growing-up process. This interesting but difficult summer makes the Baby-Sitter's Club seem even more important than before - it gave 4 girls a place of friendship, happiness, and stability. Ann M. Martin's writing has definitely improved over the years. She'll never be one of the more skilled writers in children's literature, but I can see clear growth between this book and her early books. The sentence structure and language are more varied, although the formulaic nature of the series was somewhat unavoidable in such a large product. She still does have a thing for parentheses, which always amused me. I wish we could see the BSC girls all grown up, but this is a fabulous addition to the BSC canon.

I've been reading the Baby-Sitter's Club series since I was 7 (going on 17 years now) and am still a HUGE fan of the series. I feel like the girls of the BSC are my best friends. I pre-ordered this book and could not put it down. It's about the summer before seventh grade for Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi and Stacey McGill. Kristy secretly wishes for her father to come back, hoping he will surprise her for her 12th birthday. Mary Anne, still in pigtails and little girls clothes, must deal with her super strict father and convince him that she's old enough to baby-sit, Claudia falls for her sister Claudia's friend Frank at her 12th birthday party (and her first boy/girl party), and Stacey is dealing with the losing her best friend Laine whom she grew up with but got into a fight with when she found out she got diabetes and now Stacey's family is moving to Stoneybrooke for a fresh start. Kristy, Mary Anne and Claudia grew up on Bradford Court but started growing apart in 6th grade and are coming to terms with the friendship this summer, but all things turn out great at the end, as they form a club, and Stacey is invited into this club and gets her fresh start. It's a summer of learning and growing and friendship....and watching for those shooting stars.

Gosh I love this series. This book is a prequel, it takes place before the first book. Kristy misses her dad who is absentee, Claudia falls for an older boy, Mary Anne's dad is just too darn strict, and Stacey is about to move from NY. This book was very well written and serves as the perfect prequel. Now, all we need is a BSC Flashfoward! LOVE IT

I was so excited when I heard that a prequel was being written. I read every single BSC book growing up and have gotten my nieces hooked on them too. Ann M. Martin has written a wonderful beginning to this wonderful series. I was instantly transformed back to Stonybrook and into the lives of its residents. I noticed a few continuity issues but that was just because I am a somewhat obsessed fan of this series. I doubt most normal readers would even notice. This book had a lot of very emotional chapters which I'm thinking may be lost on the age of the readers the book was designed for. Overall, this is a wonderful book for all of us old friends as well as a great introduction for new fans.