Title:
Author: Ann M. Martin
Genre: Middle Grade
ISBN: 0545160936
Pages: 224
Year: 2010
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Library
Rating: 5/5 (for what it was – obviously not the “best” book I’ve ever read)
When I first heard that a Babysitters Club prequel was being published, I didn’t think I’d have any interest in it. A reunion maybe, but why a prequel? We already know the characters’ back stories. How could an entire book about them be interesting?
Oh, how wrong I was.
First, some background. I LOVED the Babysitters Club books when I was a kid. I had more than one entire shelf on my bookcase dedicated to the series – more than any other series would ever get on that shelf (sadly, I think a lot of those books were “lost” during the eventful summer of 2008 but I will have to take a look at what my brother salvaged for me). When I had to do a report on what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said I wanted to be an author and did my report on Ann M. Martin. I was hooked.
By 6th or 7th grade, however, I had abandoned the books for the more grown-up writings of RL Stine and Christopher Pike. I don’t think I really looked back.
But, to borrow words from Kelly, I missed these characters without even realizing it.
After only a few pages of The Summer Before, I was completely sucked in. I didn’t have high expectations for the book other than reliving some fond childhood memories. But what I got was a well-written, funny, warm-hearted story that made me so nostalgic for these books that I wished I bought the first three reissues when I saw them last week.
A quick plot summary:
- The girls have just finished 6th grade and have their entire summers before them.
- Kristy is dealing with her mom’s new boyfriend and the hurt from her dad abandoning her.
- Mary Anne gets her first chance to babysit but still has to convince her dad she isn’t a baby.
- Claudia experiences her first boyfriend and a distance as she matures faster than her friends.
- Stacey, friendless in New York City, anxiously awaits her move to Stoneybrook where she can start over.
If you loved these books when you were a kid, I promise that you will also love this prequel.
Buy It Now: Amazon
my books. my life. 
I KNOW! It was so good. 🙂 I hope there are more new BSC books to come.
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I had no idea Ann Martin was going to be writing this. I loved the books when I was younger. But, like you, I grew out of them around the time I turned into a teenager. I’ll definitely have to check this out sometime this summer 🙂
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Hmm, I have the same thoughts you did about a prequel.. but if you say so, lol! I’ll definitely read it!!
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I’m looking forward to reading this book! I think I’ll probably buy it for my best friend’s birthday gift also.
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I’ve seen this around the blogsphere. My library doesn’t have it so it looks like I’ll have to buy it. Darn!
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Love it..going to check it!
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YAY!!! I’m reading it now and I can’t wait to finish it! 🙂
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I didn’t even know this was being released! I loved these books as a kid too, this one sounds like fun.
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I loved the Baby Sitters Club when I was a child as well. My library didn’t own all of the books and I was quite desperate about that (just like I hated the fact that my library owned all the books of LIttle House On The Prairie except one, I just never understood why they had to leave that one out, right in the middle of the series). Anyway, I didn’t expect to like a prequel either, but if you say so.. I’m tempted to pick it up.
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I love this book even if is not the best book ever but is a good book.
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