Kristy's Great Idea (The Baby-Sitter's Club #1)
by Ann M. Martin
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ann M. MartinEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1995-09-01
ISBN: 0590224735
Number of pages: 153
Publisher: Scholastic
Book Reviews of Kristy's Great Idea (The Baby-Sitter's Club #1)
Book Review: The cultural climate for teens has changed since August '86
Summary: 5 Stars
I understand the bad and good reviews. Here's why:
When these books came out in the mid-eighties, teenagers weren't the same as they are today. Today's teenagers, as exemplified in some reviews here, are growing up faster and earlier than before. This book was geared for pre-teen girls in the mid '80s. Pre-teen girls today, as well as 13-14 year olds, are bored with these books because their worlds are much harsher in 2005 than in 1985. Even some 9-year-olds today might think the books are good enough for Keep in mind these books were written before the media-saturating culture of the 1990s and Columbine and problems like drug use, teen pregnancy and suicide came into being. Even some of the reviewers from 1998, who were 13 at the time, were bored with the book because it was unrealistic to a degree. Girls today at age 11 look 14, girls at 14 look 17, and so on. Back in the '80s most girls at 11 looked 11 or 12 at the oldest.
I enjoyed reading these books in 1994 as an 11 year old, but now they are outdated, like books about the Cold War at the end of the '80s (Red Storm Rising) and (Flight of the Old Dog).
They have ok to good plots. Claudia Kishi is my favorite character. I think it was a good concept, but it could've been improved. Here are some reasons:
1) In '86 they were 12, in '87 they were 13 and stayed that way until '00 or '01 when they graduated from 8th grade. Keep in mind the original 12-year-olds in the '86 book were born in '74; they'd be 30 or 31 today. The 13- and 14-year-olds in the last 2001 book would be 17 or close to 18 today. They should've gone to 14 year old high schoolers by '93 (book 51) and 15,16 year old kids by '97-98.
2) More social issues were needed in the later ones. The shootings at schools from '96 to '99 could've been worked into the plot without much violence. Also it would've been interesting to see how the series deals with 8th grade girls, partying, alcohol, marijuana use and the court system for these girls.
3) it would've been neat to see cultural references to the time periods in which the books were written (in the first one it could talk about kristy's father, mother, etc. talking about president reagan or the bsc watching mtv, kristy watching the then-new espn, or seeeing "16 candles" with Molly Ringwald)
As it is, the first cover has a picture of a nancy drew book.
4) One or more of the characters should've died at the end of the series. That way teens can learn how to deal with death as well. Stalker and rape issues should be covered in the later ones to give it a sense of gritty truth and hard-hitting punch, while maintaining some of its original innocence.
I am writing a novel right now and know the greatest strength of the series is the character development. The artist who does the cover art for the books has a good framework to work with based on Martin's description of the characters. The characters have flaws (McGill is beautiful, but diabetic; Jessie is a dancer, but faces prejudice in conservative Stoneybrook) which makes them realistic.
Overall, a good book with some realism.
Summary of Kristy's Great Idea (The Baby-Sitter's Club #1)
The first of the new Collector's Club Editions features a new logo, bright new cover, and fill-in pages to personalize as Kristy comes up with the idea for the Baby-sitter's Club with friends Claudia, Stacey, and Mary Anne.It all began with a great idea ... and the inspiring original story of the Baby-sitters Club is back! Kristy Thomas's brilliant business plan gets off to a great start with the help of Claudia Kishi (vice-president), Mary Anne Spier (secretary), and Stacey McGill (treasurer).
Amazon Exclusive Inteview with Author Ann M. Martin
Q: It's been a decade since the last Baby-sitters Club books came out, and 24 years since the first book was published. What was it like to come back to the BSC after so many years away?
Martin: I had a great time re-visiting the characters. It was fun to explore their lives in the prequel, ?"The Summer Before," and to figure out what led the girls to form The Baby-sitters Club, something that would eventually change their lives. It was like a reunion with friends--friends who haven?t changed a bit.
Q: Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey are very different characters, which is in part why the series was and is still so popular. Every reader can relate to at least one of the characters. So, we have to ask you--which character are you most like?
Martin: I am most like Mary Anne who is the shy and quiet one. Like me, Mary Anne enjoys more solitary pursuits such as reading and needlework. My favorite character, however, is Kristy. I think she's my alter ego.
Q: Were you allowed to baby-sit when you were twelve? If so, were they any funny or awful stories you'd like to share?
Martin: Yes, I did a lot of baby-sitting when I was twelve. One of the worst and also funniest things that ever happened was when I was baby-sitting for our neighbors and the kids wanted to wash their parents' car. They started the job with much enthusiasm--using Brillo pads.
Q: More than 200 BSC books were published in the eighties and nineties. Are there any that you are particularly fond of and why?
Martin: My favorite Baby-sitters Club book is "Kristy's Great Idea," which is the first book and sets the series in motion. I also like the more serious books such as "Claudia and the Sad Good-bye," which deals with the death of Claudia?s grandmother. This book was written shortly after my own grandmother died. My other favorite BSC books include ?Kristy and the Secret of Susan,? in which the members of the BSC baby-sit for a child with autism, and "Jessi's Secret Language" in which the girls learn American Sign Language in order to communicate with a sitting charge with profound hearing impairment.
Q: Why do you think that the series is so well-loved and has endured over so many years?
Martin: I think the characters in the BSC books are easily relatable. The books deal with timeless topics including friendship, family, and school. Also, the books tackle serious issues including racism, bullying, kids with disabilities (physical and mental), and death of a loved one. These issues were relevant to kids in the 1980s and 1990s, and are still relevant to kids today. In addition to being relatable, these are characters readers can aspire to. The kids run a business--in this case, a baby-sitting business. They are entrepreneurial, independent, creative, and confident. And at the heart of the series is the friendship--the "glue" that binds these characters. Sure, they have fights, but they're loyal and they support one another. I think a lot of us--even adults--can relate to that.
Q: "The Summer Before" takes place during the summer before the girls enter the seventh grade--where suddenly there's a ton of pressure to fit in. The months leading up to it can be filled with anxiety, excitement, and anticipation. Do you remember how you spent the summer before seventh grade?
Martin: I was nervous that summer because in the fall I would be going to a new school ? the junior high (this was in the time before middle schools). Even the words "junior high" seemed terribly grown-up. My friends and I would be attending school with eighth-graders, who were one step away from high school. I spent that summer reading, going to the community pool, taking a family trip to Cape May, New Jersey, doing some baby-sitting, and also recovering from surgery. But the knowledge that I would soon be in junior high school colored every day and every activity and did lend the summer an air of both anxiety and anticipation.
Q: Despite the fun the girls have together in "The Summer Before," they're all dealing with pretty tough problems?moving away, an absentee father, a first crush. How did you choose the issues you wanted to focus on?
Martin: One of my favorite things about writing a series was that the characters themselves generated plot ideas for later books. One of the themes that developed as the series progressed was that of Kristy's relationship with her father. It was an idea I enjoyed exploring, and when I had the opportunity to write the prequel I realized that this summer would be a charged time for Kristy, and that I could introduce the issues she had with her father here; then they could unfold in the later books. The same applied to Stacey. Her reasons for moving to Stoneybrook had been revealed in later books, but I realized that during this particular summer the reader could actually watch the events take place. The other issues ? a first crush, wanting more independence yet still feeling like a kid--are themes that I felt would resonate with most "tween" readers.
Q: Even though the books have been out of print for ten years there are still some very devoted fans. Surely you must have received a ton of letters about the series over the years. Are there any that stick out in your mind?
Martin: The most memorable are stories of girls who have written to me and told me that I?ve made an impact on their lives, that The Baby-sitters Club books have turned them into readers. Some have also said that the BSC books made them aspire to become writers. I?ve also heard from a lot of the original fans who grew up to become teachers, librarians, editors, journalists, entrepreneurs, etc. To know that this series inspired a generation of readers and writers is very humbling.
Q: There?s been a lot of speculation in the blogosphere about where Claudia, Kristy, Mary Ann, and Stacey would be now, in 2010, had they grown up. Do you have any thoughts on what path each would have taken?
Martin: I understand the fascination of the older BSC fans who would like to know what happened with the characters when they got older. It?s thrilling to realize that after all these years the fans remain passionate about the books and the characters in The Baby-sitters Club. I can see Kristy running a business--I can also see her being in politics. I think Mary Anne became a teacher. I imagine Stacey went into fashion--not as a designer, but maybe on the business side. And Claudia became an artist. I think fans can fill in for the rest of the characters!
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