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The Baby-Sitters Club #13
Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye
Oh no! Stacey McGill is moving back to New York! That means no more Stoneybrook Middle School, no more Charlotte Johanssen, and worst of all... no more Baby-sitters Club!
Stacey's friends are crushed when they hear that Stacey's moving, Claudia most of all. Stacey was her first best friend.
How will the BSC cope without Stacey? What kind of going-away present is good enough for someone as special as she is? But most important... who is going to be the next member of the Baby-sitters Club?
Stacey's friends are crushed when they hear that Stacey's moving, Claudia most of all. Stacey was her first best friend.
How will the BSC cope without Stacey? What kind of going-away present is good enough for someone as special as she is? But most important... who is going to be the next member of the Baby-sitters Club?
132 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1988
About the author
Ann M. Martin
926 books2,847 followersAnn Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
April 3, 2020
Me pareció un poco aburridoooo, pero bonito de todos modos :).
March 9, 2023
This was how I caught the reading bug at around 11 years of age. This one was one of my faves as my favourite character went back home to New York. That city then became somewhere I have wanted to visit ever since, it would be safe to say I have a little obsession about all things NY. So, introduction to reading and introduction to an awesome city in a different continent. These books were very easy to read, I remember skimming the first chapter or so as the characters and bio of the story was always discussed at the beginning. Later on as an adult I came to understand that this series was heavily ghostwritten, but that didn't effect my thoughts or the way these books constructed my love of words. It was always a little funny to me that the illustrator had an unusual name - Hodges Soileau. I didn't know the origins of the name, nor did the internet exist for me to research, but it's a name that I know even today. I was enamoured with the author, the concept and all the other little bits and pieces that came along with the collection, which I eventually purchased most through eBay or garage sales as I grew up. I did also buy the little sister off shoot, and my daughters read most. I cannot forget to mention the Super Specials. They were fun! I even remember number three of the series being read on the beach, and if I track it down today I know it would still be stuck to the spine on the plastic adhesive I religiously covered them with. Joy!
January 28, 2020
Gurl Bye
Welp, we've had our first casualty.
There comes a point in nearly any television series with a serial plot (i.e. a story that changes over time, unlike, for instance, a sitcom where the universe stays largely the same) where the writers don't know what to do with a particular character anymore. But because of being a fan favorite or possibly contracts or plain old "they haven't realized it yet", they have to find some way to fit them into a series that has passed them by. Off the top of my head, series that have done this include:
* Smallville (Chloe)
* Charmed (Leo)
* Arrow (Laurel) - I've only seen a season and a half of this show, but the alcoholism plotline is terrible, sorry
* Dexter (entire cast)
Stacey has been lagging lately. Unfortunately, the things that make her unique don't sustain well across multiple books. We KNOW you have diabetes, lady, everyone's very specific about reminding us how they accommodate your diet at parties. She's also from New York, but her New Yorkness doesn't define her strongly in the way Dawn's Californianess defines her.
So other than diabetes and New York, Stacey is just bland Claudia. Kinda cool. Into fashion. But Claudia has a lot of color to her depiction, not to mention she comes with a cast of supporting characters in Mimi and Janine. Stacey has overbearing parents we never see and Lainey back in the city.
She hasn't had anything interesting to do in the books for a while. It's a shame. I like Stacey. But we have to be real. So Ann Martin's doing the smart thing and writing Stacey out of Stoneybrook. At least for now.
I was afraid this story would amount to a lot of whining on Stacey's part that it's not fair they have to move back to New York and why does she have to uproot her life again and all that. But Stacey's remarkably cool about the whole thing. Conflicted and sad, sure, but she weighs the good and the bad and manages to stay positive.
But that's also the problem with the book. There's nothing really to it. There's a party, there's a B-plot about a giant yard sale (which was pretty good), and then it's over. Good-bye, Stacey. It's meh as books go, but the choice was still solid.
If you look down the publication line of BSC titles, there's another Stacey story coming up 4-5 books from now. I think the girls go to New York in it. I also think she eventually comes back to Stoneybrook at some point. That might be fine. But here's why it's for the best that she's gone now:
1. To make room for some new blood. While characters are getting added left and right, the girls are also aging quickly. Stacey moving makes room for Mallory -- a couple years younger than the others -- to join the club. There's a wealth of plot potential there.
2. Claudia. Poor Claudia is likely to be the most trod-upon character in the entire series, but she an excellent candidate for it since she delivers pathos so well. Her estrangement from her sister and Mimi's stroke made one of the best storylines so far. Eventually Mimi will probably die. Sorry, that's just how good drama works. Until then, separating Claudia from her best friend and colorful comrade-in-arms against boring, beige Stoneybrook is just rife with dramatic potential. Claudia will emerge from this an even better character.
3. Stacey might come back stronger. Hopefully. She might not. But I'm hoping that in some way, New York changes her. She can be super confident or indie or metro or a shoulder-padded power lesbian, but something's gotta define her upon her return. If it doesn't, then everyone developing the series has failed.
Good-bye, Stacey, good-bye. I won't miss you. Have a black and white cookie for me. Those I miss.
*************************************
Homework: Think about people whose plot lines have become stagnant in your own life. Find ways to shake things up. Sleep with their boyfriend. Slowly poison them over a period of months. If they are the CEO of a company, infiltrate the board of directors and perform a hostile takeover. Be creative and have fun!
<< #12: Claudia and the New Girl
#14: Hello, Mallory! >>
Welp, we've had our first casualty.
There comes a point in nearly any television series with a serial plot (i.e. a story that changes over time, unlike, for instance, a sitcom where the universe stays largely the same) where the writers don't know what to do with a particular character anymore. But because of being a fan favorite or possibly contracts or plain old "they haven't realized it yet", they have to find some way to fit them into a series that has passed them by. Off the top of my head, series that have done this include:
* Smallville (Chloe)
* Charmed (Leo)
* Arrow (Laurel) - I've only seen a season and a half of this show, but the alcoholism plotline is terrible, sorry
* Dexter (entire cast)
Stacey has been lagging lately. Unfortunately, the things that make her unique don't sustain well across multiple books. We KNOW you have diabetes, lady, everyone's very specific about reminding us how they accommodate your diet at parties. She's also from New York, but her New Yorkness doesn't define her strongly in the way Dawn's Californianess defines her.
So other than diabetes and New York, Stacey is just bland Claudia. Kinda cool. Into fashion. But Claudia has a lot of color to her depiction, not to mention she comes with a cast of supporting characters in Mimi and Janine. Stacey has overbearing parents we never see and Lainey back in the city.
She hasn't had anything interesting to do in the books for a while. It's a shame. I like Stacey. But we have to be real. So Ann Martin's doing the smart thing and writing Stacey out of Stoneybrook. At least for now.
I was afraid this story would amount to a lot of whining on Stacey's part that it's not fair they have to move back to New York and why does she have to uproot her life again and all that. But Stacey's remarkably cool about the whole thing. Conflicted and sad, sure, but she weighs the good and the bad and manages to stay positive.
But that's also the problem with the book. There's nothing really to it. There's a party, there's a B-plot about a giant yard sale (which was pretty good), and then it's over. Good-bye, Stacey. It's meh as books go, but the choice was still solid.
If you look down the publication line of BSC titles, there's another Stacey story coming up 4-5 books from now. I think the girls go to New York in it. I also think she eventually comes back to Stoneybrook at some point. That might be fine. But here's why it's for the best that she's gone now:
1. To make room for some new blood. While characters are getting added left and right, the girls are also aging quickly. Stacey moving makes room for Mallory -- a couple years younger than the others -- to join the club. There's a wealth of plot potential there.
2. Claudia. Poor Claudia is likely to be the most trod-upon character in the entire series, but she an excellent candidate for it since she delivers pathos so well. Her estrangement from her sister and Mimi's stroke made one of the best storylines so far. Eventually Mimi will probably die. Sorry, that's just how good drama works. Until then, separating Claudia from her best friend and colorful comrade-in-arms against boring, beige Stoneybrook is just rife with dramatic potential. Claudia will emerge from this an even better character.
3. Stacey might come back stronger. Hopefully. She might not. But I'm hoping that in some way, New York changes her. She can be super confident or indie or metro or a shoulder-padded power lesbian, but something's gotta define her upon her return. If it doesn't, then everyone developing the series has failed.
Good-bye, Stacey, good-bye. I won't miss you. Have a black and white cookie for me. Those I miss.
*************************************
Homework: Think about people whose plot lines have become stagnant in your own life. Find ways to shake things up. Sleep with their boyfriend. Slowly poison them over a period of months. If they are the CEO of a company, infiltrate the board of directors and perform a hostile takeover. Be creative and have fun!
<< #12: Claudia and the New Girl
#14: Hello, Mallory! >>
January 26, 2010
so not into this book. the plot: stacey gets a call from her mom right after a babysitters club meeting, requesting that she hurry home right away. she does, thinking that someone died or something. but in fact, mr. mcgill is being transferred back to new york. the whole family has to pack up & get ready to re-locate in a month.
stacey doesn't know how to feel. she's excited to go back to new york & hang out with laine again & be in the city, close to shopping, museums, & broadway shows. but she'll miss the babysitters club & claudia & all the kids she sits for. not that it matters--the decision has been made. which makes for a really anti-climactic book. it's all just packing & letting people know she's leaving. they try to wring some dramatic tension out of the club's desire to throw stacey a really cool going away party, but it was pretty obvious from the get-go that they'd pull off something that stacey really enjoyed. in fact, this is arguably the first instance of the sitters being way over-involved with the neighborhood kids. dawn has the bright idea to invite all the kids they sit to the going away party, instead of kids from school. stacey is a better person than i, because i'd hate having to watch a bunch of children when i'm expecting to hang out with people my own age. the kids are all adorable & make her a whole pile of poorly-spelled bon voyage cards, & they draw a big mural of stoneybrook, & it's all very sickly sweet. i'm surprised stacey didn't go into a diabetic coma from all the treacle. & then mcgills leave.
there's also this whole yard sale plot. even though the mcgills' original NYC apartment apparently had four bedrooms (for a family of three), & mr. & mrs. mcgill have promised stacey an even BIGGER apartment this time (how much space do these people need? are they descended from the rothschilds or what? because i did a google search & apparently stacey's new apartment is mere steps away from central park & the museum of natural history on the upper west side, & a search of real estate in the area with four or more bedrooms brings up properties that cost literally several million dollars; hilariously, one of stacey's neighbors would have been patrick bateman, from american psycho, who also lives in w. 81st.), they don't think they can fit their whole house into a new york apartment (how freaking enormous is the house?!?). so stacey convinces her mom to let the club host a yard sale to get rid of some of their junk. & claudia sells brownies, dawn sells spider plant babies, mary anne sells eyeglass cases & pot holders, the barrett kids sell some of their old toys, etc. it's a big success, & stacey's parents let the club keep the money (stacey is seriously spoiled), & they use it for stacey's party.
there's also a ton of foreshadowing about inviting mallory pike to become a member of the club. mallory was my favorite when i was a kid (the refrain of many a book-ish child). i wonder if her books will hold up under the harsh light of me being thirty now.
stacey doesn't know how to feel. she's excited to go back to new york & hang out with laine again & be in the city, close to shopping, museums, & broadway shows. but she'll miss the babysitters club & claudia & all the kids she sits for. not that it matters--the decision has been made. which makes for a really anti-climactic book. it's all just packing & letting people know she's leaving. they try to wring some dramatic tension out of the club's desire to throw stacey a really cool going away party, but it was pretty obvious from the get-go that they'd pull off something that stacey really enjoyed. in fact, this is arguably the first instance of the sitters being way over-involved with the neighborhood kids. dawn has the bright idea to invite all the kids they sit to the going away party, instead of kids from school. stacey is a better person than i, because i'd hate having to watch a bunch of children when i'm expecting to hang out with people my own age. the kids are all adorable & make her a whole pile of poorly-spelled bon voyage cards, & they draw a big mural of stoneybrook, & it's all very sickly sweet. i'm surprised stacey didn't go into a diabetic coma from all the treacle. & then mcgills leave.
there's also this whole yard sale plot. even though the mcgills' original NYC apartment apparently had four bedrooms (for a family of three), & mr. & mrs. mcgill have promised stacey an even BIGGER apartment this time (how much space do these people need? are they descended from the rothschilds or what? because i did a google search & apparently stacey's new apartment is mere steps away from central park & the museum of natural history on the upper west side, & a search of real estate in the area with four or more bedrooms brings up properties that cost literally several million dollars; hilariously, one of stacey's neighbors would have been patrick bateman, from american psycho, who also lives in w. 81st.), they don't think they can fit their whole house into a new york apartment (how freaking enormous is the house?!?). so stacey convinces her mom to let the club host a yard sale to get rid of some of their junk. & claudia sells brownies, dawn sells spider plant babies, mary anne sells eyeglass cases & pot holders, the barrett kids sell some of their old toys, etc. it's a big success, & stacey's parents let the club keep the money (stacey is seriously spoiled), & they use it for stacey's party.
there's also a ton of foreshadowing about inviting mallory pike to become a member of the club. mallory was my favorite when i was a kid (the refrain of many a book-ish child). i wonder if her books will hold up under the harsh light of me being thirty now.
March 1, 2020
I listen to the audiobook, and I have really been enjoying listening to the baby-sitters club books. This one is not my favorite one, but it is ok. I did read these book when I was younger.
November 26, 2018
What a cute read. Looks like the babysitters club is getting split up! With the sad news of Stacey moving back to New York all the girls get together to throw a surprise party for her. On the other hand , Stacey has to tell her baby sitting kids that she is leaving. Can the babysitters club even WORK without Stacey? Who can they get to replace her?
January 24, 2016
this is the first time I've read this book!
stacey finds out she has to move to new york. her friends want to throw her a going away party but don't have any good ideas and don't have money for it. they have a big yard sale to earn money and then invite their baby-sitting charges to the party (which they have paid for with the yard sale money). that's pretty much it. not really a very interesting book.
highlights:
-when she finds out stacey is moving, claudia is particularly upset and tells her that she is claudia's only best friend she's ever had. this is a big deal for 13-year-old girls, most of whom have new best friends every year.
-we finally get some jordan pike character development beyond being masculine and a triplet: he creates a secret agent game, allowing his siblings to earn badges for different activities that involve them spying on the new neighbors. he doesn't earn badges because he is the creator of the game. he just assigns spying tasks but doesn't do them himself. sneaky future CEO!
-mallory pike says that their spying on the neighbors is an inversion of privacy. claudia smiles smugly about her misuse of language, which is funny but kind of rude considering you'd think claudia the poor speller would be more sympathetic about incorrect word choice.
-the neighbors that the pikes spy on are french. when they say they will have courgettes for dinner, the kids think that means children until mallory looks it up in a cookbook.
-kristy's enlightenment: mrs porter/morbidda destiny tells the kids at kristy's (david michael+karen+andrew, the papadakises, and the delaneys) that she will make them fresh lemonade. kristy find the frozen lemonade cans and realizes that mrs porter is just lonely and wants company.
-howie johnson buys a ring of stacey's to give to dorianne wallingford even though howie and stacey had just sort of dated. what a jerk!
-charlotte makes stacey a book called the girl who moved away. this is the dedication inside: "this book is for my favorite baby sitter from her favorite kid. to remember me by." AWWWWW.
-it is revealed that stacey's full first name is anastasia.
nitpicks:
-cover art: that is clearly kristy who dawn has her arm around. in this picture she is maybe a full foot shorter than dawn and claudia. unbelievable, hodges. does he think that claudia and dawn are both 5'9"? does he think kristy is 4'2"? consider that thirteen year olds are not usually fully grown, which means that claudia and dawn both being that tall would be unusual. consider also that while kristy is described as being short, we have no reason to believe she is a little person. it does not make any sense that she should be a full head shorter than the other girls.
-come ON, ann. you should know how to spell Iggie's House. it's not Iggy's House. also, yes it's a book about a girl moving away to some extent, but it's really a book about racism and the white savior complex. I don't think that charlotte would read that and be like, "oh, kids move away and it's sad but it works out so I'm fine with stacey moving away." she would be like, "but why are all those people so mean to the garbers just because they're black?" you're bringing up more questions than you're answering.
claudia outfit:
-"She was wearing a wonderful Claudia outfit--a purple-and-white striped body suit under a gray jumper thing. The legs of the body suit stretched all the way to her ankles, but she was wearing purple push-down socks anyway. Around her middle was a wide purple belt with a buckle in the shape of a telephone. And on her feet were black ballet slippers."
other outfits:
-dawn: "She was wearing a very short kilt, an oversized red sweater, and yellow socks over red tights. On her head was a red beret with a sparkly initial pin attached to it."
-mary anne (stacey helped her pick out the oufit): "It was tame, but not dorky--a navy blue minidress with a pink sash, blue tights, and black slippers like Claudia's."
kristy's comments about the school lunch:
-I've got it! Fungus--that's what this salad smells like!
-Remember those gym socks I lost last week? I think they're right here in my succotash.
snacks in claudia's room:
-pretzels (n.s.)
-fritos behind a spare blanket in her closet
-a bottle of diet soda ("from somewhere")
stacey finds out she has to move to new york. her friends want to throw her a going away party but don't have any good ideas and don't have money for it. they have a big yard sale to earn money and then invite their baby-sitting charges to the party (which they have paid for with the yard sale money). that's pretty much it. not really a very interesting book.
highlights:
-when she finds out stacey is moving, claudia is particularly upset and tells her that she is claudia's only best friend she's ever had. this is a big deal for 13-year-old girls, most of whom have new best friends every year.
-we finally get some jordan pike character development beyond being masculine and a triplet: he creates a secret agent game, allowing his siblings to earn badges for different activities that involve them spying on the new neighbors. he doesn't earn badges because he is the creator of the game. he just assigns spying tasks but doesn't do them himself. sneaky future CEO!
-mallory pike says that their spying on the neighbors is an inversion of privacy. claudia smiles smugly about her misuse of language, which is funny but kind of rude considering you'd think claudia the poor speller would be more sympathetic about incorrect word choice.
-the neighbors that the pikes spy on are french. when they say they will have courgettes for dinner, the kids think that means children until mallory looks it up in a cookbook.
-kristy's enlightenment: mrs porter/morbidda destiny tells the kids at kristy's (david michael+karen+andrew, the papadakises, and the delaneys) that she will make them fresh lemonade. kristy find the frozen lemonade cans and realizes that mrs porter is just lonely and wants company.
-howie johnson buys a ring of stacey's to give to dorianne wallingford even though howie and stacey had just sort of dated. what a jerk!
-charlotte makes stacey a book called the girl who moved away. this is the dedication inside: "this book is for my favorite baby sitter from her favorite kid. to remember me by." AWWWWW.
-it is revealed that stacey's full first name is anastasia.
nitpicks:
-cover art: that is clearly kristy who dawn has her arm around. in this picture she is maybe a full foot shorter than dawn and claudia. unbelievable, hodges. does he think that claudia and dawn are both 5'9"? does he think kristy is 4'2"? consider that thirteen year olds are not usually fully grown, which means that claudia and dawn both being that tall would be unusual. consider also that while kristy is described as being short, we have no reason to believe she is a little person. it does not make any sense that she should be a full head shorter than the other girls.
-come ON, ann. you should know how to spell Iggie's House. it's not Iggy's House. also, yes it's a book about a girl moving away to some extent, but it's really a book about racism and the white savior complex. I don't think that charlotte would read that and be like, "oh, kids move away and it's sad but it works out so I'm fine with stacey moving away." she would be like, "but why are all those people so mean to the garbers just because they're black?" you're bringing up more questions than you're answering.
claudia outfit:
-"She was wearing a wonderful Claudia outfit--a purple-and-white striped body suit under a gray jumper thing. The legs of the body suit stretched all the way to her ankles, but she was wearing purple push-down socks anyway. Around her middle was a wide purple belt with a buckle in the shape of a telephone. And on her feet were black ballet slippers."
other outfits:
-dawn: "She was wearing a very short kilt, an oversized red sweater, and yellow socks over red tights. On her head was a red beret with a sparkly initial pin attached to it."
-mary anne (stacey helped her pick out the oufit): "It was tame, but not dorky--a navy blue minidress with a pink sash, blue tights, and black slippers like Claudia's."
kristy's comments about the school lunch:
-I've got it! Fungus--that's what this salad smells like!
-Remember those gym socks I lost last week? I think they're right here in my succotash.
snacks in claudia's room:
-pretzels (n.s.)
-fritos behind a spare blanket in her closet
-a bottle of diet soda ("from somewhere")
February 18, 2018
The funny thing is that this book is more about the garage sale than about the McGills moving. The best part was the lemonade at Morbidda Destiny's. New favourite BSC character.
August 6, 2016
Ann M Martin experiments with moving Stacey back to NYC, only to admit her mistake several books later, and have Stacey come back to good old Stoneybrook. But for now, we are supposed to believe that this move is forever, and shed tears along with the BSC as they say goodbye to Stacey.
Things I remember from reading this as a kid:
The baby sitters putting together a yard sale, and Stacey trying to sell her clothes for $40.00 Just recently I was at a yard sale where someone was selling her clothes for $50.00 per item, which reminded me of this book. (Her clothes were pretty nice, but still. If a thrift store isn't charging that for the clothes, then why would I pay that much money? It's probably a bargain compared to what she paid for it in the store, but NOT a price someone who comes to a yard sale is going to pay.)
I also remember reading about the crazy people who come to her yard sale, and how awful they were, and my nine year old self could not imagine having to deal with such awful people. Now I have spent the last fifteen years working with the public, both in retail and at the library, and I have learned that Ann M Martin did not exaggerate how crazy people who come to yard sales are. If anything, she didn't make them crazy enough.
Things I've considered since reading this as an adult:
Stacey and Claudia met when they ran into each other wearing the same outfit: off the shoulder sweatshirts and high top sneakers. I bet they were wearing leggings and scrunchies too.
I didn't realize that Stacey was considered such a drip to her old classmates in New York, and I'm a little surprised that the reason she is such a drip has mostly to do with her diabetes. Even considering my thoughts that Stacey's family has always breezed through life with no real problems thanks to their insane amounts of money, and that they had trouble dealing with a problem that their money couldn't fix, it seems very strange that ALL of Stacey's friends have turned against her. I assume they are as rich as Stacey's family, and they don't like being faced with a problem that can't buy away. I also assume that part of the reason they don't like Stacey's illness is because they don't understand it (similar to Laine, who was afraid of Stacey's diabetes because she thought it was contagious). They make fun of Stacey for fainting and throwing up in school, which seems really mean considering what a serious disease diabetes is. Would they have made fun of her if she was throwing up because of chemo treatment to cure her cancer? It doesn't make any sense that these girls would be so disdainful of Stacey because of her serious, chronic illness that she can't control, and that she doesn't make a big deal about, if she can help it. It also doesn't make sense that Laine would want Stacey to come back to the school, unless she wants to use her power as a leader (as Stacey calls her in The Truth About Stacey) to shame the mean girls into being nice to Stacey. And from Laine's tone in this book, it doesn't sound like that's going to happen. If Laine is the queen bee (as Stacey implies) then if she is nice to Stacey the other girls should fall in line, but Laine doesn't say anything about making that happen. I think Stacey should go to a different school upon her return to NYC. Part of her problems of adjusting to her diabetes was due to her friends inability to accept Stacey as a sick person. Why would her parents send her back to that dysfunction? And if Laine is a true friend to Stacey why does she discourage her from pursuing that option? Clearly there are girls out there who don't care that Stacey has diabetes. Why is she stuck at an expensive school full of girls who do care?
Dawn says people in California don't have yard sales, which is ridiculous. The very first yard sales I ever went to were in California.
The Barretts strike again in this book. Once again, I cannot believe the nerve of their mother, sticking Dawn with the huge project of helping Suzi and Buddy set up a toy sale in their yard. It was completely obvious that Mrs Barrett wanted nothing to do with having this sale, so instead of just telling her kids, "No way" she tells them they can do it on a day when Dawn comes to baby-sit, and then doesn't tell Dawn about it beforehand. And she's only going to pay 50 cents more per hour? Is she kidding? This is why if Dawn were my daughter I would not allow her to baby sit for the Barretts. Mrs Barrett expects Dawn to parent her children, and doesn't even pay her a decent wage to do it.
I can't believe the baby sitters thought it was such a great idea to throw Stacey a party with their baby sitting charges. Why on earth would she want to baby sit 28 children for two hours? I know she has fun in the book, and even enjoys feeling like a teacher, but it doesn't seem quite in character for a teenage girl, especially one known for being so "sophisticated" and cosmopolitan. Maybe if I was a student at Stacey's fancy private school I would make fun of her too, not for her diabetes but because she is so lame. Again, what thirteen year old, expecting a party with her school friends, would jump for joy at realizing her party goers are actually the kids she baby sits for? Also, why are the kids described as being so well behaved? Surely at least of them threw a tantrum over her prize, or accused another team of cheating, or got into fight while cutting in line. No? Really? Stupid Stoneybrook and their perfect kids, Clearly, white, wealthy children from high income families are superior.
Things I remember from reading this as a kid:
The baby sitters putting together a yard sale, and Stacey trying to sell her clothes for $40.00 Just recently I was at a yard sale where someone was selling her clothes for $50.00 per item, which reminded me of this book. (Her clothes were pretty nice, but still. If a thrift store isn't charging that for the clothes, then why would I pay that much money? It's probably a bargain compared to what she paid for it in the store, but NOT a price someone who comes to a yard sale is going to pay.)
I also remember reading about the crazy people who come to her yard sale, and how awful they were, and my nine year old self could not imagine having to deal with such awful people. Now I have spent the last fifteen years working with the public, both in retail and at the library, and I have learned that Ann M Martin did not exaggerate how crazy people who come to yard sales are. If anything, she didn't make them crazy enough.
Things I've considered since reading this as an adult:
Stacey and Claudia met when they ran into each other wearing the same outfit: off the shoulder sweatshirts and high top sneakers. I bet they were wearing leggings and scrunchies too.
I didn't realize that Stacey was considered such a drip to her old classmates in New York, and I'm a little surprised that the reason she is such a drip has mostly to do with her diabetes. Even considering my thoughts that Stacey's family has always breezed through life with no real problems thanks to their insane amounts of money, and that they had trouble dealing with a problem that their money couldn't fix, it seems very strange that ALL of Stacey's friends have turned against her. I assume they are as rich as Stacey's family, and they don't like being faced with a problem that can't buy away. I also assume that part of the reason they don't like Stacey's illness is because they don't understand it (similar to Laine, who was afraid of Stacey's diabetes because she thought it was contagious). They make fun of Stacey for fainting and throwing up in school, which seems really mean considering what a serious disease diabetes is. Would they have made fun of her if she was throwing up because of chemo treatment to cure her cancer? It doesn't make any sense that these girls would be so disdainful of Stacey because of her serious, chronic illness that she can't control, and that she doesn't make a big deal about, if she can help it. It also doesn't make sense that Laine would want Stacey to come back to the school, unless she wants to use her power as a leader (as Stacey calls her in The Truth About Stacey) to shame the mean girls into being nice to Stacey. And from Laine's tone in this book, it doesn't sound like that's going to happen. If Laine is the queen bee (as Stacey implies) then if she is nice to Stacey the other girls should fall in line, but Laine doesn't say anything about making that happen. I think Stacey should go to a different school upon her return to NYC. Part of her problems of adjusting to her diabetes was due to her friends inability to accept Stacey as a sick person. Why would her parents send her back to that dysfunction? And if Laine is a true friend to Stacey why does she discourage her from pursuing that option? Clearly there are girls out there who don't care that Stacey has diabetes. Why is she stuck at an expensive school full of girls who do care?
Dawn says people in California don't have yard sales, which is ridiculous. The very first yard sales I ever went to were in California.
The Barretts strike again in this book. Once again, I cannot believe the nerve of their mother, sticking Dawn with the huge project of helping Suzi and Buddy set up a toy sale in their yard. It was completely obvious that Mrs Barrett wanted nothing to do with having this sale, so instead of just telling her kids, "No way" she tells them they can do it on a day when Dawn comes to baby-sit, and then doesn't tell Dawn about it beforehand. And she's only going to pay 50 cents more per hour? Is she kidding? This is why if Dawn were my daughter I would not allow her to baby sit for the Barretts. Mrs Barrett expects Dawn to parent her children, and doesn't even pay her a decent wage to do it.
I can't believe the baby sitters thought it was such a great idea to throw Stacey a party with their baby sitting charges. Why on earth would she want to baby sit 28 children for two hours? I know she has fun in the book, and even enjoys feeling like a teacher, but it doesn't seem quite in character for a teenage girl, especially one known for being so "sophisticated" and cosmopolitan. Maybe if I was a student at Stacey's fancy private school I would make fun of her too, not for her diabetes but because she is so lame. Again, what thirteen year old, expecting a party with her school friends, would jump for joy at realizing her party goers are actually the kids she baby sits for? Also, why are the kids described as being so well behaved? Surely at least of them threw a tantrum over her prize, or accused another team of cheating, or got into fight while cutting in line. No? Really? Stupid Stoneybrook and their perfect kids, Clearly, white, wealthy children from high income families are superior.
January 1, 2023
Read via audio (narrated by Erin Moon).
July 7, 2020
While I actually started reading around age 3 (thank you, my Granny's Dick and Jane books!), this series is what I remember most about loving to read during my childhood. My sister and I drank these books up like they were oxygen. I truly think we owned just about every single one from every one of the series. We even got the privilege of meeting Ann M. Martin at a book signing, but of course little starstruck me froze and could not speak a word to my biggest hero at that time. Once in awhile if I come across these at a yard sale, I will pick them up for a couple hour trip down memory lane, and I declare nearly nothing centers and relaxes me more!
September 11, 2012
Stacey is my favourite baby-sitter out of all the baby-sitters. It is really sad when she leaves because everybody in Stoneybrook loves her! Anyway Stacey is still excited because she is moving to New York where she used to live. So she still has all her old friends. But Stacey is still really sad that she has to leave Stoneybrook and the BSC.
September 19, 2012
Rating this five stars because STACEY FINALLY LEFT. Good riddance, you rotten-egg smelling poodle-haired NYC reject.
March 4, 2021
Actual rating, 3.5 stars
This one took me right back to the 5th grade when my childhood best friend, Logan, moved away, and I too remember acting much in the same way that Claudia and Stacey do. It's one of those coming-of-age things that I think everyone goes through and it's a great life lesson in how to keep up with your friends from long distance. Yes, it's different, and there is no way for it not to be, but you find the good and find the creative ways to keep each other close.
This was another charming installment and certainly reminded me of my own childhood and that point in time.
This one took me right back to the 5th grade when my childhood best friend, Logan, moved away, and I too remember acting much in the same way that Claudia and Stacey do. It's one of those coming-of-age things that I think everyone goes through and it's a great life lesson in how to keep up with your friends from long distance. Yes, it's different, and there is no way for it not to be, but you find the good and find the creative ways to keep each other close.
This was another charming installment and certainly reminded me of my own childhood and that point in time.
August 6, 2016
It was nice to have a book that was about a realistic life issue and not really a contrived "mystery" or plot about boys or miscommunication. I like that Stacey had decidedly mixed feelings about her situation: she loves her friends from Stoneybrook, being in the Baby-Sitters Club, and a lot of the kids she sits for, but she also has always been a New York City girl at heart and misses her best friend from NYC, Laine. So it was cool to see her conflicted feelings. I didn't really get how Stacey's family had so much crap that they'd collected in a year to have to have a yard sale in order to cram back into an apartment, though I guess it could happen. I guess this also shows how close the sitters are to the kids they sit for. On the one hand I thought it was kind of weird that Stacey's goodbye party had a bunch of little children at it, but on the other hand, these books are about their babysitting and I guess it makes sense for them to be super involved with it to the point that they have more than just a sitter/charge relationship with those kids.
April 17, 2020
4 stars. I remember being so upset with this book as a child because um, excuse you, how are you just going to separate my two favorite gal pals Stacey and Claudia like this? How dare you, Ann Martin! Little me was heartbroken I tell you. LOL. Stacey and Claudia are still my favorite of the girls and I love their friendship and honestly this one made me a little sad reading it even now. It was still fun though and I loved how the girls all came together to throw Stacey a big going away party. It was precious. This is a big turning point in the series where Mallory becomes a member in the next book and then Jessi becomes a member a little later so I'm excited.
{Challenges completed:
✔All Challenges All the Time: The Big Bang Theory Challenge
✔The Lost Challenges: The Best Snack Food From Every State Challenge (Book 18 out of 100)
✔The Lost Challenges: Most Iconic Album Covers Challenge
✔For Love of a Book: Baking Challenge
✔For Love of a Book: Greatest Love Stories Challenge
✔For Love of a Book: Alice in Wonderland Challenge}
{Challenges completed:
✔All Challenges All the Time: The Big Bang Theory Challenge
✔The Lost Challenges: The Best Snack Food From Every State Challenge (Book 18 out of 100)
✔The Lost Challenges: Most Iconic Album Covers Challenge
✔For Love of a Book: Baking Challenge
✔For Love of a Book: Greatest Love Stories Challenge
✔For Love of a Book: Alice in Wonderland Challenge}
January 3, 2023
In this book, Stacey gets conveniently written out of the story for a while.
Pros
-The yard sell part was interesting, actually the best part of the book.
-I never usually like the Morbidda Destiny parts of the books, but this one was actually good.
-The Pike kid's spy game.
-Charlotte this whole book, especially when she writes the story
-The little party that they gave Stacey and the kids.
Cons
-Mary Anne just crying. All. The. Time. More than usual. Like, okay.
-We need more Stacey books. Like, she doesn't have much to do in Stoneybrook, but putting her in New York gives her more chances for a story. I think there's like, one, book about her in New York, but later on in the series, Dawn gets about a million books about her life in California. Especially when things get all set up for at least a book that doesn't involve the sitters in New York.
Remarks
-Not many. A lot of random things were for sale at the yard sale, and then someone bought a rope and tried to buy a car. I don't know anyone or of anyone who would think the car was for sale.
Pros
-The yard sell part was interesting, actually the best part of the book.
-I never usually like the Morbidda Destiny parts of the books, but this one was actually good.
-The Pike kid's spy game.
-Charlotte this whole book, especially when she writes the story
-The little party that they gave Stacey and the kids.
Cons
-Mary Anne just crying. All. The. Time. More than usual. Like, okay.
-We need more Stacey books. Like, she doesn't have much to do in Stoneybrook, but putting her in New York gives her more chances for a story. I think there's like, one, book about her in New York, but later on in the series, Dawn gets about a million books about her life in California. Especially when things get all set up for at least a book that doesn't involve the sitters in New York.
Remarks
-Not many. A lot of random things were for sale at the yard sale, and then someone bought a rope and tried to buy a car. I don't know anyone or of anyone who would think the car was for sale.
May 20, 2020
This was better than I thought it would be, considering it focused on my least favorite BSC member. I can't relate to Stacey at all and I'm not upset that she's moving back to New York. The club members arranged a very sweet farewell event that got me slightly emotional. I'm eager to continue the series and learn more about the ladies. Goodbye Stacey, smell you later! You may now leave Stoneybrooke with my permission.
May 5, 2017
I used to love the Babysitter's Club! My friends and I used to swap them between us when I was in primary school. They were so popular at the time, there was a waiting list at the library if you wanted to read them in chronological order! I used to be allowed to buy one book a week on a Friday when I was younger; this was usually an Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl, Point Horror or one of these! I would love to revisit them at some stage, just for nostalgia's sake!
January 9, 2019
3.5 stars
This one got me at just the right time. I could already heavily relate to the story as I moved a lot as a kid so know how hard it is to move away from your friends. In addition to that, right now, I have several very close family members who are moving away very soon so this one definitely hit me in the feels.
This one got me at just the right time. I could already heavily relate to the story as I moved a lot as a kid so know how hard it is to move away from your friends. In addition to that, right now, I have several very close family members who are moving away very soon so this one definitely hit me in the feels.
Read
June 25, 2019I still recall the plot of this story and emotions it evoked for me almost 30 years later! Babysitters club books create friendships in our memories.
June 18, 2020
lmao welp really shows how depressed and stressed I am lately that this is the SECOND BSC book to make me cry in like a week. this was honestly the best written book in the series so far and usually I think Stacey’s kinda boring? case in point I definitely did not remember that she moved back to NY, I remember Dawn moving because who can forget the scandalous California Diaries books (which I will definitely be reading 👀) but super did not recall at all Stacey leaving Stoneybrook at any time?? I wonder how it will work out and hey this series has me strangely invested now
October 18, 2021
In this novel, the lovely Stacey is moving to NYC. How will her favorite kid, Charlotte take it? And how will her best friend Claudia handle it as well? This book brought back a lot of memories and it was one of my favorites. I remember the garage sale scene, and well as the scene at Morbidda Destiny's where she serves lemonade. This book was a great one in the series!
April 9, 2023
This book I think was supposed to be sad but it didn’t really give sad feeling or anything like that. Really boring, but the sad element ads something. More like a 3.5
October 7, 2022
It was sad 😔 😂🥺
May 3, 2023
A quick and fun read after having a dnf, definitely needed a refreshing light book.
June 11, 2024
Revisiting these to shut off my brain and enjoy the outfit descriptions.
August 16, 2022
Before I get to my actual review, a quick disclaimer: Ever since I learned that Netflix was reimagining one of my favorite childhood book series, I had decided that I would be embarking on a re-read of this series, reliving a series of books that helped to shape me into a voracious reader. I am so excited to embark on this travel back in time. I don't expect to be mentally stimulated -- I mean, I'm not exactly a pre-teen middle-schooler these days -- but I make no apology for choosing to enjoy this series from the perspective of adulthood. Don't expect me to have any sort of psychoanalyst or feminist sermonizing on the appropriateness of the situations or the effects on a young girl reading these books; there's plenty of that to go around already. I'm here for the nostalgia and the meander down memory lane.
**********
It's funny, I know I have read this book multiple times, because I have read all of them multiple times, but going into this one, I could not have told you any of the specifics of the plot, other than the obvious part: Stacey was moving back to NYC. Now, I did recall more of it as I was reading, but up front? Almost nothing.
What I liked about Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye:
A very realistic plot - It's not at all a stretch for a kid to have to move away because a parent's job is relocating the family. And while the adults obviously get a say, the kid is pretty much going to have the decision made for them. I thought the reactions of Stacey, the rest of the BSC, and even some of the kids were spot on.
More of the phrases that I find myself still using to this day - This tickles me endlessly. Particular turns of phrase have been part of my personal vernacular for so long now, I have forgotten how they even got introduced to me, so when I run across one (and in this series, they are plentiful!), I am beyond amused.
One of my favorite scenes from the whole series - The one with Morbidda Destiny and the lemonade. Honestly, I loved it as a child, and was equally delighted with it as an adult.
What I didn't care for:
Stacey's parents - Man, did they try hard to sell Stacey on this move, practically to the point of bribery to not feel sad and instead feel excited. But for an 8th grader? Even one who recently went through the relocation process, and maybe especially so? This is hard. They came at it so matter of fact and it just felt like a "deal with it" attitude, and all the selling in the world doesn't make up for getting uprooted and having to start again, even somewhere familiar. It diminishes the relationships Stacey has formed in Stoneybrook at such a critical age. And even though it isn't up for discussion, I felt as if her parents could have at least showed a bit more compassion.
I initially shared that I could not really recall, beyond the obvious, what had happened in this book. I feel like that was clearly reflected in my initial rating (all of which, for this series, were based purely on recollection). Having re-read this one and refreshed my memory, I am upping this from two to four stars. Now that I can recall it, I know that I enjoyed it more than I had guessed I had, at least noting how much I enjoyed it again now.
**********
It's funny, I know I have read this book multiple times, because I have read all of them multiple times, but going into this one, I could not have told you any of the specifics of the plot, other than the obvious part: Stacey was moving back to NYC. Now, I did recall more of it as I was reading, but up front? Almost nothing.
What I liked about Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye:
A very realistic plot - It's not at all a stretch for a kid to have to move away because a parent's job is relocating the family. And while the adults obviously get a say, the kid is pretty much going to have the decision made for them. I thought the reactions of Stacey, the rest of the BSC, and even some of the kids were spot on.
More of the phrases that I find myself still using to this day - This tickles me endlessly. Particular turns of phrase have been part of my personal vernacular for so long now, I have forgotten how they even got introduced to me, so when I run across one (and in this series, they are plentiful!), I am beyond amused.
One of my favorite scenes from the whole series - The one with Morbidda Destiny and the lemonade. Honestly, I loved it as a child, and was equally delighted with it as an adult.
What I didn't care for:
Stacey's parents - Man, did they try hard to sell Stacey on this move, practically to the point of bribery to not feel sad and instead feel excited. But for an 8th grader? Even one who recently went through the relocation process, and maybe especially so? This is hard. They came at it so matter of fact and it just felt like a "deal with it" attitude, and all the selling in the world doesn't make up for getting uprooted and having to start again, even somewhere familiar. It diminishes the relationships Stacey has formed in Stoneybrook at such a critical age. And even though it isn't up for discussion, I felt as if her parents could have at least showed a bit more compassion.
I initially shared that I could not really recall, beyond the obvious, what had happened in this book. I feel like that was clearly reflected in my initial rating (all of which, for this series, were based purely on recollection). Having re-read this one and refreshed my memory, I am upping this from two to four stars. Now that I can recall it, I know that I enjoyed it more than I had guessed I had, at least noting how much I enjoyed it again now.
December 10, 2022
Stacey McGill is moving to New York in the story The Baby-Sitter Club: Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye. Similarly, there will be no more baby-sitters club because her friends have moved away from her, which has made her very unhappy. Stacey's friend, on the other hand, was so thoughtful that they planned a memorable farewell party for her.
Martin's comic is a lot of fun to read because it depicts a loving friendship and a good dose of nostalgia in every reader's childhood. Furthermore, I like the language used in this comic because it is simple enough for young readers to understand and enjoy reading it.
Finally, I recommend this comic to young readers, particularly teenagers, because it teaches the value of friendship and a special kind of love between friends. In terms of rating, I'd give it a 4/5!
Martin's comic is a lot of fun to read because it depicts a loving friendship and a good dose of nostalgia in every reader's childhood. Furthermore, I like the language used in this comic because it is simple enough for young readers to understand and enjoy reading it.
Finally, I recommend this comic to young readers, particularly teenagers, because it teaches the value of friendship and a special kind of love between friends. In terms of rating, I'd give it a 4/5!
May 29, 2017
People in the BSCverse have a real knack for moving right in the middle of the school year. I mean I get that it does happen, but it seems to happen a lot to the people of Stoneybrook. That's me being a nitpicking weirdo though, so let's just ignore that.
I always liked Stacey well enough, she never got on my nerves much or anything. Except for in Boy Crazy Stacey. Crazy was the perfect word to describe her in that one, and then some. I mean she spends the entire series and the Friends Forever series being all about guys, but that's alright I guess. I mean I knew a lot of teenagers back in the day who were like that, so I can't complain much.
I'm so off track right now.
So the McGill family came to Stoneybrook for both Mr. McGill's job and to escape Stacey's new found pariahdom because she has childhood diabetes. She was treated pretty shitty, which we learn about in other books in the future, and I feel for her in that regard. She got to start over and nobody gave a shit that she was diabetic. Then her parents decide they gotta go back to NYC because of his job AGAIN, and she really has no choice. They're even going to enroll her in her old school where everyone is a bag of dicks.
Stacey, I feel for you. You got the raw end of the deal on this one, but look at it this way. In a few books you move AGAIN and come BACK to Connecticut. So hang in there our little New York fashionista.
I always liked Stacey well enough, she never got on my nerves much or anything. Except for in Boy Crazy Stacey. Crazy was the perfect word to describe her in that one, and then some. I mean she spends the entire series and the Friends Forever series being all about guys, but that's alright I guess. I mean I knew a lot of teenagers back in the day who were like that, so I can't complain much.
I'm so off track right now.
So the McGill family came to Stoneybrook for both Mr. McGill's job and to escape Stacey's new found pariahdom because she has childhood diabetes. She was treated pretty shitty, which we learn about in other books in the future, and I feel for her in that regard. She got to start over and nobody gave a shit that she was diabetic. Then her parents decide they gotta go back to NYC because of his job AGAIN, and she really has no choice. They're even going to enroll her in her old school where everyone is a bag of dicks.
Stacey, I feel for you. You got the raw end of the deal on this one, but look at it this way. In a few books you move AGAIN and come BACK to Connecticut. So hang in there our little New York fashionista.
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