56: Karen's Ice Skates

Maybe it's just me, but I think falling through the ice is a stock plot in literature in general. There seem to be so many instances. Maybe they just jump out, but there's one in Little Women, and one in Caddie Woodlawn, and others that aren't coming immediately to mind.

I felt bad for Karen because she felt so guilty. I didn't think it was entirely her fault.

I LOVE the cover. They all look really cute on it, especially Bobby and Nancy, and like all of their winter outfits with scarves.

^Hug Scrounge, and I'm sorry to read that. I also completely agree with what you said. I also think it was awful how it took a while after Bobby's accident for the powers that be to decide to take action! I also just had the thought that Bobby should have also gotten a medal, too. He shouldn't have rushed out onto the ice but he did manage to keep his wits about him so that Karen and Nancy could more easily pull him out. Someone said in a different LS thread that Bobby and Nancy seemed close, I am hoping as I read more LS their friendship will be even a little developed. That said, I loved the Secret Santa at the Little House in this book. I also enjoyed the continuity between this and Karen's Wish where Karen and Nancy promise to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah with one another each year. On a lighter ending note, I thought the 5 minute shopping spree at the Unicorn Toy Store sounded awesome. I am not a big shopping fan but would have loved that. I used to enjoy watching the old game show "Supermarket Sweep," and lol had visions of winning a three minute shopping spree. A few days ago the 99 cent only stores announced that as a birthday gift for any customers who are 99, they will get a 99 second spree. I thought that was a very sweet and fun gesture. That is my kind of shopping story.

Ugh. Bobby steps out onto the ice so fast that it catches Karen too off guard to warn him, but after that she and Nancy are totally levelheaded and brave in the emergency and save Bobby. Karen is completely wracked with guilt anyway, even though no matter what her grandfather said about the ice, Bobby should have known better than to step out onto the ice without an adult confirming that it was okay. And despite the fact that Seth understands it shouldn't be the responsibility of seven-year-olds, or even their parents, to keep other second-graders from falling through thin ice and the town should be responsible for letting people know if conditions are safe, he and Lisa still tell Karen that what she did was very wrong and that the reason they're not punishing her is because she's punished herself enough already? And they agree that she doesn't deserve a medal for saving Bobby's life? Wow, they're usually good parents, but in this book, they're awful. I feel so bad for poor Karen.

Wanderingfrog, I just reread this book because it is a holiday one I hadn't read in a while plus I hoped it would cool me off. ITA with everything you said and this time around felt even worse for Karen as I hadn't realized she felt upset for so very long. I normally am a huge Seth fan and Lisa, I enjoy when she spends time with her kids. To let your 7 year old child, in general but particularly at Christmas, go through what Karen did was just awful. I did love how Grandad saved the day at the end and wish there had been many more LS and BSC, too, Secret Santas to read about--loved all the gifts especially Andrew's story of Christmas book for Granny. The other thing that bothers me is Bobby. He should have also been acknowledged as a hero for remaining calm and helping Nancy and Karen rescue him, plus he was the one who had the accident. I had truly hoped that when Nancy and Karen had the 5 minute shopping spree one of them would share with us that they were getting something for Bobby but they didn't. :/ I did think it was so nice Karen gave Andrew three toy choices and donated the rest.

Not my favorite LS Holiday book but do love the secret santa and also how Nancy and her family come to spend Christmas with Karen and her family. That reminds me of one other thing. Karen tells us that neighbors visit a lot of the day during Christmas that made me think of the BSC surprising Mal in Get Well Soon Mallory on Thanksgiving and I think in Mallory's Christmas Wish (I have not read that in forever, maybe I will tonight) neighbors visit the Pikes. I'd love to live in Stoneybrook for a while at any time but the holidays seem like it make our favorite small town even more meaningful to be part of, except of course, when angry gardeners are on the loose.

The book started with an important debate about what size marshmallows (“mushmallows,” per Andrew) to have in hot chocolate. Karen and Andrew went with 1 big and 2 little. Nancy went with 3 little. I feel like Nancy got cheated. Big all the way.

I just read the book with Karen’s short figure skating career, so the whole time I was thinking that they should just go to the rink. The picture of Bobby almost dying made me laugh. He looks like he’s standing in waist-deep water, being held up at gunpoint. He’s like two feet from land. Nancy wrapped her legs around a tree stump and anchored the people chain. Way to go, Nancy’s thighs!

That reward sounded amazing! Five minutes to clear the shelves in a toy store. The girls did it so wrong. Nancy started in the arts and crafts?! Karen went to books and tapes. She had to have wasted so much time scanning for items that she wanted. I probably would have cleared the LEGO aisle. They’re expensive, and I could have re-sold what I didn’t want.

Karen and Nancy went to see Bobby in the hospital. Karen mentioned that a lady who just had quintuplets was there. She should have slipped that lady a BSC flier on her way out.

Karen went from being wracked with guilt to answering the phone “Hello, This is Karen Brewer, Hero-of-the-Month.”

My favorite gift was Tia’s little yellow chick pin! It wasn’t some random cute pin. It had a cute meaning between the girls. (I passively collect pins. It’s fun. Karen should do it.)