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Post by anzuhana on Feb 8, 2011 23:30:48 GMT -5
^ I was also happy that Mary Anne talked with Ms. Frost.
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u4me
Sitting For The Papadakis's
Posts: 1,655
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Post by u4me on Feb 9, 2011 7:14:27 GMT -5
I think the teacher might have believed her if she said something when she took the test insetad of waiting until she was caught. I know the teacher didn't like Abby, but Abby had the "study guide" and could have shown that to Ms. Frost. I would think at least the VP would have given her the benefit of the doubt.
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Post by BuckinghamAlice on Mar 13, 2011 6:13:46 GMT -5
Just read this one, and I actually liked it a lot. Although this is only the second Abby book I've read, I agree that she is a much better and more likable character in her own books than anyone else's. I do think Abby was pretty naive for not knowing what was going on. For the Long Island girl who supposedly talks, thinks, and moves faster than everyone around her, it took a while for the synapses to get firing.
I love the whole Bat Mitzvah storyline. I'm kinda minorly obsessed with Judaism, so I figured I'd at least enjoy that. I agree with the post that said it'd would have been nice to actually read Abby's speech. I was assuming it (or at least part of it) would be a part of the text.
But all in all, this is definitely one of the better later books that I've read, IMO.
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scrounge
Sitter-In-Training
Boo and bullfrogs!
Posts: 414
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Post by scrounge on Mar 16, 2011 3:46:56 GMT -5
I like this book, although I always kind of shake my head when Abby's mom tells her she is grounded for a month but can still do her after school activities and baby-sit. It just seems not very restrictive at all. She's going to miss out on maybe a pizza party or two but can still do everything else? I don't care for Abby's mom in the series in general, though. She seems like a really ineffective parent in a lot of ways.
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Post by zoar3 on Mar 16, 2011 11:12:02 GMT -5
^Good point Scrounge. A lot of the time, parents in Stoneybrook don't parent appropriately. Most glaring, imo, was Kristy being confined to her bedroom in Kristy and Bart with no (that we read about) discussion of what had happened and why Elizabeth and Watson were so upset. Zip. Of course, Kerry Bruno possibly "washing cars" for kidnapping Tigger. I think she should have volunteered at an animal shelter or in some capacity helped/worked with animals so she could learn what they actually "need" while building her self esteem. In this book, I think Rachel also said Abby could not call or receive calls from her friends socially and that no one could come over. Since most everyday Abby either baby-sat or played soccer, why would that matter? I would have liked to have seen Abby miss out on something. No, not because I dislike her so, just to have something follow through.
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msstock87
Sitting For The Braddocks
Here Comes The Bride!
Created by Rie.
Posts: 3,618
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Post by msstock87 on Mar 16, 2011 21:13:26 GMT -5
Didn't at the end of the book Abby end up having a sleepover anyway? So doesn't that contradict here being grounded?
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Post by zoar3 on Mar 16, 2011 21:15:33 GMT -5
^The BSC Members (I think) spent Saturday night after Abby's Bat Mitzvah at the Stevensons. I believe Abby's mom said the grounding would begin on Monday.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,268
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Post by oldhickory on Mar 16, 2011 22:42:19 GMT -5
I like this book, although I always kind of shake my head when Abby's mom tells her she is grounded for a month but can still do her after school activities and baby-sit. It just seems not very restrictive at all. She's going to miss out on maybe a pizza party or two but can still do everything else? I don't care for Abby's mom in the series in general, though. She seems like a really ineffective parent in a lot of ways. i don't think rachel is ineffective at all. she actually reminds me a lot of my mom -- she isn't very hard on abby, but she expects a lot out of her. even if i piss off my mom, she would never keep me from going to my job, and being part of the soccer team and the bsc are abby's responsibilities.
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Post by zoar3 on Mar 16, 2011 23:23:47 GMT -5
^That's true. I think it would have been different had we in the following book read about Abby missing out on a party or visitor or something.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Mar 16, 2011 23:31:39 GMT -5
Lots of groundings around this time. First, Kristy in Kristy + Bart = ?, and then Abby in this! Bad, bad BSC - haha.
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
Posts: 4,004
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Post by starrynight on Mar 18, 2011 13:08:06 GMT -5
^ It was nice to see the girls do some things that actually had real consequences, though. Well....I STILL don't think it was nice to read such a detailed description of Kristy's makeout session. I REALLY didn't need to know what Bart Taylor tasted like. I know I've said that before, but it bears repeating. As for this book, it makes sense that Abby would be the one to hide her suspension, although I could see Claudia doing that, too, under the right circumstances.
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Post by zoar3 on Mar 18, 2011 15:16:40 GMT -5
^I definitely could see Claudia trying to hide her suspension. Since SMS administration are so ineffective, doing so would probably be very easy. That could have made Claudia Kishi Middle School Drop Out much more effective and interesting. I don't think Claud would ever do anything to get suspended but if she was frustrated enough or actually told that she was being held back for the rest of the year, she might in a moment of anger (think #7) tell a teacher or guidance counselor off, thus getting suspended. Either that or I could actually see her ditching a class or two.
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scrounge
Sitter-In-Training
Boo and bullfrogs!
Posts: 414
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Post by scrounge on Mar 18, 2011 23:21:05 GMT -5
i don't think rachel is ineffective at all. she actually reminds me a lot of my mom -- she isn't very hard on abby, but she expects a lot out of her. even if i piss off my mom, she would never keep me from going to my job, and being part of the soccer team and the bsc are abby's responsibilities. I'm having a hard time wording what I think about this specific thing and Rachel's character in general. Do I think she should keep Abby from her soccer team or her scheduled sitting jobs? No. But I also don't think this particular punishment seems very well thought out. Rachel works late many nights. She won't be around to enforce the punishment. What if instead, she had said to Abby, "You lost my trust. I don't know that you'll be where you say you will. I will be calling at random when you are at sitting jobs and meetings, to make sure you are where you'll say you'll be, until I've seen that I can trust you again."? She wouldn't have to make Abby miss meetings or practices or jobs, but it has more relation to the actual offense committed than "You can't talk on the phone to your friends for a month." I liked the part in this book where Abby was hiding out at the library and went in the bathroom and was scared Claudia's mom was going to catch her. It reminded me of the first time I ever skipped class--seventh grade, we had swimming for gym. I had forgotten my suit and didn't want to borrow one of the pool's loaner suits. I hid in the bathroom for fifty minutes of boredom with a couple of minutes of panic in the middle when a teacher came in. I was just sure she was going to know I was skipping and not just on a hall pass, even though I was hidden in a stall.
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Post by zoar3 on Mar 19, 2011 10:54:55 GMT -5
^You said that just fine, Scrounge. I was trying to say a version of the above myself and especially in the Kristy and Bart thread. I think in this book though the bigger problem (not that "cheating" and hiding out in the library wasn't an issue) was Abby's feelings/committment to school and/or in this class, how to deal with Ms. Frost. In a way Claudia cared more about school than Abby, or at least didn't procrastinate as much. I never got the sense Abby spent much time or put a lot of effort on her schoolwork. I think she'd be the type to cram last minute (similar to this test) or (for the most part) squeak by. Since she accomplished C's, probably some B's, and didn't give the teachers any "trouble," her attitude may have been overlooked for the most part.
Abby and Anna had just turned 9 for real, (as opposed to years ago, BSC time) right when their Dad died? If their birthday was in October, the car accident happened either very soon after or in November? Is that right? I'm asking in general but also to process better what I'm trying to say next.
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Post by zoar3 on Jul 27, 2011 18:54:52 GMT -5
Sorry for double posting but looks like mine was the last in this thread from over a year ago. I am re-reading and finally a later book (after a good 5-10) that is actually (overall) good. It's even an "Abby" book at that. I wish we could have seen Mr. Prezzioso's reaction to his busted down bedroom door. I'm up to that point and before breaking the lock, Claudia tells us "the responsible baby-sitter thing to do would not be to yell Fire!" (to make Jenny come out) So I guess potentially seriously injuring Jenny with the door was? I know Claudia never expected it to fall down but still. What do guys think she should have done? Called the P's? Or since by then it was supposedly almost time for Mr. P to come home, leave Jenny in there for him to find?
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