macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Apr 21, 2006 21:31:56 GMT -5
I just realised this is the first Abby-narrated book I've ever read. And, while I was initially reluctant to accept Abby (as she wasn't part of the "traditional" BSC I grew up with) I'm slowly warming to her. She fits the fun-loving, easy-going "individual" stuff much more than Dawn ever did and I could totally relate to her lame eye-rolling jokes as that's my trademark as well ;D
I felt sorry for Abby in this one, I think she had genuine good intentions (even if some of it was totally predictable, like when Ab chose new clothes that were entirely wrong for Anna and turned off Anna's orchestra television show in order to play a video game) but Anna was incredibly moody and sulky, which I guess in understandable given the circumstances, but still...
For once I actually enjoyed the yet-another-carnival subplot. Also, this book was written in 1997. It wasn't still considered cool and ultra sophisticated for teen girls to have their hair permed then, so why do they still rave about Stacey's permed hair in Chapter 2?
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jen
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,156
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Post by jen on Apr 22, 2006 1:25:04 GMT -5
I really liked this one. This is one of my favourite Abby books. The carnival in this is possibly my favourite ever BSC carnival/activity, and I like the shopping trip.
Actually, there's more that I have to say about Abby... *goes to the character forum*
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lilafowler
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,163
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Post by lilafowler on Jun 30, 2006 20:58:07 GMT -5
Is this the one where Abby tries to wear her sister's back brace because they're twins? I was like eleven when I read it and thought I was too grown up for the BSC (hmmm), so I speed-read it at the library. I remember thinking Abby was really dumb for that -- if you don't have scoliosis and your sister does, obviously you're not exactly the same!
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lisa
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 201
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Post by lisa on Jul 2, 2006 7:03:49 GMT -5
^ I never understood why the scoliosis was a big deal? Do they really do testing for it at schools? I'd never heard of it until I read the book.
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Post by lovelylemontree on Jul 2, 2006 12:21:35 GMT -5
We were tested for it in middle school. I think it was in eighth grade. The phys ed. teachers did the testing and if they suspected scoliosis, they refered you to a doctor. One girl in my class was diagnosed that way. I think her scoliosis was mild, but I think she had to wear a backbrace. Anna should have been thankful. It could have been so much worse. She could have looked like Joan Cusack in Sixteen Candles. |
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Jul 3, 2006 4:29:16 GMT -5
^ I never understood why the scoliosis was a big deal? Do they really do testing for it at schools? I'd never heard of it until I read the book. They never tested for it when I was a kid either and because it's genetic I was always a little worried as my aunt had it quite severely and it was never treated. Her back gives her no end of problems and doesn't look fantastic. My sister is 18 and it's just been discovered that she has a mild case, although not enough to make a difference to her appearance. Also (I'm not sure if it's true or not) apparently the full milwaukee brace hasn't been prescribed in this country since the 80s as the emotional and psychological impact for a teenage girl wearing the thing can be detrimental and outweighs any possible benefit, although I'm not sure what they do if the curve is in the upper back. Maybe surgery? |
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wanderingfrog
Sitting For The Arnolds
Official BSC Archivist
Posts: 2,552
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Post by wanderingfrog on Jul 3, 2006 12:50:59 GMT -5
In general, I liked the book, but I thought the part about the clothes was WAY too predictable. Duh, Abby, of COURSE Anne does not really like those clothes. That's the type of clothing YOU like. You have seen Anna before and you know what she wears. Geez. My roommate in my first year of university had had to wear a brace for scoliosis, but that was before I ever met her. You never heard of scoliosis before reading this book, lisa? Have you read Deenie by Judy Blume since then, to get your fix of everything you never wanted to know about 1970s scoliosis treatment?  |
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Jul 3, 2006 21:10:31 GMT -5
ITA.
So I wasn't the only one who was annoyed by that whole scene!
That was some fascinating stuff!
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lisa
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 201
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Post by lisa on Jul 4, 2006 8:18:04 GMT -5
You never heard of scoliosis before reading this book, lisa? Have you read Deenie by Judy Blume since then, to get your fix of everything you never wanted to know about 1970s scoliosis treatment? I was at a second-hand bookshop yesterday that had oodles of Judy Blume books, but I didn't end up picking any of them up...I regret that now. |
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Jul 4, 2006 23:50:28 GMT -5
^ there's sure to be plenty at any second-hand bookstore you visit, so don't worry too much! They're almost as much fun as the BSC.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2008 0:00:25 GMT -5
My school did the scoliosis testing. I'm one of those who has a mild case (or at least did when I was in elementary school; does it correct itself? Mine was so minor that nothing ever really came of it, except they would check every now and then. Obviously I never wore a brace or anything.)
I haven't read "Abby's Twin" in years and I only read it once. "Deenie", however, scared the crap out of me when I was a kid!
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Post by murderedmymuse on May 5, 2008 5:48:25 GMT -5
Also (I'm not sure if it's true or not) apparently the full milwaukee brace hasn't been prescribed in this country since the 80s as the emotional and psychological impact for a teenage girl wearing the thing can be detrimental and outweighs any possible benefit, although I'm not sure what they do if the curve is in the upper back. Maybe surgery?[/quote]
My cousin has scoliosis. She had this operation where they inserted a metal pole into her back, which stays in for life. Aside from the operation being very painful, for the first six months afterwards she couldn't bend over or sit slouched over (because the pole had to fuse with her back or become aligned with her spine or something). Not fun at all.
Deenie was so information, as well as being a good read. Sorry to go off topic but did anyone read Letters to Judy? Some of those letters made me cry. Especially the ones about incest. When I was younger I was reading the book with my friend at her house and we didn't know what incest was--my friend asked her mum what it meant and she got in trouble, can you believe that?
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Post by greer on May 5, 2008 7:56:08 GMT -5
My friend had back surgery for scoliosis and was bedridden for six months. My boyfriend also has scoliosis and he wasn't diagnosed until he was sixteen, so there was nothing they could do for it. :/
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courtky10
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,125
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Post by courtky10 on Jun 12, 2008 21:50:57 GMT -5
Everyone at my school was tested for it about three or four years ago, but I don't think anyone ended up being diagnosed with it.
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Amalia
Sitting For The Braddocks
Her Original Point of View
Posts: 3,664
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Post by Amalia on Jun 28, 2009 21:47:02 GMT -5
Abby was annoying in this one. I mean, using the mike or whatever to tell the doctor to hurry up. It was almost as obnoxious as the time Kristy asked that cop to drop them off at the concert. And I think that Stacey should have just told Abby that she didn't think that Anna would like those clothes.
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