110: Karen's Swim Meet

[Kylie90210]

Please discuss this book here.

[sweetvalleygirl99]

That swim coach was a jerk, enough said . I felt bad when he made everyone do dives off starting blocks in the rain. I also liked the friendship between Karen, Terri and Kristin in swim class. I always liked Terri and Tammy so it was fun to know at least more about one of the Barkan twins. I also wished we could've seen Kristin in a couple of more summer books; I liked her.

[sparklymouse]

I don't remember much about this one except I remember being surprised by it. The coach was borderline abusive, especially in Stoneybrook land. Of course Stoneybrook would have an Olympic athlete living in town too. What doesn't it have? I wish the friendships Karen made in random books would carry over into other stories.

[wanderingfrog]

I really liked that Karen actually went to her parents about the coach, and that they responded appropriately. I mean, it would be really dull if every book taught some sort of "life lesson," but this book seemed like a really good template for the best way to respond if you were actually in a similar situation.

None of the BSC members would ever go to their parents if they had a coach like that!

[sweetvalleygirl99]

Dec 3, 2008 21:18:15 GMT -5 wanderingfrog said:

I really liked that Karen actually went to her parents about the coach, and that they responded appropriately. I mean, it would be really dull if every book taught some sort of "life lesson," but this book seemed like a really good template for the best way to respond if you were actually in a similar situation.

None of the BSC members would ever go to their parents if they had a coach like that!

I liked that too . And I totally agree that none of the BSC members would've gone to their parents if they were in such a situation. Seeing Karen go to her parents and seeing them react and taking care of the problem was totally realistic, one of the reasons I liked this book. This is exactly how a parent would react in a problem like this, not like the BSC who tried to handle everything problematic themselves.

[annieb]

Joining a swim meet seemed like fun! Karen was always getting involved in lots of activities. I honestly don't know how she made time for things like that with her busy schedule.

[anzuhana]

I felt uncomfortable for Terri when the coach made everyone pay attention to her when she was completing he final lap of the breaststroke. I like that Karen went to Watson and Elizabeth and told them what was happening.

[virgoscorpio]

This is a good book for kids who want to become a star at something but realize how much they have to give up (like having a "normal" childhood).

[scrounge]

I read this one today because I felt like reading a summer book. I love the Fourth of July picnic/pool party that Karen has with her swimming friends and Nancy and Hannie at the end of the book. It just sounds like a lot of fun. I also like that Karen spends time with other kids in this book and doesn't get in a fight with Hannie and Nancy because their parents made other summer plans. And I like that Tammy and Terri do different summer activities instead of both having to take swimming just because they're twins.

[sparklymouse]

Jun 12, 2012 23:11:21 GMT -5 scrounge said:

And I like that Tammy and Terri do different summer activities instead of both having to take swimming just because they're twins.

I've known twins who did absolutely everything together and twins who didn't hang out much at all. Except for the triplets, Ann had a habit of making being a multiple seem like a burden. Like every twin in Stoneybrook was just dying to get away from each other.

[zoar3]

I wanted to read a summery book that I hadn't read in forever and chose this one. I enjoyed all the TB family swimming time at the Kormans pool. Emily was so cute when she was a fish with water wings and later pretended to be little toot, the boat. It was wonderful how all three of the adults in Emily's life (Watson, Elizabeth, and Nannie), each spent time with her at the pool. I also loved the friendships between Karen, Terri, and Kristin, though I kept thinking "Kristy," because her full name is Kristin. The 4th of July party really sounded like a lot of fun and awesome how each of Karen's friends added an idea to it. The main plot of the awful swimming coach, I could have done without. Bad memories of a 7th grade PE teacher. ITA with all of you who already said it was wonderful that Karen did go to her parents and that they stepped in. Did the book, btw, say where the Korman's went on vacation. I already forgot if it did, just that they checked their home answering machine each night. It was sure super nice of the Kormans to allow their neighbors use of their pool.

[sparklymouse]

This book was a little sinister. It was spooky how as soon as Karen told her parents about Mr. Carson's behavior he started acting like Mr. Nice Guy. Good thing Watson and Mr. Barkan pursued things further. Then the guy straight up quit and ran as soon as the adult men confronted him.  Red flags galore.  (Carson went to high school with Ms. Colman, which meant that she was a Stoneybrook townie. I don't know if we knew that about her.)

The Kormans allowed the Brewers to use their pool while they were gone. Nice, but why them and no other neighbors? Then Karen immediately wanted to invite friends over to swim at her out-of-town neighbors' pool. I thought that was rude af, but everyone was all "Sure!" Then she planned a party at someone else's house.  Girl.

Watson and Elizabeth were both taking Mondays and Fridays off all summer long.  Adult me weeps for a 3 day work week.

Karen mentioned that they got 2 dozen ears of corn to feed the family at their BBQ.  I thought that was a funny random detail to throw in, but then of course I had to overthink it.  There were 10 people.  Two ears each = 20 ears.  They weren't all going to eat two.  I doubt Emily could eat one.  They needed 1.5 dozen max.  This was a family who couldn't figure out how to eat pizza and spaghetti at the same meal.  They weren't good with leftovers.