LovelyDay
New To Stoneybrook
just a sweet girl
Posts: 137
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Post by LovelyDay on Dec 15, 2018 8:58:38 GMT -5
I really love this book! I remember getting a hold at the library for it like two times. I also thought it was interesting to have Mary Anne as that third party among the fight, but I feel like it would’ve been even better if it was told from Jessi or Mal’s perspective, even though it would’ve become biased for the reader. cnj, about you mentioning that it was time for another Mary Anne book, I just realized something. I realized that Mary Anne’s last book was #120, while Jessi’s was #115, and Mallory’s was #108! So I think it should’ve gone either way for Jessi or Mallory to get this book. Anyways, that’s the end of my rant.😊
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cnj
Sitting For The Papadakis's
Posts: 1,708
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Post by cnj on Dec 18, 2018 1:22:07 GMT -5
I really love this book! I remember getting a hold at the library for it like two times. I also thought it was interesting to have Mary Anne as that third party among the fight, but I feel like it would’ve been even better if it was told from Jessi or Mal’s perspective, even though it would’ve become biased for the reader. cnj, about you mentioning that it was time for another Mary Anne book, I just realized something. I realized that Mary Anne’s last book was #120, while Jessi’s was #115, and Mallory’s was #108! So I think it should’ve gone either way for Jessi or Mallory to get this book. Anyways, that’s the end of my rant.😊 Actually, the very next book, The All-New Mallory Pike is from Mal's POV, so we do get part of Mallory's side. I still think Mary Anne's POV was best during Jessi and Mal's fight, because Mary Anne is very good with understanding people and we get a more complete two-sided story instead of a one-sided story, which would have been a rather incomplete plotline.
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Post by booboobrewer on Dec 30, 2018 0:33:00 GMT -5
i don't understand why this is MARY ANNE'S book--why didn't mal or jessi tell this story? Because the story needed to be told from an objective third party who was a good friend to both Jessi AND Mallory. And it was time for another Mary Anne book...besides, Mary Anne is a great listener and mediator. It would have been interesting if told from Jessi’s POV.
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cnj
Sitting For The Papadakis's
Posts: 1,708
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Post by cnj on Jan 2, 2019 15:31:20 GMT -5
Because the story needed to be told from an objective third party who was a good friend to both Jessi AND Mallory. And it was time for another Mary Anne book...besides, Mary Anne is a great listener and mediator. It would have been interesting if told from Jessi’s POV. Probably so, but an objective third party like Mary Anne was best. Even with Jessi, the plotline would have been incomplete. Love the scene near the end where Jessi and Mallory finally work things out and Mary Anne goes into the kitchen sobbing and Sharon asks how things are going and Mary Anne weeps wonderful. So sweet!
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,263
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Post by oldhickory on Jun 26, 2019 8:42:05 GMT -5
I can't believe I've never posted in this thread. My best friend went away to boarding school for our last two years of high school, and I definitely acted like Jessi the whole time. I felt left behind, not smart enough to go with her, felt like she was looking down on me/our public school, etc. I was horrible to her. I just read this book again and saw a lot of my past self in Jessi, and it didn't feel good. Jessi's response is immature and hurtful, but realistic. It made the book better for me knowing that I've been in her shoes and behaved the same way.
This book also REALLY feels like a Mallory book. I got to the end and I was even looking for Mallory's scrapbook because I hadn't seen hers in a while.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Dec 29, 2021 18:22:18 GMT -5
I like the cover of this book a lot. Aside from their sad faces, I like looking at the living room scene behind them and checking everything out. Mary Anne is wearing a similar outfit to what she wears on the cover of Christmas Chiller, except this one is much more fashion-forward and has a better fit. Jessi's stance looks like a GI Joe doll or a Bsrbie doll or something, very mechanical looking.
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Post by CharlotteTJohanssen on Dec 30, 2021 0:33:03 GMT -5
I really enjoyed this book! Although I feel like it should be more about Jessi leaving. Like she has the opportunity to do the thing she’s always wanted. Mallory and Jessi would still fight. And with Jessi gone Mallory leaving would make more sense; she’s bullied at school, feels like a third mom, feels out of place in the BSC, and her best friend is gone? That’d be a good way to write both girls off before the end of the series.
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Post by virgoscorpio on Dec 30, 2021 17:25:02 GMT -5
I've recently thought about this and in Jessi's Big Break they do mention that Jessi's opportunity is open-ended, so if she really wanted to she could go back to the dance school anytime?
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Post by oldmeanie on Aug 24, 2023 11:03:21 GMT -5
This book was honestly kind of painful/ depressing for me to read. I'm not a huge fan of the Riverbend plot (it just doesn't work. It needed more development), Mallory is one of my favorites, and I've had to say goodbye to too many people.
So yeah... it was hard to read about Jessi and Mal's fight. They didn't fight much throughout the series and were always the most mature ones in BSC fights. They definitely acted immature here, but it definitely feels appropriate for middle school.
I expected to be annoyed by Jessi. There are a couple of times when I thought she went too far, like turning the Pike kids against Mal. Otherwise, I actually totally feel her pain and know where she's coming from. This situation sucks. Maybe this should've been a Jessi book, because I'm betting she wishes she'd gone through with Dance New York (I do think she wasn't totally ready for it).
This book really feels like it should be a Mallory book. Or maybe a Jessi book. Heck, it could've been a two parter. Mary Anne being in the middle felt so forced. We get a lot of both Mal and Jessi's internal thoughts because of what they tell Mary Anne. It so obviously needed to be narrated by one of them instead. It would be interesting to see the family dynamics of the Pikes at the moment. We also didn't get to see the talk with Ben. They've been sort of together for almost 100 books... they deserve more than that. Kristy got a whole book dedicated to her breakup with Bart, and same with Jessi and Quint. I think I remember more about Mal and Ben in the next book (I don't remember much about the next book tbh).
I will never understand the planning of this plot. Mallory deserved better.
One thing I will say is that Mary Anne can relate to this because of Dawn leaving. As someone who's said goodbye too many times, I definitely get it.
Vanessa's poems were actually really sad.
I try not to drink about time too much in the BSC verse. Mal celebrating Kwanzaa with the Ramseys happened "last year." This is all technically one "year." Thinking about it, in-universe, Jessi and Mal have only really been friends for a couple of months. Or maybe they really do just repeat the same year over and over. No wonder Mallory wanted to leave.
I also remember We Love Mallory Day taking place in the next book. I feel like something similar happens. I'll find out really soon.
I don't really know how to rate this one. It's not boring, it definitely made me feel something (mostly sad), and the fight feels high stakes (although it's the BSC, you know they'll make up). But the fact that it isn't a Jessi or Mallory book is just glaring. It needed to be one. Also just noticed that the last 2 Mary Anne books have been about fights. It gets a 5 because it's definitely a mixed bag.
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