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Post by liss31d on Jun 27, 2007 3:39:02 GMT -5
What I found irritating was that they were acting like Mallory's Dad was fired, as opposed to being let go. For example, Amanda says to Stacey, "Her father got fired" and Stacey responds with "I know." Err no he didn't get fired Stacey... like the first poster said, I wish that the distinction between the two was made in the book.
Also at the end, Mr Pike tells the kids that he was still getting paid his salary... then why the hell were the whole family, including the parents acting like they were bloody destitute if he was still getting paid his salary?
Likewise cannot understand someone constantly needing to "watch Claire." It's not just in this book, but in others as well, for example in Mallory Hates Boys and Gym, all the other kids are at home and Mrs Pike asks Mallory to "watch Claire" while she makes some phone calls. Then when Mallory says that Ben is coming over to do homework with her, Mrs Pike was about to argue with her but didn't in the end but still acts ticked off...
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Post by aln1982 on Jun 27, 2007 7:37:41 GMT -5
^ I can understand the Pikes being worried even with the severence pay because that only lasts for a little while. Agree about it being irritating that they act like he was fired but also see how Stacey wouldn't want to have to try to explain the difference to Amanda. I guess I never really thought much about someone always having to watch Claire. I do think someone needed to make sure she got lunch, though. I felt bad for her when her dad was totally neglecting her by not even bothering to pick her up. I liked it when Mal hugged her - made Mal seem more like a mom than a sister and filling a role like that ("pretend mom" to kids when I was a kid myself) was always a strange fantasy of mine. Totally agree fairy about Jessi being a great friend. She usually seems to be and this book was just another example of that.
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Post by maddieruns on Jun 27, 2007 10:51:55 GMT -5
Amanda was so snobby. i have to admit though, i did feel a little sorry for her though. i've been in a situation like that myself. Ditto about Jessi though, she was a really good friend to Mal in this book.
How did all the kids at school know that Mr. Pike lost his job anyway? It’s not usually something that you go around talking about… It was weird that the kids cared enough about Mr. Pike being laid off to make rude comments about it. Are their lives really that boring? I mean, i could image someone maybe saying something rude like that to Mrs. Pike, but the kids? Come on.
It was cool to see Mallory finally stick up for herself at the end. that part was nice.
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Post by liss31d on Jun 27, 2007 14:19:27 GMT -5
Because Stoneybrook is a straaaange place that literally has nothing to do (according to Stacey at least), everyone has money (and all the men are lawyers) and therefore the kids have nothing better to do than to talk about stuff that normal kids wouldn't... such as Mal's Dad losing his job, the Goldman's robbery, Stacey getting caught with a fake banknote (her name wasn't even mentioned in the paper, how did they know??), etc... But otherwise yes I do not understand how 5-11 year old kids would be bullied and taunted because their dad lost his job...
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Post by sotypical42483 on Jun 27, 2007 15:24:45 GMT -5
I love this book. It was one of the first BSC books I remember reading and I've always loved it. The Pikes are so cute in this book and man poor Claire Mr Pike is so insanely selfish in this one, it drives me insane because it seems so out of character. I don't understand why kids at school would know or care about Mr Pikes job... that doesn't make any sense to me either! I think I'll have to re-read this soon. I liked how jealous Mal was of the Delaneys. I mean it made me feel bad for her, but it was realistic. Is this the one where the neighborhood kids are just using the Delaneys for their pool?
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Post by aln1982 on Jun 27, 2007 16:52:51 GMT -5
^ I don't think Mr. Pike is selfish except in the one part and I agree it's out of character. After that, it seems like he gets his stuff together. Can't imagine how hard it would be to lose your job, sense of self worth, income, etc all with one little pink piece of paper. Agreed about wondering how the kids at school knew. Never thought of it before but you're all right.
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Post by maddieruns on Jun 27, 2007 20:17:11 GMT -5
heh, in Stoneybrook, it seems that Mr. Pike losing his job is the equivalent of Paris Hilton going to jail. ;D j/kk
^I agree that Mr. Pike was deff. out of character in this book. He pretty much just sat on the couch all day, watching soaps, until Mrs. Pike told him off and basically said that he better start shaping up.
I felt bad for the triplets though. Didn't they have to miss their field trip because of this? It seems strange that they couldn't pay for it, because aren't school trips normally PTA-sponsored?? When my class goes on field trip, usually we only have to pay for the bus money, which is normally a couple bucks. The triplets probably could've found that money from ABJ Incorporated or scraping up loose change under the couch cushions.
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memory
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 151
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Post by memory on Jun 28, 2007 16:15:56 GMT -5
when i was five event whit my disablity i did not needed to be wacthed every second. i don't understand why Claire can't play alone in her room?
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Post by aln1982 on Jun 30, 2007 9:48:06 GMT -5
I liked it how the Secret Agent game from Goodbye Stacey was brought up again in this book with Becca and Charlotte playing it. Thought it was so funny how Jordan was the top agent and had to give out the badges ;D Also liked that chapter with Jessi baby-sitting and Squirt walking up and down the stairs. Anyone who has watched a kid that age can probably relate to having to do an activity like that over and over. Cute to read about but not fun to experience ;D
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Post by liss31d on Jun 30, 2007 11:36:51 GMT -5
heh, in Stoneybrook, it seems that Mr. Pike losing his job is the equivalent of Paris Hilton going to jail. Hehe that made me crack up so much as it's kind of true ;D Ugh random but what kind of a name is Nan for an 11 year old? Especially Nan White, it sounds like a Granny is terrorising Mallory.
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Post by morbiddadestiny on Jun 30, 2007 19:16:08 GMT -5
^ does anyone else think that there had to have been some person named janet that ann disliked? there are two instances of janets terrorizing the BSC, once in this book and another in the truth about stacey.
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Post by liss31d on Jul 1, 2007 3:35:31 GMT -5
Claire got stranded at school? I thought it was just that Mallory's Dad couldn't be bothered to pick her up so he asked Mrs Perkins to take her home.
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mckay
Junior Sitter
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Post by mckay on Jul 3, 2007 17:40:56 GMT -5
heh, in Stoneybrook, it seems that Mr. Pike losing his job is the equivalent of Paris Hilton going to jail. Hehe that made me crack up so much as it's kind of true ;D Ugh random but what kind of a name is Nan for an 11 year old? Especially Nan White, it sounds like a Granny is terrorising Mallory. I actually knew a little girl called Nan. I say "little girl," but she'd be graduating high school soon, I think. It was a nickname, though, for Christiana (dunno how they got "Nan" out of that.) My cousin's daughter Susanna is also called Nan/Nanny, but that's mostly because her twin sister struggled with "Susanna" and it stuck. (Susanna got off better than her sister, who was called "Fifi" before they got a grip on their names. Hee.)
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Post by Kylie90210 on Sept 26, 2007 21:19:22 GMT -5
I also liked the subplot of this one, and how the kids got together to save money. ITA about Claire though, after 8 kids, you think Mrs P would be a bit more relxed about a kid playing by herself, INSIDE the house?!
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Post by greer on Sept 27, 2007 3:20:25 GMT -5
i don't think it was the safety issue so much as mr. pike just not doing anything.
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