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Post by sugarmonkey on Jun 30, 2006 21:05:35 GMT -5
ITA with what's already been said. I have to say I skimmed this one. (I've been putting off reading the BSC and I just realized it was because a Jessi book was next). Anyway, Madam Noelle's accent written out is soooo annoying to read. I can understand a few words hear and there (for flavor or to demonstate what a French accent sounds like to 8-10 year olds) but not every single word she says! BTW I always imagine M. Noelle to look like that ballet instructor that Bart had once on The Simpsons.
The comment at the meeting where someone says that Claudia is the Nancy Drew of Stoneybrook was just to stupid. Claud didn't do anything in this book. She did however make a fat joke. Whose going to be Bess? Jessi helpfully explained that Bess was Drew's "plump" sidekick and then Mal had to comment that every detective has a fat friend. She mentioned The Hardy Boys and the Three Investigators (is that last one real?).
What is it with the BSC and fat people? MA snickered at Ethel eating Snickers on the way home from the lodge in the Winter Vacay SS. It just annoys me these books try to be so PC and then the slip.
ETA: Just realized. If they didn't slip what would we have to post about?
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Jun 30, 2006 21:11:00 GMT -5
^ Yeah, they were REALLY anti-fat.
To be honest, they didn't start describing Mal as sturdy until the later books and even then, it was only in comparison to tall, graceful, ballet-dancer Jessi. They never ever made an issue of her having any weight problem.
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Post by morbiddadestiny on Jun 30, 2006 22:34:04 GMT -5
the fact that they reused the plot in stacey and the fashion victim is SO annoying to me. there are definitely other recycled plots in BSC land but i can't think of them right now. kristy and the vampires also ended in a similiar manner. what a stupid ending. the girl was mentally insane.
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lisa
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 201
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Post by lisa on Jul 2, 2006 7:20:23 GMT -5
^ Recycled plot in the BSC = carnival, carnival, carnival
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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 Jul 3, 2006 12:59:34 GMT -5
This was one of the only Jessi books I really liked. I did, however, think it was a bit unrealistic for an 11 year old to be getting lead roles in these serious ballets, even if it was a kids' ballet school.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Jul 3, 2006 21:08:17 GMT -5
^ but this IS the BSC and Jessi always got the lead in her ballet productions (ha, the school was probably afraid of being called racist if she didn't get it!)
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Post by aln1982 on Mar 14, 2007 23:59:58 GMT -5
Anyone else find the beginning especially difficult/tedious to read with all of the Mme. Noelle accent stuff? Almost as annoying as Claudia's atrocious spelling. Other than that, I liked this one pretty well and thought it should have been part of the mystery series. I thought I was going to hate the subplot because I'm really not an animal lover but ended up laughing right out loud during the last chapter. Boo Boo has a special appeal to me for some reason. So does Priscilla - and drenched in perfume. It sounds like when Karen wears the perfume at Shadow Lake. I also thought it was sweet how Jessi gave Becca her autographed shoes at the end and found the description of the exhilaration of being on stage really accurate and could relate - made me want to be in a recital
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mckay
Junior Sitter
Posts: 672
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Post by mckay on Mar 16, 2007 18:57:17 GMT -5
I hated this book, but I did like the pet show subplot. Mostly I enjoyed how creative the Pike triplets were, and I loved how Boo Boo loved Max Delaney. He's not a mean old cat, he just hates the Brewers! I don't blame him!
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fluffycakes
Junior Sitter
A silken-haired beauty with a laugh like pealing bells
Posts: 868
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Post by fluffycakes on Jun 15, 2007 20:14:16 GMT -5
^ Haha, it was funny that Boo-Boo won the "Best Personality" award. This book is pretty far-fetched, indeed (even though I loved it as a kid). For starters, Jessi must've saved every single penny she's ever had in order to replace all of that dance stuff. New leotard, tights...even toe shoes?...and a new dance bag...yeah, like an 11-year-old could afford that. The title doesn't really make sense to me. Dance school phantom? Not really. Dance school stalker, or dance school psycho is more accurate. I'm wondering if the ghostwriter was a fan of the Phantom of the Opera. There are a few similarities - someone sending threatening notes, dropping scenery, young girl gettin the lead in a production and not everyone's happy with it? 'Course, I'm a Phantom fan myself, so maybe I'm just looking for similarities! Word about Mme. Noelle's accent. It definitely gets tedious after a page or two. Best part of the book? Stacey's tuxedo. She's so classy!
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Post by morbiddadestiny on Jun 15, 2007 20:57:09 GMT -5
the fact that they reused the plot in stacey and the fashion victim is SO annoying to me. there are definitely other recycled plots in BSC land but i can't think of them right now. kristy and the vampires also ended in a similiar manner. what a stupid ending. the girl was mentally insane. cool, so i went to reread this thread and was just about to post how i HATE how the plot is reused in stacey and the fashion victim, but i see i already beat myself to it. at least i'm consistent.
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Post by aln1982 on Jun 15, 2007 23:33:01 GMT -5
^ Haha, it was funny that Boo-Boo won the "Best Personality" award. This book is pretty far-fetched, indeed (even though I loved it as a kid). For starters, Jessi must've saved every single penny she's ever had in order to replace all of that dance stuff. New leotard, tights...even toe shoes?...and a new dance bag...yeah, like an 11-year-old could afford that. The title doesn't really make sense to me. Dance school phantom? Not really. Dance school stalker, or dance school psycho is more accurate. I'm wondering if the ghostwriter was a fan of the Phantom of the Opera. There are a few similarities - someone sending threatening notes, dropping scenery, young girl gettin the lead in a production and not everyone's happy with it? 'Course, I'm a Phantom fan myself, so maybe I'm just looking for similarities! Word about Mme. Noelle's accent. It definitely gets tedious after a page or two. Best part of the book? Stacey's tuxedo. She's so classy! Agree with most of your points. Love how the girls in the BSC always seem to have so much of their own $$ - lucky people ;D Don't remember, was there some mention of a "phantom" in the book? It's been a while since I reread. Didn't mind this one, other than Mme. Noelle's annoying accent and the reused plot. My favorite part has to be Boo Boo, though. Love that cat ;D
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mckay
Junior Sitter
Posts: 672
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Post by mckay on Jun 16, 2007 20:05:14 GMT -5
Fluffycakes, I think there are definitely supposed to be Phantom similarities.
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fluffycakes
Junior Sitter
A silken-haired beauty with a laugh like pealing bells
Posts: 868
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Post by fluffycakes on Jun 18, 2007 10:47:55 GMT -5
^ That's kinda cool, I guess, since I loooove that play. I do have some reservations about people ripping off other people's plots, but overall I don't mind too much with this one. I've always liked the book - definitely my favourite Jessi book in the series.
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memory
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 151
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Post by memory on Jun 29, 2007 17:02:44 GMT -5
yeah i told my mom about things ways less serious but she would have help me on that
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Post by aln1982 on Jun 29, 2007 17:27:57 GMT -5
^ I always told - and tell - my mom everything so this is one thing that really bugs me about this book.But it seems pretty common in BSC books. Still, this one was pretty good and suspenseful. I really enjoyed the performances, too.
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