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Post by bscfan1997 on Oct 10, 2015 19:36:00 GMT -5
It is amazing how the first book KGI is so different than the later ones. It is truly wonderful and refreshing to read from the very beginning. Kristy was still bossy but still likable, not as dictator-y in the later books. Mary Anne was shyer and quieter and actually more sweet and sensitive, not passive-aggressive as she became in the later books. Claudia and Stacey acted younger and cooler. I especially liked Claudia's outfits, they were so very 80s and not as weird as it got later on. It was understandable why Stacey hid her diabetes from everybody, too. I loved Kristy's relationship with her brothers mostly David Michael and Sam. And not to mention her mom. It was totally understandable how she resented Watson and his kids. Their very first babysitting jobs are funny, especially the dogs and Mrs. Porter. I especially loved the last sentence where Kristy hoped that the BSC would be together for a very long time. She had no idea it'd be together for, what, 28 years, and it'd grow to like 10 members, ah, the nostalgia is killing me right now lol.
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Enigma
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 128
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Post by Enigma on Dec 12, 2015 6:41:49 GMT -5
Wow. I decided to refresh my memory with this one and I have to say, after reading all those 'later' books, this one is definitely a breath of fresh air. However, it's so weird to read a BSC book without Chapter Two - there is no mention (obviously) of California Casual or the two sixth grade girls being similar in many ways and different in others. No mention of Kristy's CRAZY, huge, jumbled family with the adopted kid and the menagerie (sp?) of pets. No mention of how MA's dad found true love and subsequently loosened up on his daughter. This book is wonderfully written (well, compared to the ghostwritten later books), the characters have real depth without being over-the-top annoying, the friendships are shown, not just told. There is plenty of parental involvement, Kristy's mother is truly wonderful and Kristy seems to have a close bond with her brothers as well (despite them driving her crazy on occasion). The girls also seem like 12 yr olds, not mini adults - Kristy is rude to Watson and sent to her room etc. I also just recently re-read this one and noticed how the girls are portrayed as more "down to earth" and actually believable 12 year olds in the late 1980s. The mini-adult portrayal starts as early as book #6 but really gets into full swing when the Junior Members join. Does anyone else notice how even Jessi and Mallory are portrayed as more mature and wise at age 11 than the original four BSC members were at age 12?
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mallorypike
Sitting For The Papadakis's
If I were thirteen instead of eleven, life would be a picnic...
Posts: 1,636
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Post by mallorypike on Dec 12, 2015 14:48:21 GMT -5
Yes, Jessi and Mallory were more mature and wiser at 11 than the original BSC at 12. I've noticed that and glad I wasn't the only one that did.
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Enigma
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 128
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Post by Enigma on Dec 13, 2015 1:18:16 GMT -5
Yes, Jessi and Mallory were more mature and wiser at 11 than the original BSC at 12. I've noticed that and glad I wasn't the only one that did. Yep; especially consider that Mallory need to be baby-sat for in book #4: Mary Anne Saves the Day (to be fair, she did seem somewhat mature for 10 when Kristy and Mary Anne baby-sit together at the Pike house) but still....
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mallorypike
Sitting For The Papadakis's
If I were thirteen instead of eleven, life would be a picnic...
Posts: 1,636
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Post by mallorypike on Dec 13, 2015 15:13:51 GMT -5
She's also babysat for in #5: Dawn and the Impossible Three. She first becomes the second sitter in #9: The Ghost at Dawn's House.
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,270
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Post by oldhickory on Dec 14, 2015 17:11:47 GMT -5
The idea that a person just a few months removed from needing a sitter is now responsible for other's people's kids is pretty scary. I have a cousin who just turned 11, and there's no way I would trust him as a babysitter. He's a great kid, but a kid nonetheless. He still has to be reminded to stop playing and eat.
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mallorypike
Sitting For The Papadakis's
If I were thirteen instead of eleven, life would be a picnic...
Posts: 1,636
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Post by mallorypike on Dec 14, 2015 17:21:07 GMT -5
^ that's true. Mallory went from a charge to a helper in three books (#4-#7) and a sitter two books after that. That's just six or seven months! That sounds pretty normal for an 11 year old boy. I know plenty of 11 year olds and even 12 year olds who are definitely not mature enough to babysit. Very few 13 year olds I'd trust to babysit. That's all.
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Enigma
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 128
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Post by Enigma on Dec 14, 2015 22:33:18 GMT -5
^ that's true. Mallory went from a charge to a helper in three books (#4-#7) and a sitter two books after that. That's just six or seven months! That sounds pretty normal for an 11 year old boy. I know plenty of 11 year olds and even 12 year olds who are definitely not mature enough to babysit. Very few 13 year olds I'd trust to babysit. That's all. In the BSC land, 11 is the new 15. Nowadays, you'll probably get a visit from CPS if you leave them with an 11-year-old sitter or even if you leave an 11-year-old home by themselves longer than a couple of hours.
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mallorypike
Sitting For The Papadakis's
If I were thirteen instead of eleven, life would be a picnic...
Posts: 1,636
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Post by mallorypike on Dec 15, 2015 6:44:14 GMT -5
Agreed! Imagine what'd happen to Jessi's parents if they let her babysit her siblings for three whole days nowadays?!
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,270
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Post by oldhickory on Dec 15, 2015 14:19:09 GMT -5
I remember one day when I was 12. I was home alone for the day, and somebody (probably one of my neighbors) called the police to check on me. The cop came to my house, asked if I was okay, and told me I was still too young to be left alone. I was TWELVE and alone and the cops were called.
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Post by booboobrewer on Dec 15, 2015 16:17:47 GMT -5
What a nosy neighbor lol. Especially if you were just at home minding your own business!
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mallorypike
Sitting For The Papadakis's
If I were thirteen instead of eleven, life would be a picnic...
Posts: 1,636
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Post by mallorypike on Dec 15, 2015 18:31:30 GMT -5
Wow! That's crazy! I've stayed home alone by age 12. Sometimes I'd stay home alone at 11 but not often. Is it legal for a 12 year old to stay home alone? I guess it depends on the state or even town?
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Enigma
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 128
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Post by Enigma on Dec 15, 2015 22:38:27 GMT -5
In California, the guidelines are 12 as the minimum age for staying home alone but it's not a hard and fast rule. It depends on the situation; if someone leaves a mature 11-year-old for a alone for an hour or so while running errands locally, it would be acceptable. It would even be acceptable if they left a well-behaved 8 or 9 year old sibling with them. But never to watch other people's kids or even their own siblings if they require a lot of attention/care.
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mallorypike
Sitting For The Papadakis's
If I were thirteen instead of eleven, life would be a picnic...
Posts: 1,636
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Post by mallorypike on Dec 16, 2015 6:58:11 GMT -5
Apparently in my state (Tennessee) there's no legal age for a child to stay home alone, parents are required to use their common sense.
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andrew
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 353
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Post by andrew on Dec 20, 2015 12:07:03 GMT -5
This book was pretty fun (I read it the first time this year, having initially started with book 2) but I kind of prefer Kristy being more mature rather than so angry with Watson (I got the sense here that they have a similar personality and sense of humor) and blunt with Stacey.
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