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Post by hannah26 on Jun 22, 2020 3:35:25 GMT -5
Would you be allowed to work as a lifeguard at 15 years old? I think in the UK you’d have to be at least 16. But even 16 would be more of an appropriate age gap for Stacey and Scott.
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Post by Honeybee on Jul 13, 2020 22:45:06 GMT -5
I’m reading this book again. I love reading this book. I’m imagining I’m at Sea City staying at a beach house. Hearing the waving crashing in the moonlight.
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wanderingfrog
Sitting For The Arnolds
Official BSC Archivist
Posts: 2,552
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Post by wanderingfrog on Jul 15, 2020 17:02:04 GMT -5
Would you be allowed to work as a lifeguard at 15 years old? I think in the UK you’d have to be at least 16. But even 16 would be more of an appropriate age gap for Stacey and Scott. I wondered that, too, when I first read the graphic novel, because 15 sounds kind of young to work as a lifeguard, so at the time I actually looked up what the rules were in the state of New Jersey and yep, you can legally work as a lifeguard at 15 there. I don't even know what the minimum lifeguarding age is where I live, but I know for New Jersey! I never went on to lifesaving courses because when I was 11 and got my last YMCA swim badge, the Lifesaving Society didn't have anything before Bronze Medallion and you had to be 13 to get your Bronze Medallion. Nowadays they have Bronze Star before Bronze Medallion, and you don't need to be 13 to go on to Bronze Medallion; you have to either be 13 OR have your Bronze Star. The Lifesaving Society also has a three-level Canadian Swim Patrol program now that you can do before Bronze Star and there's no age requirement for that, either. But they didn't have those when I was a kid, so there were two years when I couldn't take any courses toward lifesaving. I somewhat lost interest in those two years, but also when I got to be 13 and I was still only about 4'4 tall my parents were not super enthused about the idea of me towing a person-sized dead weight or an actual person through the water. I have since gotten the new edition of Boy-Crazy Stacey and yes, they did indeed make Scott fifteen and headed back to high school in the fall in this one, and not eighteen and off to college in the fall like in the original and the 2010 edition. It's kind of funny how 15-year-old Scott is considered "way too old" for 13-year-old Stacey, but 14-year-old Toby is the "perfect" age for her! I'm looking forward to the release of the new edition of The Ghost at Dawn's House next month because the 2010 editions ended at #8, so it will be interesting to see whether this one has any changes in the text from the original or not.
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Post by CharlotteTJohanssen on Jul 15, 2020 18:32:55 GMT -5
^ In my state you can be 15 too as long as you can pass the lifeguard test.
I really like rereading this book because I love all the descriptions of the board walk and it makes me want to go to the beach. I wonder if Byron ever got over his fear later in life or not? I know some fears never go away and others do.
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Post by m0drnmoonlight on Sept 11, 2020 13:06:43 GMT -5
This is one of my favorite BSC books, definitely top 5! I snarked it on the BSC snark community on LJ and I'm currently doing it again for my new BSC Tumblr and as much as I love this book, there's so many things that jump out at me as funny/outrageous: -When they go to visit Kristy in chapter 1, Stacey talks about trying on some of Kristy's clip-on earrings to see how she'd look with two holes in each ear. Kristy wears earrings? -Stacey also talks about the mansion and remarks that her apartment in NYC was considered big because it was four bedrooms. If the McGills had a four-bedroom apartment in Manhattan, I think Watson has competition. -Speaking of that, the illustration on the cover of the original book, you can see the Pikes' beach house in the background. It's huge! And there's at least five bedrooms - Mallory tells Stacey and Mary Anne that they can have another room if they don't like theirs. How were the Pikes able to afford this? My theory is since they go to Atlantic City in the book, they're really good at gambling -For this being a family vacation, Dee and John spent very little time with their kids. I think they eat breakfast together and go to the beach a few times and they all go to Gurber Garden when Nicky gets the free dinner coupons. But other than that, Mary Anne and Stacey are doing everything with the Pike Army. -On the one hand, I do feel bad that Stacey got led on by Scott. But on the other, she was really awful to Mary Anne. Especially after she got sunburned and Stacey knew she was hot and uncomfortable, she still dumped all the work on her and said "Oh the mother's helper boy will help you out!" Stacey...you're the one getting paid. The Pikes should have given Alex a tip! -Even as a kid, I was outraged by the fact that Stacey dropped 10 dollars on a huge box of chocolates and then she and Mary Anne LEFT IT ON THE BENCH ON THE BOARDWALK after she saw Scott kissing another girl. Like....you spent 10 bucks on it! Bring it back and share it with the Pike Army! I'm sure I have more to say but work calls XD
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Post by CharlotteTJohanssen on Sept 11, 2020 17:57:49 GMT -5
This is one of my favorite BSC books, definitely top 5! I snarked it on the BSC snark community on LJ and I'm currently doing it again for my new BSC Tumblr and as much as I love this book, there's so many things that jump out at me as funny/outrageous: -When they go to visit Kristy in chapter 1, Stacey talks about trying on some of Kristy's clip-on earrings to see how she'd look with two holes in each ear. Kristy wears earrings? -Stacey also talks about the mansion and remarks that her apartment in NYC was considered big because it was four bedrooms. If the McGills had a four-bedroom apartment in Manhattan, I think Watson has competition. -Speaking of that, the illustration on the cover of the original book, you can see the Pikes' beach house in the background. It's huge! And there's at least five bedrooms - Mallory tells Stacey and Mary Anne that they can have another room if they don't like theirs. How were the Pikes able to afford this? My theory is since they go to Atlantic City in the book, they're really good at gambling -For this being a family vacation, Dee and John spent very little time with their kids. I think they eat breakfast together and go to the beach a few times and they all go to Gurber Garden when Nicky gets the free dinner coupons. But other than that, Mary Anne and Stacey are doing everything with the Pike Army. -On the one hand, I do feel bad that Stacey got led on by Scott. But on the other, she was really awful to Mary Anne. Especially after she got sunburned and Stacey knew she was hot and uncomfortable, she still dumped all the work on her and said "Oh the mother's helper boy will help you out!" Stacey...you're the one getting paid. The Pikes should have given Alex a tip! -Even as a kid, I was outraged by the fact that Stacey dropped 10 dollars on a huge box of chocolates and then she and Mary Anne LEFT IT ON THE BENCH ON THE BOARDWALK after she saw Scott kissing another girl. Like....you spent 10 bucks on it! Bring it back and share it with the Pike Army! I'm sure I have more to say but work calls XD I think the box of chocolates left on the beach will annoy every bsc fan lol. I wonder if this is the only vacation the Pike goes on, which is why it's easy for them to afford.
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Post by m0drnmoonlight on Sept 11, 2020 18:35:37 GMT -5
That makes sense, if it's their annual trip so that's what they save for each year. I can't think of any other time the Pikes went on vacation. Except were they on the cruise in Babysitters On Board? I read that YEARS ago and don't remember.
Another thing I didn't get was Stacey saying she can't have the cheese in the omelette John was making, then she orders a burger at Gurber Garden with cheese on it. I guess because it was Swiss cheese, it was ok? And I'm pretty sure she eats pizza other times in the series (she definitely did on the tv show), so that was a big inconsistency. I guess diabetes treatment was different in the 80s because my mom's diabetic and she was never told anything about avoiding cheese. Then again, she's Type II, so maybe that's different. She does have to watch her carbs though, so I could at least understand Stacey checking the ingredients on the bread wrapper at breakfast. She also orders a burger instead of a hot dog during her double date with Mary Anne and Alex and Toby, so I guess hot dogs weren't ok either?
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Elsie13
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 126
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Post by Elsie13 on Sept 14, 2020 20:55:03 GMT -5
I always read the chocolate thing as Mary Anne being sensitive to Stacey and knowing that she wouldn't enjoy eating them because she was too upset and the chocolates would just make her feel worse and embarrassed and if they took them to the Pikes Stacey would have to explain where they came from etc. I think they were just a source of embarrassment, although it is such a waste! I was a little confused by the clip on earring bit too...maybe they were gifts that she never wears? Maybe she only wears them once a year for like Christmas or a school dance or something? I think the Pike parents really needed a holiday (especially a holiday from their children ) and so they bought the sitters along so that they could have some time to themselves and actually get a break too? Maybe. I'm not sure. At first the Scott thing weirded me out since I hadn't read this book in so long and didn't really remember what happened. I mostly just felt bad for Stacey for getting the wrong idea and getting led on when Scott didn't even mean to. I do feel like having much younger girls grab you soda's and things is a bit much...but 18 year old boys can be pretty stupid like that. I really love the descriptions of Burger Garden and the beach and boardwalk, I think the Sea City books are so good because they have such a strong sense of place but also a sense of adventure and escapism because it's a fun holiday destination rather than an everyday-life setting like school and Stoneybrook. It's interesting that they changed things for the reprint, I might have to borrow a few reprints from the library just to compare the differences. I think Scott should have been 16 or 17, that makes him old enough to be 'way too old' and for Stacey to learn her lesson, but not so old that it's verging on inappropriate considering that she is 13. Especially considering that over here in Australia 18 is the legal adult age, while 16/17 is still a kid.
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Elsie13
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 126
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Post by Elsie13 on Sept 14, 2020 20:59:25 GMT -5
That makes sense, if it's their annual trip so that's what they save for each year. I can't think of any other time the Pikes went on vacation. Except were they on the cruise in Babysitters On Board? I read that YEARS ago and don't remember. Another thing I didn't get was Stacey saying she can't have the cheese in the omelette John was making, then she orders a burger at Gurber Garden with cheese on it. I guess because it was Swiss cheese, it was ok? And I'm pretty sure she eats pizza other times in the series (she definitely did on the tv show), so that was a big inconsistency. I guess diabetes treatment was different in the 80s because my mom's diabetic and she was never told anything about avoiding cheese. Then again, she's Type II, so maybe that's different. She does have to watch her carbs though, so I could at least understand Stacey checking the ingredients on the bread wrapper at breakfast. She also orders a burger instead of a hot dog during her double date with Mary Anne and Alex and Toby, so I guess hot dogs weren't ok either? The Pikes were on the cruise in Babysitters on Board, there was that whole thing with Mallory and Harriet the Spy. Yes! So did I. I was confused that she was eating the burger after saying the processed cheese was bad. Burger Garden sounds like the sort of place that wouldn't have particularly nutritious burgers >.<
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Post by m0drnmoonlight on Sept 14, 2020 23:27:55 GMT -5
I always read the chocolate thing as Mary Anne being sensitive to Stacey and knowing that she wouldn't enjoy eating them because she was too upset and the chocolates would just make her feel worse and embarrassed and if they took them to the Pikes Stacey would have to explain where they came from etc. I think they were just a source of embarrassment, although it is such a waste! I was a little confused by the clip on earring bit too...maybe they were gifts that she never wears? Maybe she only wears them once a year for like Christmas or a school dance or something? I think the Pike parents really needed a holiday (especially a holiday from their children ) and so they bought the sitters along so that they could have some time to themselves and actually get a break too? Maybe. I'm not sure. At first the Scott thing weirded me out since I hadn't read this book in so long and didn't really remember what happened. I mostly just felt bad for Stacey for getting the wrong idea and getting led on when Scott didn't even mean to. I do feel like having much younger girls grab you soda's and things is a bit much...but 18 year old boys can be pretty stupid like that. I really love the descriptions of Burger Garden and the beach and boardwalk, I think the Sea City books are so good because they have such a strong sense of place but also a sense of adventure and escapism because it's a fun holiday destination rather than an everyday-life setting like school and Stoneybrook. It's interesting that they changed things for the reprint, I might have to borrow a few reprints from the library just to compare the differences. I think Scott should have been 16 or 17, that makes him old enough to be 'way too old' and for Stacey to learn her lesson, but not so old that it's verging on inappropriate considering that she is 13. Especially considering that over here in Australia 18 is the legal adult age, while 16/17 is still a kid. Sneaky of the Pikes to bring along babysitters so they wouldn't have to spend time with their kids XD I think that's what I love about this book too. Sea City sounds so fun and it's an adventure, in a way, reading about Mary Anne and Stacey going there. It was a change of pace from Stoneybrook. I actually never read Mary Anne and Too Many Boys and Sea City, Here We Come so I need to look for those now!
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Elsie13
New To Stoneybrook
Posts: 126
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Post by Elsie13 on Sept 14, 2020 23:56:58 GMT -5
I always read the chocolate thing as Mary Anne being sensitive to Stacey and knowing that she wouldn't enjoy eating them because she was too upset and the chocolates would just make her feel worse and embarrassed and if they took them to the Pikes Stacey would have to explain where they came from etc. I think they were just a source of embarrassment, although it is such a waste! I was a little confused by the clip on earring bit too...maybe they were gifts that she never wears? Maybe she only wears them once a year for like Christmas or a school dance or something? I think the Pike parents really needed a holiday (especially a holiday from their children ) and so they bought the sitters along so that they could have some time to themselves and actually get a break too? Maybe. I'm not sure. At first the Scott thing weirded me out since I hadn't read this book in so long and didn't really remember what happened. I mostly just felt bad for Stacey for getting the wrong idea and getting led on when Scott didn't even mean to. I do feel like having much younger girls grab you soda's and things is a bit much...but 18 year old boys can be pretty stupid like that. I really love the descriptions of Burger Garden and the beach and boardwalk, I think the Sea City books are so good because they have such a strong sense of place but also a sense of adventure and escapism because it's a fun holiday destination rather than an everyday-life setting like school and Stoneybrook. It's interesting that they changed things for the reprint, I might have to borrow a few reprints from the library just to compare the differences. I think Scott should have been 16 or 17, that makes him old enough to be 'way too old' and for Stacey to learn her lesson, but not so old that it's verging on inappropriate considering that she is 13. Especially considering that over here in Australia 18 is the legal adult age, while 16/17 is still a kid. Sneaky of the Pikes to bring along babysitters so they wouldn't have to spend time with their kids XD I think that's what I love about this book too. Sea City sounds so fun and it's an adventure, in a way, reading about Mary Anne and Stacey going there. It was a change of pace from Stoneybrook. I actually never read Mary Anne and Too Many Boys and Sea City, Here We Come so I need to look for those now! Haha, yup I know right...although I kind of don't blame them : ) Yeah, for sure you should, especially if you enjoy the Sea City setting! They are fun books, particularly Sea City as it includes more of the characters.
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livvy
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 394
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Post by livvy on Jan 2, 2021 9:42:07 GMT -5
Stacey was an idiot in this one . Thinking an eighteen year old likes her . Didn't she know he was just treating her like a slave ?
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Post by Sideshowjazz1 on Jan 10, 2021 5:38:18 GMT -5
I find it interesting that Sea City isn't a real place. I know Stoneybrook isn't real, either, but mostly, the characters do go on holiday to real places (although admittedly I can't find any sign of there being a real Palo City for Dawn to live in, although there is a Palo Alto in California, but in San Francisco, whereas Dawn lives closer to Los Angeles), like New York is pretty accurate. I've been there. So's Hawaii, full of pale sands and the bluest water, yet clear when you get close, and very friendly. Apparently Sea City is based on real seaside towns in New Jersey, though. It sounds tacky, but in a fun way, and I would have loved to visit it if it was real. It's a bit like UK piers with arcade games and rides, with souvenir shops with stuff like Homer Simpson tops saying "English. Who needs that? I'm never going to England." (Brighton pier, ladies and gentlemen). Even though I'm in my twenties, I still kind of like the idea of Burger Garden, rabbit waiters and all. We don't get those any more. Closest was birthday parties at places where you got people dressed up. I've been to McDonald's birthdays (my own and others) and someone dressed up as Ronald McDonald always came and chatted to the kid whose birthday it was. It's funny, because I don't like beaches, but I would love the town. I wonder where you have to go to get what Ann based Sea City on?
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oldhickory
Sitting For The Arnolds
Heather Loves Boys and Gym
Posts: 3,257
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Post by oldhickory on Jan 12, 2021 9:46:08 GMT -5
Isn't that interesting? Sea City is one of the few places they visit that isn't real, but the way it's described makes it come alive. I could see it being real just based on the love and care Ann writes with.
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Post by m0drnmoonlight on Feb 4, 2021 14:20:38 GMT -5
Isn't that interesting? Sea City is one of the few places they visit that isn't real, but the way it's described makes it come alive. I could see it being real just based on the love and care Ann writes with. There's a chapter in Ann's biography that talks about how her family and her best friend Beth's family (Kristy is based on Beth) would go on vacation on the Jersey Shore all the time and that's what she based Sea City on. Which makes sense, because it does seem so real with how she writes Sea City! The biography also said a lifeguard once asked Ann and Beth for lunch so they made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for him, so that's where Stacey doing that for Scott comes from!
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