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Post by sugarmonkey on Jul 21, 2006 9:16:52 GMT -5
I actually liked reading about Mallory at her riding lessons. I liked how Mal didn't win first prize, that would've been too typical BSC. I was sorry that the other kids in class were made out to be so snobby. At least Mal was inviting to a non-bsc related function. Too bad it sucked. I wish the lessons had continued though, it would've given Mal something more than just feeling ackward.
The sublots were boring and numerous. There was actually a lot going on in this book!
Nina Marshall had waaaay to strong an attachment to her blanket. Usually a security object means a child is feeling insecure about something else, they should've figured out what that was. She dragged the thing everywhere. And how does a blanket get ripped up in the dryer? Kudos to Dawn for the quick thinking.
Honestly, I skipped the Pike talent show. There have been so many I just don't care anymore.
Totally predictable how Jessi was jealous of Mal getting to take riding lessons. If she had she would probably blame the snobbery on racism anyway.
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Post by sparklymouse on Jul 21, 2006 13:35:38 GMT -5
I was kinda sad that Mallory finally got something she wanted, riding lessons, and she ended up miserable. And man is she socially awkward. Someone like Kristy could have worn the poor person riding clothes and it wouldn't have been an issue at all. You think if Mal hadn't won a ribbon at all that Mr. Pike would have pushed for more lessons? He seemed very into the prize.
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inge
Junior Sitter
Posts: 767
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Post by inge on Jul 21, 2006 13:38:25 GMT -5
I liked this one, too. I could kind of relate to Mal doing something she wanted to do and then finding out she really isn't fit for it. Oh, and also about the way things went at the party - awkward, and totally believable. I liked how Mal was really trying to make friends.
I agree about the talent show subplot, though. Gosh, haven't we seen enough of these?
As for the blankie subplot, I didn't like it at all. A lot of kids at that age carry something around with them to school! I know I did, and I was never teased because of it - it was just normal. Also, I think I've mentioned this before, but what Dawn did would not have made me happy. I would've hated her for ruining my blanket. I think she should've left it to the mom.
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lilafowler
Sitting For The Johanssens
Posts: 1,163
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Post by lilafowler on Jul 24, 2006 14:07:08 GMT -5
Jessi was such a b*tch in this one! Like she would have had time to take riding lessons while being the Best and Only Black Ballerina Ever and the African ambassador to Stoneybrook.
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Post by hitzpink on Jul 25, 2006 17:20:57 GMT -5
I really liked Mallory in this book. I felt bad for her that the horseback riding lessons weren't what she expected, and that the kids in her class were so mean. The party scene was sad. I can totally see Mal being all eager and trying to make friends and everybody looking at her like she's a huge dork.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Jul 25, 2006 20:08:03 GMT -5
;D
ITA!!
What a jealous little cow. Honestly. Pretty typical of an 11 yr old, though. I bet she was one of those girls who deliberately makes friends with the class "dork" in order to make themselves feel superior and couldn't stand the thought of Mallory having something she didn't.
That was extremely familiar to me. I felt like I'd been transported back to sixth grade.
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Post by sotypical42483 on Jul 26, 2006 11:57:47 GMT -5
oh I forgot about the party thing. That really was sad. And when Mallory gave the kids her # but no one would hang out with her. Jerks! Dang now I feel all bad for Mallory.
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Post by sugarmonkey on Jul 26, 2006 12:44:24 GMT -5
I was happy that Mal was so outgoing and tried to make friends outside the BSC. She gave them another shot even when she didn't have to. That probably came in handy later in the series when she went to boarding school.
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
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Post by starrynight on Jul 27, 2006 13:22:44 GMT -5
I just finished rereading this one about half an hour ago, and I liked it better than the first time I read it. Once again, the food descriptions at the party made me want to pig out. Sandwiches AND pizza AND other stuff? That makes for a good birthday. I also liked the horse stuff...I always wanted lessons as a kid, and I never got to take them. So, I kind of lived vicariously through Mallory. I cringed for her, though, when she was trying so hard to make friends with her classmates and they weren't interested. She just sounded so DORKY trying to force herself on everyone.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2006 15:15:42 GMT -5
I liked this one, but I wish the kids wouldn't have been so snobby. It seems like a sterotype, only rich, snotty kids get to take horse riding lessons (and then Mallory, who made a deal with her parents over the lessons.) It seems like she wanted stop riding more because of the kids than because of her scare.
I also like the description of the outfit Mal wore to the party - it was like a gold (plaid?) skirt and it sounded cute, and then she gets there and all the kids are jeans and other cool 80's clothes. Poor Mal, she'll never be on top of the fashion scene.
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Post by greer on Jul 27, 2006 15:20:52 GMT -5
Riding lessons are pretty expensive though, so while it's a stereotype, there is some truth behind it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2006 15:32:33 GMT -5
I guess it depends on where you are. I had a few riding lessons here that were not at all expensive. It wasn't a super fancy school, and we didn't have to wear proper riding gear or anything, so I'm sure that accounts for Mal's school being expensive. Still, it would have been nice if someone else in the class had been a regular kid.
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Post by greer on Jul 27, 2006 15:47:55 GMT -5
yeah i was raised in a super-horsey area in pennsylvania, where one of the most prestigious english riding events in the country is held, so i guess that accounts for the cost as well.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
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Post by macca on Jul 27, 2006 19:26:43 GMT -5
Ugh, yeah. It was almost as bad as reading about Stacey trying to impress Wes, the sexy student teacher.
Where I live, the lessons themselves are not that expensive, but the long-term students are encouraged to buy a horse, for which the upfront cost and the upkeep is very expensive, the sort of costs only a reasonably wealthy family could afford.
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Post by greer on Jul 27, 2006 21:39:52 GMT -5
I remember them being like, 40$ a lesson when I was a kid.
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