# 50 Dawn's Big Date

[starrynight]

Well, I looked through all the pages of this forum, and I didn't see any thread about this book. It was always one of my favorites...my best friend and I actually tried revamping out clothes the way Dawn did!!! We ended up looking like mini floozies. I would use a stronger word than that, but I don't think that's allowed here.

I liked the food descriptions, both from the New Year's party and from the meal that Dawn makes for Lewis. I always need a snack when I'm reading this book.

Has anyone else noticed that Dawns is ALWAYS changing herself to please a guy? There was Travis, and Lewis in this book, and there was Parker in Super Special #1. It wasn't as extreme in that case, but I can remember that she missed out on doing something she wanted just because Parker didn't want to. I think it was snorkeling??? At any rate, I think it makes her character more real that she has obvious issues with guys. It makes me like her a little better than I would if she was just totally an INDIVIDUAL.

[lovelylemontree]

At any rate, I think it makes her character more real that she has obvious issues with guys. It makes me like her a little better than I would if she was just totally an INDIVIDUAL.

I like this book for just that reason. It's always drilled into the readers' heads that Dawn is an individual and it's nice to see her falling into the same trap that so many of us do. I think everyone at some point changes themselves to please another person, especially during the teenage years. It's nice to know that Dawn is just as self-conscious and insecure as the rest of us. That made me like her, at least for this book.

However, I hate Lewis. When Dawn doesn't look as he expected, he pouts and ignores her. He doesn't even make an effort to find out if she's the same girl he liked from her letters. Instead he judges her the minute he sees her and completely writes her off. Dawn should have pointed that out to him in the end. If he was really such a nice guy, he would have given the new Dawn a chance.

my best friend and I actually tried revamping out clothes the way Dawn did!!! We ended up looking like mini floozies.

I made my sister an off-the-shoulder shirt using Dawn's Big Date as a guide. She needed it for a costume party. There I was standing in her bedroom with a pair of scissors and Dawn's Big Date and my sister was just staring at me like, "OMG...she's taking advice from The Baby-Sitters Club..."

[sotypical42483]

oh I really liked this one! It makes me sad for Dawn because why's she always doing this weird crap around guys? But the descriptions of her changing her clothes were great. She was kinda clever I haven't read this in a while, though.

[macca]

I was so embarrassed for Dawn in this book, particularly when she was taking advice from the magazines. So cringey.

Also, like lovelylemontree, also not a fan of Lewis. Couldn't put my finger on it before, but you've explained perfectly what my issue was with him.

[lilafowler]

He doesn't even make an effort to find out if she's the same girl he liked from her letters. Instead he judges her the minute he sees her and completely writes her off.

To be fair, her last few letters were kind of weird. Like the postcard she sent him of curvy legs? And she mentioned how she heard he had an extremely hunky voice. Ignoring the fact that her coming on kind of strong could have scared him off, who would have told her that? Logan? (I think she says Mary Anne told her, but why would Mary Anne be on the phone with Lewis? I imagined Logan telling Mary Anne how hunky Lewis's voice was, and then Mary Anne telling Dawn.)

[bscfan24]

^^why would Logan be talking about his cousin's voice being hunky?

[greer]

that legs postcard was so weird--very provocative for a thirteen year old!

[Amalia]

^ I don't know if it is in this book, but I liked the part where Dawn pretended to not know an answer when the teacher called on her when she really did know. She did this to make herself look cool in the eyes of her classmates. Ha ha.

[booboobrewer]

Heh, that postcard was so lame.

Also, what group of thirteen year olds see Gone with the Wind at the movies? I mean, I like the film and all, but it seemed like an odd choice -- it did make Dawn cry buckets at the end. They should have taken in a comedy.

When Dawn is chewing her OMG first piece of gum ever at a meeting, Mallory gives some strange, vague instructions on how to blow a bubble. I once tried to blow one following exactly what she said (just for kicks; I already knew how to, of course), and it just didn't work. I don't have the book with me to clarify but I think she was missing a step.

[jen]

Aw, I liked Lewis in this book. I think he was just a bit shocked and scared that someone who wrote such nice letters would turn out to be a ditz who uses his name all the time and compliments him on everything ever. I'd be freaked out if I was going on a date with Dawn

And heh, total word on the food description. I love the food in this one.

[fluffy]

^ I don't know if it is in this book, but I liked the part where Dawn pretended to not know an answer when the teacher called on her when she really did know. She did this to make herself look cool in the eyes of her classmates. Ha ha.

Ah, the heavy metal joke! [Whisper] I actually tried to make that one in middle school when we studied rocks, but I was never called on, thank God. [/whisper]

I tried making a skirt from a pair of pants too, but that one also ended in disaster. I never wore those 'pants' again.

I love how 'special' Lewis ends up as another forgotten we'll-write-to-each-other BSC boyfriend. He gets about one mention in Dawn's Big Move, where they are now apparently on'just-friends' mode. Ouch.

Oh, and on the kissing. Apart from the aspect of kissing a guy you knew for about two weeks(?), wouldn't a thirteen-year-old feel a little...awkward kissing some guy in a place that public? Especially when they were waiting for Richard to pick them up... Just a thought.

[jen]

It was a pretty quiet night when they kissed though... I don't think there would've been anyone watching them. Besides, they were too caught up by the romance of the situation to care

[sparklymouse]

Dawn was stupid for ruining practically all of her clothes. I thought Claudia was actually a bit threatened that Dawn was stepping into *weird, funky outfit* territory.

Also, what group of thirteen year olds see Gone with the Wind at the movies?

The cover shows little elementary school age kids in seats behind Dawn's row. Why is everyone in that town so freaking mature? It's creepy.

Lewis was a 13 year old boy and apparently 5'10". Every 13 year old I knew was like 4'11" with size 10 feet. Lewis was special.

[starrynight]

The height always bugged me, too. Dawn must have been about 5' 6" or 5' 7" if she fit so neatly under his arm like the book describes. That's still pretty tall for a 13 year old!

[booboobrewer]

Quint the boy ballerina is supposedly 5'8 as well, and the dude is eleven years old. Sigh. Everyone was so tall and mature and sophisticated.