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Post by aln1982 on Mar 10, 2007 0:48:05 GMT -5
I'm probably going to start a debate here (I hope not since it looks like I'm pretty much alone in my thoughts on this one - except I totally agree with Sotypical. I thought Stacey was a jerk in this book. The other girls can be a bit much (MA's drama queen antics, Kristy's overbearing, loudmouthed personality, Dawn's spying, etc) but Stacey was a snob to them. I agree with Booboobrewer, too, that she became Laine. I realize that Stacey's behavior is probably typical for a 13 year old since I've been on the BSC's end of "uncoolness" and it hurts. I've probably also been on the Stacey end too but now that I'm older, I see that being "mature" and "cool" isn't so great. Who cares if the BSC was being "immature" at the restaurant when they were just having fun - lots of kids miss a good time (or have one in a way that causes consequences - Stacey and the Bad Girls is an example) because they are "too cool" What really bugged me in this book about Stacey was how she acted when baby-sitting. The BSC was right when they called her immature for her behavior with Jamie and Charlotte. I thought she was totally neglectful (and out of character in that situation) with Jamie and irresponsible. I felt so sorry for him and Charlotte too. I've been in Charlotte's situation before with "cool, older" kids and it's not a fun place to be. Anyway, just the 2 cents of a non-cool Mallory type (who actually also might have done some of the things that Dawn did) on this one. I just couldn't keep my mouth (or my fingers shut - guess I must be a bit of Kristy too.
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Post by sugarmonkey on Aug 22, 2007 12:06:57 GMT -5
On a reread I sympathize with Stacey more. I can see why she'd be embarassed about Kristy sticking straws up her nose or how Dawn reacted when Carlos Mendez walked by. I can understand how some 13 year olds haven't reached a level of comfort with themselves and others that allows them to not act like dorks when a cute guy is around, but they could've tried harder. I'm not going to fault Kristy for the soda going out her nose, I'm not sure that she could've prevented that. Dawn and MA laughing at that was probably largely involuntary. As for MA's Mickey Mouse/kitten sticker things, I can see how a self concious teenager would think them babyish. I'm mean at 13 you're just a year or so past growing out of that kind of stuff, so seeing someone wearing them would make you think they hadn't grown out of it yet and were thus babyish. It's different when adult wear them because there's no denying they're adults. Dawn's spying sounded like fun, but she could've been more subtle. MA and Dawn showing up at the party was gutsy, but Claud didn't have the right to get mad at Stacey because Claud got caught. It's been said Claud CHOSE to be there. I can see why the BSC forgave Claud so easily since she hadn't been "acting up" lately.
LOVED how Stacey told them off in the end and how she stopped feeling bad about separating herself from the BSC. Stacey was right when she said that the BSC didn't want to be her friends they just wanted to control her life. Finally, a book that acknowledges that a normal 13 year old would not want to spend her life babysitting and trying to fit a life around the club.
What Stacey did to Charlotte and Jamie Newton was inexcusable, but at least Jamie wasn't tramatized and Stacey did apologize to Char and was there for her in the end.
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Post by aln1982 on Sept 11, 2007 23:40:42 GMT -5
Just reread and noticed in the sitting chapter at Kristy's that Linny wants to perform something from Fiddler on the Roof. That's the second mention of Fiddler that I remember in the BSC - the other being Keep out Claudia. I just found it kind of odd that the kids (different kids, too) would be so into that show and know so much about it. I have never even seen it. Maybe this is like one of the obsessions like the Wizard of Oz.... (or maybe I misread something in this book??? I was skimming it) I felt so sorry for Charlotte. It reminded me of how crushed I was a few times as a kid when older girls who I idolized let me down like that. I still remember it and it makes me feel bad 15 years later....
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Post by liss31d on Sept 12, 2007 6:55:42 GMT -5
Yeah it is odd how so many of these kids like Fiddler on the Roof. Probably another of Ann's obsessions. The Wizard of Oz was mentioned in this book. Vanessa was singing along to the video of The Wizard of Oz and Mallory rolled her eyes saying that Vanessa was in love with the movie... just like Ann
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Post by aln1982 on Sept 12, 2007 10:22:18 GMT -5
^ I had forgotten about that. ;D The whole Pike sitting chapter sounded like absolute chaos was taking place. Glad I wasn't sitting for them ;D
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blossom114
Sitting For The Papadakis's
Posts: 1,504
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Post by blossom114 on Sept 12, 2007 14:33:08 GMT -5
I understand the fiddler on the roof (Though I myself love the movie and stage play) Wizard of Oz is a classic for all ages... Lol
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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 Dec 12, 2007 18:10:25 GMT -5
I totally skipped over the sitting chapters while re-reading. Some days I just can't handle another Pike talent show.
I can sympathize with Stacey in this book. I don't condone her behaviour, but I can certainly relate to her. I went through a very similar thing in high school. During the summer between grades 11 and 12, I started hanging out with some people who were "cooler" than the girls I normally hung out with. By the time school started, my old friends and I weren't talking very much. I was kind of embarassed by them, because they were the type to act like boys were icky, even at age 16/17 (among other things). I knew that we'd drifted apart, and it was hard to remain friends with them. These girls were never my best friends - we were never as close as the BSC - so I didn't feel too bad about not hanging out with them anymore. We drifted apart, and it was a very natural thing to happen.
Anyway. I really do love this book, save for the Jamie Newton sitting job. I was gagging when Stacey described the vomit trail. So gross!
The best thing was the BSC smackdown. Go Stacey go! So awesome. No matter whose side you're on, you have to admit that was a pretty fantastic moment in club history! ;D
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Post by sweetvalleygirl99 on Dec 12, 2007 22:17:54 GMT -5
I loved this book and Stacey and the Bad Girls, they were two of my favorites. I loved the BSC Smackdown at the end too- it was so awesome. A little overdue, but awesome nonetheless. I hated how Stacey treated Charlotte. And poor Jamie! I felt so bad for him when he got sick and Stacey basically ignored him to talk on the phone with Robert . She totally deserved her trip to the land of "El Barfo Grosso" just for that lol. I also hated how Stacey treated the BSC, which is why I mostly side with them in this book. Her behavior towards them wasn't so nice either. I understood Stacey's need to branch out and meet new people (that was one of the reasons that I liked Stacey and the Bad Girls because it was refreshing to read about her with new people), but she didn't need to act like her friends were total scum or something. However, the smackdown at the end was still awesome!
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Post by aln1982 on Dec 13, 2007 1:38:46 GMT -5
^ Agree about siding with the BSC and hating how Stacey treated the kids and thinking she deserved the barf cleanup. ;D I don't remember the big smackdown at the end so I guess I need to reread. I do prefer the books, though, where Stacey was loyal and supportive to the BSC - maybe because I've had too many friends "branch out" and get "too cool" for me (not that there is anything wrong with having new friends. In my situation, it just felt like I was usually used to introduce a new kid to everyone and then have them stop being my friend and "branch out" as soon as the intros were complete.)
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starrynight
Sitting For The Kuhns
The Royal Diner of Pizza Express
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Post by starrynight on Dec 13, 2007 13:22:33 GMT -5
^ I agree. I like it when Stacey, as cool and sophisticated as she is, admits how much she needs the BSC in her life, as she did in "The Truth About Stacey." I wouldn't say I totally sided with the BSC when I read this one, though. I actually felt fairly neutral, but I DID find Stacey's behavior towards Jamie to be somewhat uncool.
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sarish
Sitting For The Papadakis's
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Post by sarish on Dec 13, 2007 13:35:22 GMT -5
It made me so sad when Jamie got sick and was crying out for Stacey and when she was not there for Charlotte. I'll admit it made me cry. Otherwise I liked the book. Stacey's character was never my favorite of the series, but I always loved how she interacted with Charlotte as her "almost sister".
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Post by aln1982 on Dec 13, 2007 17:59:29 GMT -5
^ The part with Jamie made me so sad, too. So did the thing with Char because older kids did that kind of thing all the time to me. I had a lot of kids I showed horses with who I really idolized and when they would hurt me like Stacey did, it usually devestated me. I think that's another reason she made me so mad in this one.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2007 15:00:56 GMT -5
I don't know what to think about Stacey's behaviour in this book. It is absolutely wrong how she treated Jamie (heh, totally deserved her trip to "El Barfo Grosso", as sweetvalleygirl said) and Charlotte - as a kid, I idolized my cousin, who is six years older than me, and I would have been very disappointed if she had put me in the same situation as Charlotte was in this book. Poor little kids, I felt really sorry for them. Stacey was definitely immature towards them. But about the BSC...well, Stacey's 13, and that's not an easy age. I still remember being 13 (which might not be a miracle, 'cause I was 13 three years ago...) and I totally remember being embarassed about some of my friends' behaviour at that age - like their attitude towards boys, if I just talked with a boy, my classmates instantly thought that we were a couple - and thinking that I was above most of my peers in intelligence and matureness... At 13, that is very normal. And I totally understand Stacey's need to get to know new people and have some other stuff in her life besides baby-sitting and hanging out with the BSC. So, in a way, I do sympathize with her. I think sugarmonkey described her thoughts, which are just the same as me, better than me And about Fiddler on the Roof - I can see why kids like it. I saw it this autumn as a stage play in my hometown's theatre, and liked it very much. I would have been even more affected by it if I had seen it as an younger kid. But it's weird that so many like it...I think it's, again, one of Ann's obsessions, like Wizard of Oz and Laura Ashley and ice cream and whatever there was.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
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Post by macca on Dec 14, 2007 16:22:05 GMT -5
My feelings are still the same as they were when this thread started. The BSC and Stacey are tied, IMO. I can see both sides.
I think I would've sympathised with Stacey more if her (major) problems were issues I've always had with the BSC - Kristy the punctuality-obsessed dictator, MA the drama queen - not just that they were "immature" and an embarrassment because of Disney sweatshirts and kitty stickers. I mean, big deal.
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Post by aln1982 on Dec 14, 2007 16:36:07 GMT -5
^ Agree Macca about the important issues. The Disney sweatshirt thing really bugs me, too, because I love them and always have (and got fun of for wearing them but didn't care). I know Stacey's being a "typical 13 year old" but never liked this kind of behavior and couldn't stand it when kids were so "cool" that they actually created more of a scene by carrying on about how "embarrassing" someone like Kristy was being when she was just having a good time. I've always had the philosophy that you can have more fun when not so worried about being "cool" so can't relate to Stacey in this one.
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