wanderingfrog
Sitting For The Arnolds
Official BSC Archivist
Posts: 2,552
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Post by wanderingfrog on Sept 28, 2007 22:22:51 GMT -5
I felt for Tess and was glad she was content to just be herself and that she seemed to find a real friend in the end. I also really liked that it was Barbara Hirsch who became good friends with her, since it was sad that Barbara's best friend died.
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Post by aln1982 on Sept 28, 2007 23:17:41 GMT -5
^ I always thought the same thing. Was Barbara mentioned in other books besides Memory Garden? She sounded nice, too.
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Post by Sweet City Girl on Oct 14, 2007 17:04:54 GMT -5
Part of this book in particular reminds me so much of an incident that happened to me in seventh grade.... I was annoyed with Stacey for trying to change Tess. That's exactly what the girls in my class tried to do one day when ALL of them decided to give me a "makeover" during study hall at school (there were only seven other girls in my class, it was so tiny! Very cliquey, and I was the new girl like Tess). Back then I *hated* the thought of wearing make-up and dressed a lot more like MA. I was pretty upset with them, but they left me alone with make-up/fashion after that. Anyway, I'm glad that Stacey learned her lesson and Tess finally made a true friend. I remember being so upset when I read about the kids in the bleachers throwing things at Tess and causing her to break her ankle. That part always disturbs me greatly and conjures up a lot of empathy in me. I just felt so sad for her. I felt like screaming at those brats in the crowd and telling them to back off. I thought the whole thing was way over the top, especially for a BSC book. Did this remind anyone else of Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, when the townspeople were throwing tomatoes at poor Quasimodo and being cruel to him? Sheesh. Just can't believe people could be that cruel, especially merely because of looks. It scares me to death to think what the kids at SMS would do if Tess looked anything remotely like Quasimodo.
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macca
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,084
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Post by macca on Oct 14, 2007 17:52:57 GMT -5
I REALLY want to read this one! It's so impossible to find!
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Post by Sweet City Girl on Oct 14, 2007 18:02:01 GMT -5
Macca, if you want to buy it, you can probably find it on amazon from other sellers; that's where I got most of mine. They can come in very good condition if you get one that's listed as "like new" or "very good." I sympathize if you're trying to get it out of the library. My library used to have several BSC books and just recently got rid of them! Another library I went to only had the FF series.
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janey83
Sitter-In-Training
Posts: 374
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Post by janey83 on Nov 6, 2007 16:54:18 GMT -5
Part of this book in particular reminds me so much of an incident that happened to me in seventh grade.... I was annoyed with Stacey for trying to change Tess. That's exactly what the girls in my class tried to do one day when ALL of them decided to give me a "makeover" during study hall at school (there were only seven other girls in my class, it was so tiny! Very cliquey, and I was the new girl like Tess). Back then I *hated* the thought of wearing make-up and dressed a lot more like MA. I was pretty upset with them, but they left me alone with make-up/fashion after that. Anyway, I'm glad that Stacey learned her lesson and Tess finally made a true friend. I remember being so upset when I read about the kids in the bleachers throwing things at Tess and causing her to break her ankle. That part always disturbs me greatly and conjures up a lot of empathy in me. I just felt so sad for her. I felt like screaming at those brats in the crowd and telling them to back off. I thought the whole thing was way over the top, especially for a BSC book. Did this remind anyone else of Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, when the townspeople were throwing tomatoes at poor Quasimodo and being cruel to him? Sheesh. Just can't believe people could be that cruel, especially merely because of looks. It scares me to death to think what the kids at SMS would do if Tess looked anything remotely like Quasimodo. ^Yeah, I had a similar experience. I didn't really wear makeup until college (I just didn't care much about it and besides, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on makeup) -- and sooo many girls would tell me how they wanted to make me over. It hurt my feelings! One day I let one of my friends put mascara & eye makeup on me and the whole afternoon everyone was commenting on how nice I looked, which bugged me because I felt like -- do I not look nice the rest of the time? Nevertheless....I like reading about makeovers in books. Siiigh.
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wanderingfrog
Sitting For The Arnolds
Official BSC Archivist
Posts: 2,552
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Post by wanderingfrog on Nov 7, 2007 20:34:23 GMT -5
^Man, those girls suck. I am 27 and still don't wear makeup, but luckily no one tries to badger me into doing so.
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Post by songheim on Jan 15, 2008 3:41:59 GMT -5
Just read this one this afternoon, and I wonder if anyone else thinks the message is undercut by the fact that the way she dresses was chic (but it sure as hell doesn't sound like it) in Paris, and not her individual style? I'm one of those people who can more than believe the extent of the bullying and cruelty displayed . It takes me absolutely no stretch of the imagination. I was also the victim of being asked out as a prank. And people wonder why I have deep issues with self-confidence. The makeover thing reminded me of the horrible ending to The Breakfast Club, where apparently everyone learns to accept each other but they'll only accept the weird girl after she gets a d**n mall rat makeover. I was heartened to see here Tess standing up to Stacey.
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Post by aln1982 on Jan 15, 2008 17:14:03 GMT -5
I liked seeing Tess sand up to Stacey, too. As for the message being undercut, it really wasn't for me but this is probably because even though Tess's clothes were supposedly chic, I still didn't think they were and actually doubted anyone else except Stacey did. ;D Was this the "EJ" subplot? I can't remember anymore. It's been a while since I've read this one. Also, was Pete part of the Pep Squad (I think that's what it was called?) For some reason, I think I remember this but might be thinking of a different book.
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Post by songheim on Jan 15, 2008 19:16:14 GMT -5
No, EJ was a different one, though I can't remember off the top of my head. This just has Nicky as Jackie's bodyguard but then Jackie finds out that all he has to do is talk rationally to the boys accusing him of stealing a jacket. Cause, we all know how rational 8 year old boys are:P (though I suppose most people aren't in general when you get right down to it...) I don't remember Pete being on the pep squad, and before this book, I don't even remember SMS having a pep squad! I could more than identify with Tess' lack of enthusiasm about it though.
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Post by ringdings on Jan 15, 2008 19:38:53 GMT -5
What was the EJ subplot?
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Post by greer on Jan 15, 2008 19:43:09 GMT -5
ej was a bully who was terrorizing to kids of stoneybrook elementary. everyone was shocked when it was revealed that ej was a girl. don't remember which book it was in. anyone know?
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Penny Lane
Sitting For The Arnolds
The Girl With Colitis Goes By
Posts: 2,888
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Post by Penny Lane on Jan 15, 2008 20:12:48 GMT -5
^ Logan Bruno, Boy Baby-Sitter.
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Post by aln1982 on Jan 15, 2008 20:26:36 GMT -5
Thanks, songheim. I always found the subplot kind of funny with Nicky being Jackie's bodygaurd but liked the way they solved the situation in the end. I don't remember a pep squad except in this book, either. I must be thinking of Pete working with Stacey in Stacey's Movie.
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Post by songheim on Jan 16, 2008 0:51:36 GMT -5
Random thought... since when was Petunia Pig a common reference point? I don't recall any Loony Toons with her in them, and even if Tess did grow up in America, would the average 13 year old really make a connection between Petunia and being called a Pig? And I consider myself a cartoon geek!
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