I want cake- and Robin Wilson wants none- or SV High #74- The Perfect Girl

Jessica announces ” we are doomed!” to the rest of the cheerleaders. Robin Wilson asks why they are doomed. Jessica says the gym floor has to be completely redone and they are doomed because it will cause way too much to repair.  Unless- the cheerleaders do another fund raiser. Annie Whitman and Sandy Bacon agree that they will not do another rocking chair marathon.  Robin suggests they can sell tickets to have kids watch the cheerleaders try to break a world record.  Robin then suggests they can have a fund raiser to break the world record fo the world’s biggest sundae. Wow, this anorexia book already has me starving!  Elizabeth says the cheerleaders could get donations from all of the ice cream places in town for the event.  Jessica likes the idea, but doesn’t like that Robin thought of it.  As Robin walks home, she thinks of how effortless it is for Jess and Elizabeth to be pretty and popular and their lives are so easy.  Robin thinks of how she used to be overweight but then went on a strict diet and exercised a lot until she shed those pounds. Robin doesn’t like that self worth is so based on physical beauty, but that is the real world.  George then stops his car when he sees his lady love Robin, and he tells Robin he is going to take another flying course. George had stopped flying for awhile after he crashed the plane that made his ex Enid Rollins paralyzed for awhile, but George apparently wants to return to his passion.  George says that he figures by taking the flying course he can put the memories of the accident behind him. George then warns Robin that the class will be very intense, and he may not be able to come up from college as often on weekends to see Robin.  As George hugs Robin, Robin gets a thought that George wouldn’t have ever given her a second look when she was fat. Robin doesn’t know why,but she feels more and more insecure lately.

Elizabeth asks Robin to go to the beach with her and Todd after school. Robin thinks about how being without a boyfriend on weekends ( because George is busy with the flying class) is so pathetic and it means you have to do things alone or with other girls. Yeah, sweetheart, that was my life through high school and a good portion of college- fuck you.  Robin thinks people will wonder ” isn’t she good enough for a boyfriend?” Whoa, and I thought I  had a shit self esteem at age 16. At diving practice, Robin feels totally fat next to some skinny junior high girl- yeah Robin you are rounder because you went through puberty!!! Ya know I am trying to feel bad for Robin but it’s hard for me to right now- well that will change eventually as I later reveal that George is an ass. But we know that.

Robin joins Todd and Liz at the beach and when Robin takes off her sweatshirt to reveal her bathing suit, Liz says that Robin could be in a swimsuit ad. BOW CHICKA WOW WOW!  Todd then asks Robin if she wants ice cream and Robin says she never touches it. Todd is all ” are you one of those constantly on a diet girls?” UGH Elizabeth thinks that most girls are very conscious of their weight to some extent and she just hopes her friends don’t resort to drastic measures to keep their weight down.  George calls Robin at home. He goes on and on about flying class, and mentions this incredible girl named Vicky. Vicky is a college student like George, and she is an oceanography major and  a math whiz. Robin pictures a short, boxy girl. Why, I am not sure.  George says he has told Vicky all about Robin, and Vicky can’t wait to meet George’s woman. Robin says she would like to meet Vicky as well.  Robin then hopes that George will come to see her this weekend, because without George, Robin feels hopelessly unattractive.

The cheerleaders do some planning for the fund raiser. Jessica, Robin and Cara go to Izzy’s Incredible Ice Cream Shop to sample some ice cream and ask for donations. Robin doesn’t want to turn down the ice cream sample, but as she is about to accept, a fat woman walks into the shoe store- I mean the ice cream shop- with her two equally fat little boys. Seeing the fat family reminds Robin of what a fat ass she used to be, ( in SVH world she was probably my size- which is anywhere from 10 to 14 depending on the clothes) and so Robin turns down the free ice cream. 

As Elizabeth writes an article promoting the Super Sundae fund raiser, and Elizabeth looks up to see Lois Waller with  her boyfriend Gene eating French fries.  Liz thinks of how Lois will never be a fashion model, but she is happy and has a great man in her life- so what if Lois can’t fit into size six jeans? It doesn’t make one bit of difference. Yeah, Liz, and when you gained, like, 10 lbs in SVU you fuckin freaked. Shut up.

George is coming up to see Robin this weekend. George is going to bring Vicky and also ask a male friend to come along.  On Friday night, Robin is excited to see George. Then Robin meets Vicky- who sounds like an eighteen year old Josie Bissett with a hot bod, short blonde hair, and great clothes. Robin feels bad that she assumed Vicky would be short and not too cute because she was smart.  Robin is pissed that George did not tell Robin that Vicky resembles a fashion model.  The male friend George invited couldn’t come, so it’s just Robin, George and Vicky at the Beach Disco. George talks on and on to Vicky and leaves Robin out of the conversation.  At the Beach Disco, Robin tells George to dance with Vicky- yep she pretty much throws Vicky and George together- because Robin feels too frumpy and insecure to dance with her man.  George asks Robin if she’s sure and Robin insists, so George and Vick have a great time dancing.  Robin then worries that an intense project like flying class will make George and Vicky fall in love, just as George and Robin fell in love during their flying class. Robin figures ( kind of rightly so) that if George can cheat on Enid with Robin as he did, George can cheat on Robin with Vicky.  Robin refuses to dance with George the whole time she is at Beach Disco.  Vicky is being perfectly nice to Robin. But then Vicky asks if she can use Robin’s bathroom when George drives them back from Beach Disco and after Vicky is done, Vicky sees a pic of Fat Robin and asks if it’s a cousin and Robin says ” I used to be FAT, Vicky” which makes Vicky feel kind of bad that she said that, of course.  Robin decides that night was the longest and worst of her life.

George calls Robin and is pissed that Robin was rude to Vicky the night before.  Robin tells George she doesn’t like Vicky, and doesn’t need a reason not to. George says ” what’s not to like?” Umm George note to you- most girls wouldn’t be too thrilled if you brought a hot girl along on their date. Just sayin’.  George then just hangs up. Then Robin is about to have  a sticky bun at breakfast,  and Robin then feels that she is getting chunky so she checks on the scale- and she’s GAINED THREE LBS!!!!  ( Regina George’- ” I want to lose three pounds.”)  Robin plans out a very strict diet- no breakfast, plain salad for lunch, and a very light dinner-and TONS of water to flush that system- does Robin know Norman Hill of BSC fame’s parents? ( I know BSC Snark and I wanna say Sheep are in have recaps of ” Dawn’s Big Date” to read more about Norman Hill).  Robin decides she will not lose George to Vicky without a fight!

At lunch at school, Cara asks how Robin can stand to eat just salad with no dressing and Robin says she likes it fine. Robin then stares at Cara’s hamburger and fries lunch and thinks of how fattening and greasy it is. Robin is pissed that the cheerleaders aren’t super organized in terms of setting up the Super Sundae and says they must get their butts more in gear! So Robin then starts assigning different things for all the cheerleaders to do to get ready for the fund raiser because SOMEONE has to be organized. Jessica says Robin is being a dictator.  Then Sandy asks if anyone wants dessert. Robin is about to ask for maybe a cookie, when Jessica asks Robin how George is doing with flying class. The mere mention of George makes Robin decide she wants no cookies. Now this damn book is makin’ me crave a Dunkin Donuts big ol chocolate chip cookie. DAMN YOU FRANCINE!

Dinner time at Robin’s- my FAVORITE- roast chicken and potatoes.  Robin refuses all of the food Mrs. Wilson serves- even the carrots because they have butter on them.  Mrs. Wilson is surprised that Robin won’t eat, saying that Robin was usually famished by dinnertime. Robin takes this to mean that Mrs. Wilson is saying Robin is a fat freak.  Robin says she’s on a diet and Mrs. Wilson says Robin looks fine to her and Robin snaps that Mrs. Wilson thought Robin looked fine, even when she was a pudge and she didn’t!! Robin then declares she’s not hungry anymore and won’t eat any of the yummy roast chicken….. yummmmmmm….. Wow I swear this book will make me totally binge- not that binge eating is funny.

Liz offers Robin a ride home but Robin refuses saying she can. Liz teases that cheerleading and diving should be enough exercise for Robin but Robin flatly says it’s not. Robin looks very tired and has huge dark circles under her eyes.  Liz is starting to worry about Robin.  Elizabeth wonders if Robin has been eating and Jess says she hardly does eat. Elizabeth says Robin is thin already and Jess says maybe she wants to look thinner. Elizabeth goes off saying she is tired of how women and girls are made to look ugly if they aren’t as thin as models and beauty pageant contestants  and Jessica says ” models and beauty contestants look good” which even feminist me finds sort of funny.  Jessica then says it’s none of Liz’s business if Robin wants to lose weight, but Elizabeth can’t stop worrying nonetheless.

At the school library, Robin falls asleep due to being exhausted from her morning walks. Robin is elated after school when she sees she has lost four pounds- in maybe about a four day span? . Hip times.  Robin is really having the girls work hard in cheerleading practice until the others say they are too beat to continue. Robin says she is going to run laps after practice.  Annie asks Robin if she feels OK because she looks tired, and Robin replies she feels just fine.  George calls after dinner, and tells Robin he is spending a lot of time with Vicky because they are partners in flying class- after Robin asks about it so we are clear. Being away from George when he is spending all this time with Vicky makes Robin feel helpless.  George says he feels bad for neglecting Robin, so he offers to take her to La Villa Marino the next night for a nice dinner.  Robin can’t wait to look absolutely perfect for George tomorrow.

Robin has lost eight pounds in two weeks.  Robin thinks that just because she’s lost a few lbs though, it does not mean she should stop. In fact, Robin has to do her darndest to continue to shed the pounds.  Robin has arranged her closet by color and different clothes- like shirts in one place, pants in another etc as it gives Robin a feeling of control and satisfaction. Score one for Francine- being obsessively organized and wanting full control are hallmarks of eating disorders.  At dinner, George thinks the fund raiser already happened and Robin says she repeatedly told George it hadn’t happened yet. George then goes on and on about Vicky and flying class,  and then says that next Friday he won’t be home because he has to drive Vicky- who has no car- to her parents’ house. Vicky said Robin could come but George remembered that Robin told him she doesn’t like Vicky so George told Vick Robin was busy.  Robin then gets her linguine with clam sauce and can’t even eat due to what George said. The food all looks revolting to her. Robin pushes away her plate and declares she’s no longer hungry.  George tells Robin she has nothing to worry about and he loves her, but Robin doesn’t want to hear it.  Robin says George has a funny way of showing his love.  George says he will be friends with Vicky all he wants and doesn’t care what Robin thinks. Robin is petrified that the control in her life is slipping away, and she is losing George despite her best efforts.  When Robin gets home, her closet was rearranged. Robin freaks out and yells at poor Mrs. Wilson.  Mrs. Wilson asks if Robin feels OK and Robin snaps that she is fine.

On Monday morning, Mrs. Wilson ( who I now want to adopt me) is cooking pancakes and bacon.  Robin refuses the breakfast and Mrs. Wilson says it used to be Robin’s favorite. Robin says no wonder she was fat- Mrs. Wilson always stuffed Robin full of pancakes and bacon. Shut up bitch I will eat tons of those damn pancakes!  Mrs. Wilson tells Robin she’s worried that Robin never eats anymore and Robin says she eats a big lunch at school and Mrs. Wilson is all ” oh, OK. “  Robin thinks of how she does miss big country breakfasts, and hot cocoa with marshmallows, and yummy cakes on birthdays as she drinks her black coffee.  Robin considers having one pancake and one piece of bacon, but then Robin realizes she’s not even hungry.  Robin then thinks she will start eating again when she loses weight. Sigh. It’s sort of when you know that this anorexia is really no longer about just losing weight- you sort of see how Robin’s mind is changing for lack of a better word.  At lunch Robin is selling tickets for the sundae, and Lois buys quite a few tickets and Robin thinks of how seeing Lois is like looking at her former fat self, as she marvels at how Lois has pretty hair and seems so happy to be a fatty.

At diving practice, Robin’s diving coach Dina Taylor notices that Robin has lost a lot of weight recently.  Dina says as an athlete, Robin should not be on a diet without a doctor’s supervision.  Robin says she keeps meaning to make an appointment.  Dina tells Robin she hopes Robin is being sensible and eating enough calories to get her through a day of school, diving and cheerleading.  Robin is barely able to dive at practice and Dina orders her to go home.  Robin is shaking, but thinks a hot shower is all she needs and she will be fine.

Jessica tells Liz that Robin is being a huge dictator and rather of a bitch about the Super Sundae and she is always snapping at everyone. Robin yelled at Todd the other day because he sat in Robin’s usual seat in French.  Elizabeth is worried about Robin’s personality change, and that she is barely eating and gets upset when others eat in front of her.  And Jessica says worst of all Robin looks horrible with her sunken cheeks and dark eye circles.  Elizabeth wonders if Robin is starving herself and  thinks maybe she should talk to Robin. Jessica does not think that will do any good.

Robin keeps hearing a faint ringing in her ears. Robin can’t even concentrate on her geometry. Liz goes up to Robin and says she is worried Robin isn’t eating enough.  Robin doesn’t tell Elizabeth anything because she has always felt uncomfortable in front of Elizabeth since she’s Enid’s best friend.  Robin feels hot, and then cold. Her clothes are hanging off her frame. Robin has lost a few more lbs. Robin is also gaunt and pale.  Robin feels her diet is as out of control as the rest of her life. Robin gets a small dish of corn and a hamburger at lunch, knowing she must eat.  Robin starts to shake as she picks up the burger and her mind is screaming ” I can’t eat it” and Robin leaves her food and runs away from the cafeteria.  Robin feels nauseous, lightheaded and her chest is tight. Robin doesn’t know why she can’t get a grip.  Robin is then thinking of how just eating a hamburger brought on an anxiety attack, and worst of all she can’t even keep George interested so this diet is for nothing.  Elizabeth sees how pale Robin is and says she is going to march Robin right to the nurse but Robin says no.  Robin says  ” it’s  just” as she wants to tell Liz everything but is too ashamed. So Robin says it’s the pressure of the Super Sundae and how she’s organized it and wants it to go well that has her nervous. Elizabeth still looks uneasy. 

It’s the day of the Super Sundae. Robin is late to the event because even dressing herself took super human strength and Robin is so exhausted.  Robin is so dizzy, and barely able to open big cans of chocolate syrup and cartons if ice cream.  Robin is shaky and nauseated, and a wave of black hits her- Robin has fainted!  Robin’s hands are icy cold and her breathing is shallow. Liz tells Cara to call 911!  The paramedics come and one says Robin has pneumonia and looks malnourished and they ask if Robin is on a diet, and Liz says Robin is on a diet.  Elizabeth cries she should have tried harder to stop Robin! Elizabeth then tells Mr. Cooper that Robin fainted and he calls her mother.

Robin is in the hospital and George is at her bedside.  George keeps asking why Robin won’t talk to him.  Then George leaves and Mrs. Wilson asks if Robin wants to eat anything and Robin says not yet.  Vicky then comes to see Robin. Yep- Vicky.  Vicky tells Robin she and George are just friends and George is CRAZY about Robin.  Robin says Vicky is perfect and Vicky says not hardly-  when Vicky was a young teen, Vicky reveals that to keep her parents together she starts to drink booze, smoke pot and cigarettes and she eventually gets hooked on the crap.  Vicky says trying to keep her parents together almost killed her and they divorced anyway and Vicky decided to get clean.  Robin is amazed Vicky shared such a personal story with her.  Robin realizes that getting better means having to eat again.

 Dr. McCloud tells Robin at breakfast the next morning that Robin has pneumonia made worse by her anorexia. Dr McCloud says first Robin has to get over the pneumonia, then the anorexia.  Dr. McCloud says just starting to eat again isn’t enough ( I thought Kelly Taylor’s doctor said it was on 90210!) that Robin has to be in pretty intense therapy and learn to separate body image and self image and all that.  Robin manages to finish most of her breakfast despite quite a bit of effort. Then George comes to see Robin again.  George tells Robin he loves her, and Robin says she loves him too, but she really needs to be alone now and get herself better alone.  Robin says it’s not about George it’s about her and needing to straighten out her life. Wow, for once SVH is saying that you don’t need  a man to be complete? Kudos to Robin for telling George she needs to be on her own for awhile. Now I like Robin ( somewhat) again.

Robin comes back to school just to get some homework as she needs some more rest, and Jessica tells Robin the Super Sundae was a huge success!  Robin tells Jessica she ate lunch at home and she will return to school soon. Jessica thinks that Robin’s determination to lose weight will now go toward getting herself back on track. Then we hear that Enid’s hot tennis playing cousin Jake is coming to town, and Amy Sutton says she may go for Jake- if she doesn’t get to Tom McKay first. And I believe that will introduce SVH 75 when Tom and Jake get gay together.

By the end of this week- ME PROMISO- I will recap BSC Little Sister #10 Karen’s Grandmothers.  And coming up:

Week of Oct 12: Freshman Dorm 15 Freshman Heartbreak and Sweet Valley Kids #32- Left Back.

Week of Oct 19: BSC #15- Little Miss Stoneybrook… and Dawn

Week of Oct 26: Sweet Valley Twins #3- The Haunted House and Sweet Valley Kids #23 Lila’s Haunted House Party- in honor of Halloween!!!!

And the week of Nov 2:  Sweet Valley Twins #4 Choosing Sides and The Fabulous Five #24 The Great TV Turnoff

 

Other treats to look forward to include Taffy Sinclair and the Melanie Makeover, The Unicorn Club #3- the Best Friends Game and Sweet Valley Twins #44 Amy Moves In!

Claudia Experiences Racism

Here be the recap for BSC #56- Keep Out, Claudia. Or as I would have titled it, ” Claudia and the Kids of the Aryan Nation.” The picture of these kids freaked me out when I was 13 never mind now. What blonde, scary Children of the Corn Kids. Claudia looks fairly fierce, but not as fierce as I would like her to. I do love her side ponytail- I used to rock that a lot when I was about 9- but I have EXTREMELY curly hair- not the best look ever. I used to do a side braid as well.

Chapter 1: Claudia is sitting for the Rodowsky kids. Shea is practicing the piano and keeps saying ” Bullfrogs!” when he hits a wrong note.  Archie, age 4, says he would love to be an entertainer and sing and dance in front of an audience. Jackie says he wishes he could learn to play a musical instrument.  Claudia figures it’s time for the Baby Sitters Club to cook up a musical project for the kids to work on.

Claudia sees Janine when she comes home outside because Janine the genius forgot her house key and is locked out. Claudia and Janine hang out for a few minutes in Claud’s room before the Baby Sitters Club meeting.

Chapter 2:  Blah blah blah BSC character descriptions. Poor Mal isn’t allowed to wear contacts.  Claudia tells the others her idea for a musical project for the kids they sit for. Mal says maybe they can get a big group of kids to perform some type of musical show. We also hear about how Marilyn Arnold plays the piano and other kids take lessons as well, and the girls also say they can make drums out of oatmeal cans.  Stacey gets a call from a new client- Mrs. Lowell. Her children are 8, 6 and 3 years old and Mrs. Lowell got info about the BSC from a flyer.  Mary Anne is the only one who is free to take the initial job at the Lowell residence.

Chapter 3: Mary Anne’s job at the Lowells goes swimmingly. Mary Anne finds the three children so cute and put together. Caitlin, the eight year old, and Mackenzie ( Mackie) the six year old go to private school and have adorable private school uniforms, and Caitlin had on a white dress with a pink pinafore ( not sure what a pinafore is- looks like a smock from the cover).  When Mary Anne gets there, Mrs. Lowell gives her quite the look over, and then smiles.  When Mrs. Lowell leaves Mary Anne alone with the kids, Caitlin asks Mary Anne about her family. Mary Anne mentions having a stepsister and Mackie has no idea what that is. Wow, Mackie is darn sheltered huh? Then Mary Anne talks about her friends and mentions that Mallory has SEVEN brothers and sisters ( book emphasis) and Caitlin says ” they must be Catholic.” At age EIGHT! And Mary Anne thinks nothing of that comment. Then Mackie, a SIX year old, asks Mary Anne what religion she is. If you care, Mary Anne is Presbyterian.  Mary Anne has never encountered kids who ask so many questions. After Mary Anne takes the kids outside for a few games, the kids want to watch some TV and Caitlin says Mom lets them watch ” Leave it to Beaver.” Well, they do have those nice Caucasian values on that show.  Caitlin and Mackie can’t find Leave it to Beaver, but then Mary Anne hears the kids laughing and figures they found the show- no they did not. They are laughing at two Asian kids riding bikes on TV, and Mackie yells ” Look at their eyes” and laughs harder. And Mary Anne thinks nothing of this and doesn’t scold the kids or anything! Even at 13, I didn’t get how Mary Anne didn’t find that one bit weird.  When Mary Anne is done with her job, she rushes to a BSC meeting. Claud announces her GREAT IDEA for the kids- they can all be in a band!!

Chapter 4: Claudia is sitting for Jamie and Lucy Newton.  Claudia asks if Jamie wants to invite the Perkins girls over and Claudia calls the Perkins home and Dawn is sitting, and brings the Perkins girls right over- Jamie is apparently good friends with Myriah and Gabbie.  Stacey then calls Claudia and Stacey says Charlotte wants to go outside, so Claud suggests that Stacey bring over Charlotte and they can all discuss their idea for a band.  Then Mary Anne calls and she is sitting for Mathew and James Hobart ( GOD is ANY Stoneybrook parent home???) and she is going to bring them to the Newton home.  Claudia, Stacey, Dawn and Mary Anne tell the kids about their idea for the band, and all of the kids are very enthusiastic about the idea!  We learn that Mathew plays the violin and Charlotte just started guitar lessons.  Myriah suggests that the band have singers, and she and Gabbie are very good singers. We know, Myriah.  The kids then suggest more band members and before we know it MORE kids are over- Jessi brings Becca over, and Mal brings over Nicky, Margo, Claire and Vanessa.  Mary Anne writes down that they have to call Kristy and the Rodowskys to inform them of their band idea.

Chapter 5:  Claudia is sitting for the Lowells.  When Mrs. Lowell looks Claudia over she looks a little tight lipped and formal and makes Claudia a little uncomfy. Mrs. Lowell isn’t even looking at Claud when she talks to her, and when Mrs. Lowell says to call the next door neighbor in an emergency and says he’s always home Claudia asks if he works from home in the hopes that the neighbor is an artist, and Mrs. Lowell is all snotty and goes ” what does it matter?” God I wanna slap this bitch.  Claudia then decides that Mrs. Lowell doesn’t like her because Claudia is wearing an odd outfit of a long denim vest, purple button down shirt, and leggings. That’s not even a weird Claud outfit!  Claudia thinks maybe Mrs.Lowell only likes preps.  When Caitlin and Mackie get home from school, Caitlin asks ” who is THAT” and Mrs. Lowell says that Claudia is the sitter and to please be nice to her. Yeah Mrs. L teach your kids to be members of the Hitler youth movement, then be all ” oh be nice to the Asian.” I wanna smack Mrs. Lowell again.  Well, Caitlin and Mackie aren’t the angels Mary Anne encountered.  Caitlin and Mackie eat four Oreos each, and when Claudia says that’s enough they say that they will tell their mom Claudia was mean.  Then Caitlin and Mackie run around screaming and they wake Celeste up from her nap.  Mackie and Caitlin say they have to tell Celeste about their new sitter and Claudia thinks that’s fine as it may make Celeste more comfortable when she sees that Mommy is not home.  Claud asks Celeste if she wants a snack and then Caitlin says she wants one too. Claudia tries the reverse psychology Stacey used on the Delaneys in Kristy and the Snobs ( which I have not ever recapped, sorry) and says that if Caitlin and Mackie are that hungry they can eat the whole box of Oreos but that doesn’t work.  Then Claud is saved by the phone ringing and Mary Anne calls and asks if Claudia wants to come over to discuss the band some more especially as Mary Anne thinks the Lowells would want to join.  The Lowells agree to go to the Hobart home.  Of course tons of kids are there for the band practice. When the Lowells get to the Hobart house, Celeste runs to Mary Anne as if Claudia is not even there.  When Claudia later says it’s time to leave Mackie is all whiny but they agree to leave. Caitlin says she wants more Oreos and Claud says no but then Mackie and Celeste sneak grapes. Claudia is glad that job is over.  By the way, Claudia thinks the kids are pills, but still doesn’t see any hints of racism.

Chapter 6:  At a BSC meeting, Mrs. Lowell calls and asks to speak with Kristy. The BSC’ers find this sort of odd, but Kristy takes the phone. It turns out Mrs. Lowell says that she wants ANY sitter but Claudia for the next job.  Kristy asks Claudia if anything odd happened while Claudia was sitting and Claudia says it wasn’t her best job ever, but nothing bad happened- it’s not as if there were any accidents like when they sit at Jackie’s house.  Claudia does says the kids weren’t as sweet to Claud as they were to Mary Anne and she describes what happened.  Claud says maybe Mrs. Lowell didn’t want Claudia taking them out of the house even though Mrs. Lowell never said not to leave the house. Or perhaps the Lowells don’t like the Hobarts. But Mary Anne says the Lowells never met the Hobarts before that day. So Claudia continues to be clueless as to what she could have done to upset Mrs. Lowell.  Well, Jessi is the only one free to sit for the Lowells, and Jessi says maybe she will find out what was wrong with Claud at the job.

Chapter 7: Ya gotta feel bad for Jessi. When she writes her notebook entry, she writes that she had no job at all at the Lowells and is everyone satisfied? Then Jessi says she’s sorry for her tone and she was just upset at what happened when she got to the Lowell home. Jessi tries to do everything right- she put tons of cool toys in her Kid Kit before leaving, she tries to dress ” normally” so to speak and gets there five minutes early so not TOO early. When Jessi gets to the Lowell house, Mrs. Lowell answers the door, takes one look at Jessi, and says ” we don’t need a sitter” bye and FUCKING SLAMS THE DOOR RIGHT IN JESSI’S FACE!!!! Jessi is heartbroken and has no idea what the hell happened. Seriously what the fuck kind of person does this crap to a CHILD? OK let me slap Mrs. Denise Lowell ONCE MORE!  Jessi does have a weird feeling all of a sudden.  Jessi then says at the BSC meeting that maybe Mrs. Lowell really didn’t need a sitter, but Kristy is not really buying this.  Mary Anne is going to sit for the Lowells next week, so she will try to see what is going on. Yep, the girls still really aren’t getting it ( though I sort of think Kristy and Jessi have an idea).

Chapter 8:  Claud is sitting for the Rodowsky boys, and Jackie says the band needs a name as all good bands have names.  Jackie decides on All the Children as in ” All the Children of the World” because the kids are different ages and different colors. Claudia says the rest of the band can vote on the name to see if they like it.  Claud and the boys head for the Newton residence where the band is going to rehearse as those nice Newtons allowed this.  The kids all love the name All the Children for the band.  The kids also decide they want to put on a real show for an audience at some point, and they can sing all the songs from the musical ” Annie” for the show!!

Chapter 9-oh!! Kristy goes to sit for the Lowells to replace Mary Anne, as Kristy wants to get to the bottom of what is up with the Lowell house. Kristy calls Mrs. Lowell ahead of time, and Mrs. Lowell is OK with Kristy coming to the house.  Kristy even puts on a skirt and white button down blouse to sit at the Lowells so that Mrs. Lowell can’t criticize her outfit. Kristy asks Mrs. Lowell if she’s been satisfied with the BSC. Mrs Lowell says the kids love Mary Anne, and that is why she didn’t want Claud to sit again.  As Kristy is going to ask about Jessi, Mrs. Lowell calls out to the kids who have just arrived home.  Kristy asks Caitlin, Mackie and Celeste why the kids haven’t been to any band rehearsals. Caitlin says her mom wants to know all of the kids who will be there and Kristy feels that sounds reasonable as her mom likes to know all the kids her younger sibs play with ( so at 13, Mrs. Brewer doesn’t care who Kristy hangs out with????)  Kristy asks how the kids like the other sitters and Caitlin says she loved Mary Anne. Then Kristy asks about Claud, and Max calls her ” funny looking” and Kristy thinks maybe Claud did look too wild for her kids. Then Kristy mentions that another girl came over to sit one time but Mrs. Lowell didn’t let her in.  Caitlin asks what Jessi looked like and Kristy says Jessi has pulled back hair, long legs and is black- and then Caitlin starts coughing real loud and then what Kristy swears Caitlin said is ” I guess that’s why Mommy didn’t like her.”  And Caitlin says this scornfully.  Kristy can’t stop thinking about the Lowells, so she asks her mom if she can talk privately to Watson, her mom and Nannie after dinner. Kristy talks to the adults of the house and tell her about the Lowells, and Kristy’s mom does say it seems clear that the Lowells are prejudiced, sad as it may be. Nannie says that she thought that with each generation racism would decrease, and things don’t even seem any better. I liked Nannie’s point here this is a good scene in the book as Kristy finally realizes the Lowells are prejudiced.

Chapter 10: Another BSC meeting.  Kristy says that after talking to her mom, stepdad and Nannie the night before, Kristy has realized the Lowells are racist. Claudia is shocked and says ” why me why does she hate me because I am Asian?” Claudia then becomes sort of a bitch because she asks Jessi why she isn’t more outraged,  and Jessi says it’s happened to her before, and  Claudia says ” well not to ME!!!” Well, excuse me Claud like you shouldn’t be judged but oh Jessi was before la di dah. Or maybe I am reading too much into it. Claudia says she doesn’t understand this  prejudiced, and that she is just like anyone else, and Mary Anne says prejudice is not rational or logical. Kristy says that Nannie says things aren’t even getting better,and Mal says things used to be worse- African Americans used to be slaves, and during the Holocaust Jews and Catholics were killed. And Dawn mentions how skinheads and Klansmen are still around, and friggin Claud had NEVER heard of the Klan- I know Claud is a bad student but she NEVER heard of the KKK??  Claudia is feeling shame, anger and guilt at this point.  Then Mrs. Lowell calls- and asks for the blonde haired, blue eyed sitter she heard about!! So shit not even Kristy and Mary Anne are good enough!!!  Kristy didn’t even know what to say but then she calls Mrs Lowell back and I love this- Kristy says they are out of blonde haired, blue eyed sitters but they have a great boy baby sitter who can sit- and Mrs. Lowell was apparently all ” boys don’t baby sit”- the fuck?? Then Kristy says that she MAY be free, but then she may have to baby sit her 2 year old Vietnamese sister- and then Mrs. Lowell all of a sudden doesn’t need a sitter any more!!! OMFG!!!  Later on, Claudia tells Mr. Kishi that the Lowells don’t want her sitting for them just because she’s Asian. Claudia asks her dad what is wrong with being Asian and Mr. Kishi says nothing and he is sorry someone made her feel that way.  Janine then talks about how during WW II the Americans put Japanese people in internment camps, and Claudia can’t believe it. I do have to thank Ann M for having me learn about that awful chapter in our history by the way.  Claudia wonders why it’s so important what people look like on the outside, and Mr. Kishi says that what matters is that Claudia can look underneath.

Chapter 11:  The chapter where all of a sudden tons of little kids have heard of “Fiddler on the Roof ” ( I had NEVER heard of it until this book and I was in eighth grade when I read this) and Jackie suggests that the kids do Fiddler on the Roof instead of Annie for the music for the show. All of the kids think it’s a  great idea. I just don’t see where Fiddler on the Roof has any appeal for kids, but as we see it’s to make a point. Mrs. Lowell brings her spawn to rehearse with the band but first ignores every BSC member but Dawn and asks her what is going on. Dawn says that Claudia is the one running this and not her, and Mrs. Lowell has to speak to Claud. HAH HAH MRS BITCH!  Mrs. Lowell asks what songs the kids are learning and when Claudia says ” Fiddler on the Roof” and Mrs. Lowell gets all pissy and tells the kids they have to go home now as poor Celeste cries that she wants to be in the band. God to me teaching kids to be this prejudiced is CHILD ABUSE I am sorry!  Claudia wants to cry and is then concerned other parents may be against the music they will perform, and Mary Anne then says that other parents took their kids to see this and she doubts any of their regular clients will have issues with the music at all.

Chapter 12:  Claudia is sitting at the Brewer/ Thomas house and thanks to fuckin KAREN BREWER Claudia realizes that the band will be fun and the kids love it. UGH why should Karen have to make Claudia see all this??  Karen, of course, wants to run the show after she gets the idea to have some kids over to rehearse. David Michael asks why Karen always has to be the boss and she brattily replies ” because it was my idea.” Now I want to smack Karen but that is nothing new.  Karen says the kids in the band need uniforms, perhaps t-shirt that says All the Children. Nancy Dawes suggests that the kids all wear red shirts and blue jeans as she bets everyone owns those. Linny says that maybe the kids could get t-shirts that say All the Children, and Karen suggests that they ask for donations for the t-shirts for the first band concert so every kid could get an All the Children t-shirt.

Chapter 13:  The BSC is having a pizza supper and luckily Kristy takes over writing the invites when she sees Claud is spelling everything totally wrong. Claud gets to decorate all of the invites for parents to go to the band concert.  Six days later, the first dress rehearsal of All the Children is under way.  Jackie gets way too long winded as the emcee for the concert and Claire Pike has a tantrum but overall the rehearsal goes OK.  Claudia talks to Jackie after rehearsal to tell him to make his opening speech shorter, and not to beg for donations and to tell people they didn’t pay for the show, so donate the money as that is not a great idea. Claud tells Jackie to use his common sense and flatter the audience, and Jackie says ” I think I was born without common sense” which is pretty funny.

Chapter 14:  The Lowells are unfinished business and the girls all wonder what to do about the Lowells during this club meeting.  Claud says that next time Mrs. Lowell calls to simply say the BSC doesn’t sit for bigots and Kristy says “oh we can’t say THAT!” and I say ( and I believe BSC snarker may have also said this) why not? Simply say every girl gets a chance at the job, and the BSC will not work with people who have racist ideas and treat certain club members worse than others. I don’t see what is wrong in saying that. I guess Kristy feels it would make the BSC look bad. And I was liking Kristy until now.  Jessi then suggest that when Mrs. Lowell calls, to say that no one can take the job and if they do that a few times Mrs. L may finally get the hint.  Claud says that no one will learn anything that way and Jessi says that’s true but what they can do is be good role models for all the kids they sit for by treating all people  the same no matter what.  Mal has also said that the BSC should teach the Lowells not to be prejudiced or whatever or else it will be the BSC’s fault the Lowell kids are racist. Claudia smartly says that if the Lowells grow up that way, it will be Mrs and Mr. Lowell’s fault NOT the BSC’s. Also, Mary Anne says maybe one day the Lowell kids will see their parents are wrong. I can only hope. I do feel this chapter was written well- it does teach kids who are like 8, 9 , 10 years old that prejudice is wrong, and the book in a whole does teach kids about how racism still exists, but in a manner they will get.

Chapter 15:  BAND CONCERT DAY! And the band is great and the kids get plenty of money for matching t-shirts. Of course, we never hear that the band does another concert after this. And every parent loved the show despite Claud’s fears.  Claudia spots Caitlin and Mackie watching the band and you could see they wish they were in it.  Claud says maybe the Lowell kids don’t really have those beliefs and just repeat what their parents say, and Jessi says that could be true. I am glad that the book didn’t have Caitlin and Mackie run over there and say they were wrong, or that Mrs.  Lowell suddenly apologizes to Claud and Jessi because much as I wanted that ending at age 13, it wouldn’t have been realistic.  Jackie then runs to Claud and asks how he did, and Claudia says Jackie and the band were fantastic, and Claudia hugs Jackie as Jackie says ” Thank you.” THE END And I must say I love Jackie Rodowsky. And Jamie Newton. I am a big Hannie Papadakis fan too. Just so you know.

Tomorrow, I am hoping to recap SVH  #74 The Perfect Girl which I read BUTTLOADS of times when I was 16- yes I read SVH and loved it at age 16- well at least I loved this book. It’s the last installment in the Very Special, and it’s about Robin Wilson having an eating disorder. So stay tuned. Thursday if I don’t recap the SVH book tomorrow I will do it Thursday, but I am hoping to recap a BSC Little Sister book instead.  After that, look for upcoming recaps of Freshman Dorm 32 Freshman Suspect, ” Little Miss Stoneybrook… and Dawn”  ” Kristy’s Great Idea” and more Fabulous Five and Taffy Sinclair fun!

The Gymnasts #13- First Date

As you will see, I am going to be doing full recaps of some books, but other times I will basically have short summaries of the books I am recapping. I am mostly doing this b/c I have TONS of books I have to recap and only so much time in which to recap them ( work has been very stressful lately and I come home super tired and don’t always have it in me to do a full recap) so I will definitely have full recaps of books I have really loved or need a full recap if I can. but other times my posts will be much shorter. Hope this is OK!!

Well, not that much really happens in this book First Date. A new boy starts taking classes at Patrick’s gym. His name is Chris, he has black hair, is tan and is really cute and looks 16 but he is 13 and seems to really be into Darlene. Darlene does not really like Chris at first because she thinks that Chris only likes her to get closer to her dad ” Big Beef” Broderick of the Denver Broncos in case you don’t know. Chris is a freestyle skiier, and his sister Heidi is basically a gymnast that is so good, she qualifies to be in the Olympics. It turns out that Chris sometimes feels people are nice to him to be able to meet Heidi.

Chris and Darlene get into a big fight on the phone because Chris is calling to ask Darlene out,  and Darlene thinks he is calling just to ask Darlene for tickets to the Broncos game, so Darlene is pissy and is all ” FINE” and gets him the tickets though she claims not to like Chris. 

Meanwhile, the gym acquires a harness for the kids to learn new, harder moves without spotting. Darlene is terrified to get on the harness, and when Patrick tells her to, she freaks out and gets tangled in the wires. Darlene later realizes that her weakness in gymnastics is that she is too afraid to try new things, and she comes to that realization after Darlene and the other Pinecones go to see Chris at a skiing competition, and Chris doesn’t even come close to winning but he keeps trying and trying and Darlene realizes she has to do the same. So Darlene does get on that harness and does really well.

Also, Becky Dyson has decided to put her claws into Chris, and then the Pinecones make a bet among themselves to see if Chris will ask out Becky or Darlene first. Well of course Chris asked out Darlene first ( to play indoor mini golf) but Darlene turned him down, but Becky is all bragging that Chris asked her to watch him ski, but then the girls die laughing because Chris invited the WHOLE GYM to watch him ski and not just Becky. Becky loses interest in Chris when he loses the skiing competition.

At the Broncos game, Chris and Darlene go off alone to have hot cocoa. Chris said he was never interested in meeting Big Beef and liked Darlene before he ever knew who her dad was. Darlene and Chris both admit neither has never been on a date and are nervous to go on a ” first date.” So Chris says that their Broncos hot cocoa can count as their ” first date” and mini golf will be their second.!!

 

wooooo

A few points-

We learn that Darlene has NEVER EVER been on a date, and most of the girls at her private school have had several boyfriends. Darlene says she’s not really much into boys yet and is more into her gymnastics. See, at 13 I could relate a lot more to a Darlene than girls like Jessica Wakefield or Mary Anne Spier, who are 12 and 13 and either always have boyfriends or like Mary Anne are practically married at 13. At 13 it VARIES- some girls are wicked boy crazy, some girls don’t really like boys yet and aren’t interested in dating ( I seriously didn’t really like boys until I was 11, but my sister was like 10- again it varies!) . I do think the Gymnasts series portrays 11 and 13 year old girls in a much more realistic fashion that many other YA series do.

I also didn’t get why Darlene assumed right away that Chris only liked her because of her dad- Chris had no clue who her dad was until Jared told him, and Chris said his dad was a Bronco fan and not him. I can see where kids may have used Darlene before to meet Big Beef but I think sometimes Darlene makes more of a big deal out of her dad’s fame than other kids do.

I in fact have no more Gymnast books, so this will be my last Gymnasts recap.  But the back of this book featured a coupon for books called ” Bad News Ballet” which sound AWESOME- I must see if Amazon or Ebay carry those!!!  I also recently got ” Little Miss Stoneybrook..and Dawn” so that’s GOTTA be recapped ASAP!!!!

This week, I do hope to have Keep Out, Claudia and SVH’s ” The Perfect Girl” recapped. After that, I just bought a new Freshman Dorm book called ” Freshman Suspects” that I am going to be recapping for you all, and some other upcoming books:

BSC Little Sis #10 Karen’s Grandmothers

BSC # UNO- KRISTY’S GREAT IDEA!

Sweet Valley Kids #32 Left Back ( the cover features a great Liz shoulder pat!! Liz even shoulder patted at age 7!)

The Fabulous Five #24 - The Great TV Turnoff

Fabulous Five #8- The Runaway Crisis

Here’s what basically goes on in this book- Katie has made friends with a girl from Copper Beach Elementary who now goes to Wacko Jr High with Katie, Shawnie Pendergast. Shawnie has really beautiful clothes and long blonde hair and frankly I am upset the Fabulous Five didn’t just start a club against Shawnie, because Shawnie kinda really sucks. Shawnie complains to Katie that she is not allowed to date, and last year she had a boyfriend ( last year being SIXTH GRADE) and her parents couldn’t know, and all they did was hold hands in the hall and eat lunch together- Yeah Shawnie fucking NORMAL in SIXTH GRADE! What did Shawnie think- that her parents would let her go to weekend trips to NYC with the dude, or get a honeymoon suite at the Poconos??? Shit. Shawnie can’t go to the movies alone with a boy, or even to  a school dance on a date. Shawnie also has to come straight home and complete her homework, so Shawnie sneaks off to Bumpers to hang out with Katie and the rest of the Fab Five instead of going home and doing her homework straightaway. Katie and her friends tells Shawnie that her parents need to get into ” modern times” ( aka 1989) and allow Shawnie to hang at Bumper’s every night after school and go to movie night with her boyfriend every Friday, as all 13 year olds do. Again, I couldn’t date till I was 16!!!!!!!! And my coworker’s 2 daughters who are 11 and 16 have to go home after school and complete homework before they can watch TV or anything- unless her 16 year old has choir practice or drama club after school. UGH!!!! I don’t get how in YA novels, 13 year olds get to act 25!

Well, Katie feels extremely bad for Shawnie, and Katie is all about justice for all. Katie tells her mom, Willie, about Shawnie, and arranges it so that Shawnie can study with Katie a  few times after school after Willie talks to Mrs. Pendergast. Shawnie is so jealous of how much Katie’s mom trusts and respects Katie, that Shawnie decides to run away and stay at Katie’s house!!! 

Meanwhile, Katie is starting a brand new romance with Tony Calcaterra, a very Danny Zuko like boy who is always going in front of ” Teen Court” ( basically it’s this thing at Wacko Jr  High ( or Wakeman Junior High) where kids go in front of their peers when they are in trouble, and the peers decide on your punishment. I was so upset that my own junior high didn’t have this when I was in school!) because he’s constantly in trouble. Tony even once wrote ” TC + KS” all over the lockers in spray paint!!!! Tony finally gets Katie to go to a movie with him Friday night, and Katie gets Tony to help organize a march for hunger. Katie always tells Tony how she feels bad for Tony, and Tony went to Copper Beach with Shawnie and tells Katie Shawnie is not who she seems.

When Shawnie runs away to Katie’s, Katie hides Shawnie in her room for a night while Katie and Tony go to the movies ( and by the way Tony has shaved TC + KS into his hair- UGH!! Tony is TRES CREEPY!!) and Katie and Tony see Mr. and Mrs. Pendergast who are really upset that Shawnie is missing. The next morning, Willie discovers Shawnie in Katie’s room and tries to get Shawnie to call her mom to say she’s OK but Shawnie says Willie doesn’t understand! Shawnie then agrees to go home and insists that Willie not drive her home. By the way, Katie also saw a bruise on Shawnie’s arm that she swears was from her walking into a closet door, but Katie is pretty much convinced Shawnie is being physically abused. Willie tells Katie that if Shawnie did not say she was physically abused, one can’t assume, and that Katie can’t really help Shawnie if she doesn’t want to be helped- Willie wants to try to help Shawnie and her parents work it out but her hands are tied if Shawnie won’t let her. Well, Willie and Katie assume that Shawnie is back with her parents and get an extra large pizza for dinner. Katie hears sounds in the basement after- and Shawnie is in the basement!!!! 

Shawnie’s parents go on TV a couple of times in the next couple of days pleading for Shawnie’s safe return, and Willie tells this to Shawnie but Shawnie says it’s all an act and her parents don’t care. Well, Willie calls Mrs. Pendergast anyway, ( after Willie AGAIN discovers Shawnie in the case after she’s hiding out for a couple days) and we find out that Shawnie ran away because she wanted to be in the March for Hunger that Katie, Tony and the other members of the Fab Five organized, but her parents wanted to take Shawnie away for a special weekend to show they love her. See, both Shawnie’s parents are lawyers and never have time for her, so to make up for it they buy Shawnie tons of designer clothes ( shit can they adopt me??)  but Shawnie says she actually wants them around, not just to have nice clothes. Shawnie also says she has to come home straight from school because her parents worry about her always being alone in the house while they work so her mom calls every hour on the hour to be sure Shawnie is home safe.

We also learn that Tony was Shawnie’s sixth grade BF, and everyone at Copper Beach thought Shawnie dumped Tony but Tony dumped Shawnie because she was a braggart and always exaggerated. And Shawnie really did bump into a closet door. Shawnie’s parents didn’t really realize the march was so important, so to get Shawnie home they agree to let Shawnie be in the march, and it’s a huge success. And Tony kisses Katie and they are totes an official couple now.

At the end of the book, there’s a preview for the next book about Christie Winchell, who is a little bored with her boyfriend Jon and wonders what to do about it. See, maybe if you didn’t have such COMMITMENTS in 7th grade you wouldn’t get bored so quickly!!!

And Shawnie would hate me if I were her mom because I really don’t want my future spawn dating until at least 8th or 9th grade, and I would also want homework done right after school, and yes ideally unless they are in an after school program, I want my 7th grader home after school.

Next- The Gymnasts #13- First Date. I hope to get that recap in by Sunday.  After that- a FULL recap of Keep Out, Claudia. Other books to look forward to soon are SVH #74- The Perfect Girl ( wooo Robin Wilson), BSC #1 Kristy’s Great Idea, BSC Little Sister Karen’s Grandmothers, a few Sweet Valley Kids books, Sweet Valley Twins #3 The Haunted House, #4 Choosing Sides,  and #7 Three’s a Crowd. I also have a few Unicorn Club books that I want to read and recap for you all!

BSC #48- Jessi’s Wish

This recap will be a little different than usual BSC recaps- truthtfully I can’t find much to snark on in a book about a little girl with cancer- though believe me I did find a couple of things! So I am just going to pretty much summarize what happened and add a couple of the snarkable points I do have to make!

 

Jessi’s sister Becca is part of an after school club called the Kids Club. Basically, it’s a club that performs various types of community service- they donate toys to the local hospital, run food drives for poor people on Thanksgiving, give gift baskets to the elderly that sort of thing. Becca is crushed because one of the teachers who runs the club, Ms. Simon, is going on a long trip with her husband for over a month and Mr.Katz, the other teacher, is not sure he can handle the group by himself, so the club may have to disband. Jessi would hate for a group that Becca loves so much to end, so Jessi decides to volunteer her time to help Mr. Katz run the club after school- and of course because this is Stoneybrook Mr. Katz thinks it’s A-OK for an 11 year old to help him run an after school program.  By the way,  in Chapter 2 Jessi  complains that her parents, as well as Mal’s, treat Mal and Jessi like infants because Mr. and Mrs. Pike won’t let Mal get a nose job! Who the FRIG lets an 11 year old get a nose job? I am not sure a Real Housewife of Orange County would allow an 11 year old to get a nose job! Jeez, Jessi!!! And of course in BSC land, at 11 you can’t wait to grow up, but at 13 you are pretty much treated as if you are 30.

Well, I digress ( as usual). Jessi and Kristy both sort of decide that for about a month, regular BSC meetings will not be held so that all of the club members can volunteer to give their time to do something or help someone. Instead, whoever is free go to Claud’s house to answer the phone three times per week. The BSC also hold tons of club meeting on weekends to discuss their community services.

Mary Anne decides to help baby sit a brain damaged little boy named Frankie who can’t even walk or talk, and she also helps Frankie’s parents with some chores. Mary Anne just adores Frankie and says he is just learning to crawl, and he has the best smile she’s ever see. Of course, the realities of caring for a brain damaged little boy and how it can be really difficult aren’t brought up. Claudia helps teach an art class of course and Karen Brewer, Margo Pike, and Jackie Rodowsky are all in the class. Jackie drops bunches of clay and Karen makes an ass of herself and claims her clay elephant is alive. Luckily, Claudia pwns Karen and tells her that if the elephant is alive, Claudia guesses that Karen won’t be able to fire it in the kiln, and luckily Karen agrees with that and stops her BS. Kristy volunteers for a daycare for parents who have to work all day and Kristy feels sooooo bad for all of these kids ” stuck in daycare” all day while their parents work. So Kristy never spent a second in daycare while she was growing up with a single mom? I find that hard to believe especially since Kristy knows about the daycare because David Michael used to go there. Stacey is working with some group that matches up teen diabetics with younger kids who just got diagnosed to help them deal with their diabetes. One girl, Charmaine, refuses to stop eating sweets, until Stacey talks about the time ( featured in the book ” ‘Stacey’s Emergency” which I haven’t recapped yet but others have) she ate tons of chocolate and she had to go to the hospital.  Dawn volunteers with a group who provides art projects and computer classes and what not for children with various physical disabilities like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. Mallory works with some playground program where kids can just drop by and play after school.

Jessi’s group used to have a member named Danielle Roberts, but Danielle has been in the hospital for a long time due to her leukemia. Danielle returns to school and the group and at first the other kids won’t go near here- except for Becca and Charlotte. By the way the book keeps saying Char is in third grade although Charlotte SKIPPED third grade and went into fourth grade back in what book 3? Do your homework, ghost writers! Danielle has lost her hair from the chemo, she has bruises up and down her arms, wears a scarf over her head and wears a shirt that Becca loves that says ” Bald is Beautiful.”

Danielle has a really positive outlook despite her sickness, and Danielle knows she can fight leukemia, but she wants to also be treated like a regular kid ( just like Anna in my last recap!). Danielle becomes really close to Jessi, Becca and Charlotte and eventually shares with Jessi that Danielle only has two wishes- to graduate from Stoneybrook Elementary, and to go to Disney World. Jessi becomes sad because most nine year olds think of when they beocome 16, or of someday going to college and getting married or whatever, but Danielle only can hope to live to graduate from elementary school. Danielle gets a little tired out when she plays with Becca, Char and her brother Greg but otherwise she’s a perfectly normal, albeit bald, little girl.

Jessi really wants Danielle and her family to go to Disney, because she knows that the Roberts’ don’t have much money as so much of their money goes toward Danielle’s hospital bills, and Danielle’s little brother Greg has tantrums and stuff because Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are so wrapped up caring for and worrying about Danielle that Greg sort of gets shafted. Kristy tells Jessi about the program called ” Your Wish is My Command” in Stamford that makes wishes come true for really sick kids, and Jessi calls them to see if they can see the Roberts family to Disney World- and Danielle gets her wish granted, and her family DOES get to go to Disney for three days!!! It’s so cute to read Danielle’s letters about what a great time she’s having in Disney World with her family, and she loves riding on Space Mountain and eating lots of ice cream. It’s great that this ill little girl is getting to have some fun.

At the end of the book, though, we hear bad news- Danielle is back in the hospital ” getting a lot of tests.” Becca asks if Danielle is going to die, and Jessi tells Becca Danielle is a real fighter, and Jessi makes her own wish that Danielle will recover. Becca and Char say it’s not fair that Danielle got sick again, and Jessi says life is not fair- it’s not fair that Stacey has diabetes, war is not fair, it’s not fair that Jessi and Becca have been made fun of for being black- and I know prejudice is real and terrible, but I am not really sure how it compares to battling cancer- let me know if you can provide insight!  Danielle also writes Jessi from the hospital saying that Danielle is trying to be brave, and she is determined to beat her cancer. I cried reading this book at the end, and I am glad that Ann M Martin didn’t just ” cure” Danielle ( as Francine seems to have done with Mandy Miller in Mandy Miller Strikes Back – not that I read that book but I am assuming that’s what happens) and that the book did sort of end on a sad but hopeful note to show kids that things don’t always have happy endings. Does anyone know if we ever hear about Danielle again? Does she die? God, I hope not. I loved her character for real and liked her positive attitude, interspersed with how much she hated the hospital and didn’t like chemo and all that.

But- I do have yet another point to snark on- at the daycare, a school age kid asked Kristy how to spell Leonardo and Donatello. Dumb ass Kristy, who is apparently the best baby sitter out there and sister to a seven year old brother and a four year old brother, isn’t getting that the boy wants to learn to spell those names to write a report on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- come on that doesn’t make any sense! Kristy, of all people, should have heard of them!

At the end of the book, Ann M does write that proceeds of ” Jessi’s Wish” will go to the real Make a Wish Foundation. This book was also supposed to contain a bookmark, but of course the jerk kid who owned this before me must have removed it.   And I have scored once or twice on BSC books before- I did a free “Kristy” bookmark and some postcards from one of the super specials.

Update on my book buying- I lost the big lot of BSC Little Sister books onEBay. But I have quite a few I own that I have yet to read so not to worry those recaps will be a comin’!  And this week I will also try to recap the Fabulous Five book the Runaway Crisis which is too snarkable to believe!

Next week I will definitely recap the Gymnasts book First Date, and I will also try to get to ( and do a FULL recap on) BSC #56 Keep Out Claudia, and yes that will bring us back to the Very Special Series. After that- SVH #74- The Perfect Girl- which will END the Very Special Series!!!

Sweet Valley Twins #69- Won’t Someone Help Anna?

Jessica is going to the principal’s office to drop off a note from her mom saying she has to leave school early to go to the dentist today. Jessica hears Mr. Clark screaming at someone, and Jessica thinks someone must be in serious trouble. No, Mr. Clark’s secretary explains that Mr. Clark is screaming because there is a new student named Anna who reads lips, so Mr. Clark yells so that Anna will understand him better. Ummm, the fuck? If Anna can’t hear, yelling is not really going to help!  Elizabeth then walks into the office, and teases Jessica about having a ” detention” slip instead of a ” dentist slip.” Jessica says ” what are you deaf? I said dentist!” Mrs. Knight, the principal’s secretary says comments like that may not be the best way to welcome the new girl. Elizabeth and Jessica run into Cammi Adams in the hallway, and Jessica thinks Cammi is a complete dud. Cammi writes for the Sixers and Elizabeth loves Cammi’s writing.  Elizabeth is thinking of what student to profile for the next issue of the Sixers, and Jessica suggests that Elizabeth can write about the new girl, because she is deaf. Cammi asks if there is really a deaf student at Sweet Valley Middle School- yes, apparently, this is Sweet Valley Middle School’s first deaf student.  Jessica said that Mr. Clark was yelling at the new girl and Elizabeth didn’t really get why Mr. Clark had to yell if Anna reads lips. Cammi says ” oh people always do” and when Jessica questions how Cammi would know, Cammi says she is just guessing.  Elizabeth then suggests that Cammi can write the profile on the new girl, and Cammi asks why, and Liz says it’s because Cammi is their best profile writer. Cammi rushes off to tell Sophia about it and Jessica says Cammi seems weird. Elizabeth says Cammi is really very sweet.

At home that night, Cathy Connors, Steven’s girlfriend, and Steven are planning a party- Cathy’s grandparents have a cottage on the beach and they said Cathy could have a party there. Jessica says Cathy and Steven are so lucky to be able to have a party on the beach, and Cathy says Jessica and Elizabeth can invite their friends- just not the whole sixth grade. Steven is groaning, and Jess and Elizabeth are wicked excited.

A new student is in Mr. Bowman’s class- and her name is Anna Reynolds, aka the deaf girl. Jessica is amazed because the deaf girl doesn’t LOOK deaf! What are deaf girls supposed to look like? Anna is Asian, with dark, long hair and a brilliant white smile. Anna has on white leggings and a pink hand painted t-shirt. If Jessica didn’t know better, she would swear that Anna is great Unicorn material.  Jessica notices that as Mr. Bowman talks to Anna, he speaks very slowly and clearly and looks directly at Anna. Anna will be attending classes every morning and three afternoons a week. Anna will go to a ” special” school on Monday and Wednesday afternoons.  Anna gets a seat next to Cammi, and Cammi doesn’t even look at her when Anna smiles. Jessica thinks that Cammi could stand to be a little more friendly.

Elizabeth, being the saint she is, suggests to Amy that they ask Anna to sit with them at lunch.  Elizabeth is amazed at how easy it is to understand Anna. Amy says sometimes Anna is a little hard to understand if Anna speaks too loudly.  Anna says at lunch ( as she eats some yogurt and a salad) that Anna is something of a health food freak because she wants to keep her weight down in order to be an aerobics instructor when she gets older.  Anna says what she likes best about Sweet Valley Middle is that all of the boys are so cute!!  Wow, Anna isn’t superficial or anything. Anna is listing of all of the boys she thinks are cute and names Ken and Todd. Elizabeth says Ken is Amy’s dude, and Amy says Todd and Elizabeth are seeing each other. Anna says there are plenty of boys left to like!  Anna says that she became deaf at 18 months of age when she got meningitis and she has gone to special schools for years to learn to speak well.  Anna then says she’d love to be interviewed for the Sixers, and maybe she can bring more awareness of what it’s like to be deaf to the other students.  Anna then teaches Amy, Julie, Maria and Liz  a few words in ASL, or sign language.

We then join Cammi- she is walking home from school, and can’t believe at how well Anna seemed to be getting along with Elizabeth and her friends.  Cammi thinks that eventually the novelty of having a deaf friend will soon wear off, and the girls will all drop Anna like a hot potato.  As Cammi gets old, her old dog Ludwig that was a wedding present to her parents greets her at the door.  Cammi’s seven year old sister Cara is watching a show about people with secret lives on TV.  As Cara and Cammi watch TV, there is a blue screen on the bottom with words running across it. Gee, why? Cammi says that she knows what it’s like to lead a secret life.  Cara asks what Cammi’s secret is and Cammi says Cara knows already.  Cammi says her secret is her mom and dad. Cara says that all of her friends know about Mom and Dad, and it’s not a big deal. Cammi says sometimes kids are nice, and Cara says her friends are nice or else they wouldn’t be her friends. Wow, Cara Adams is the smartest person- BAR NONE- in Sweet Valley!  Cammi walks into the kitchen where her parents are using sign language and Cammi signs hello to them and doesn’t even bother talking because her parents ” have NEVER heard her voice.” Yeah if you haven’t figured it out by now- Cammi’s parents are DEAF! DEAF!!!! OH NO!!!!

Elizabeth is watching the TV with no sound to try to read lips. Elizabeth tells Jessica that Anna Reynolds reads lips, and it’s a lot harder than it looks.  Jessica says she is very surprised that Sweet Valley Middle School allowed a deaf girl into the school and the Unicorns all agree that Sweet Valley MS should only be with ” normal” people. THE FUCK?? Elizabeth is shocked, and says that Jess should at least give Anna a chance.  Elizabeth tells Jessica that she and Anna would have lots in common- Anna is totally boy crazy, and Anna has a huge handprinted t-shirt selection.  Elizabeth asks Jessica to go to Casey’s Place to meet Anna tomorrow, and Jessica does agree to go.

The next afternoon, Lila is going along with Jessica to meet Anna for safety in numbers or something. Ellen Riteman says that Mary Wallace said Anna is very nice and Jessica says Mary is like Elizabeth and always finds the good in everyone.  Anna impresses Jess, Li and Ellen by knowing all about the Unicorn Club.  Anna orders fruit and cottage cheese at Casey’s Place- ewwwwww- that’d be like going to Mortensen’s my favorite ice cream place ever and getting just fruit- that is just so wrong!  Anna talks about her aerobics instructor ambitions, and Jessica asks how she can hear music, and Anna replies she can hear the beat through the floor. Anna then says she is thinking of starting an aerobics club at school, and Jess and Lila agree that would be  a good idea. Jessica then asks Anna to attend Cathy and Steven’s party that weekend and Anna says she will sure be there as long as there’s tons of cute boys!

Cammi is trying to avoid Elizabeth because she hasn’t done the profile on Anna yet. Cammi thinks to herself that she is afraid to do the article because somehow people will find out her own parents are also deaf. Elizabeth does find Cammi, and asks if Cammi will attend her beach party the next day. Cammi fibs and says she can’t because she has to babysit for Cara, but the truth is Cammi has to be around to talk to the workmen who are fixing the Adams’s driveway.  Elizabeth says she can’t wait for Cammi to write her article, because she bets Anna and Cammi will really get along. Cammi says she doesn’t see what she’d have in common with Anna, and Elizabeth says Jessica and Lila thought the same thing, but they both thought Anna was tres cool. Elizabeth says that Anna makes you almost forget you are hearing impaired, and Cammi thinks ” but you never REALLY forget.”  Cammi sees Anna chatting with the Unicorns and thinks again that it won’t last, that Anna will see she can never be normal, and you are nothing if you aren’t ” normal.” Well, Cammi was raised in Sweet Valley, I can see where she thinks that.  It’s Saturday and the beach party at Cathy’s grandparents cottage is in full  swing!  Cathy asks Jessica who the boy playing Frisbee is and Jessica says that’s Jake Hamilton, who’s a seventh grader. Cathy says Jake is cute, and Jessica says he’s Lila’s guy and besides Jessica likes Rick Hunter. Jessica says that Rick always calls her ” Airhead”, though, and Cathy says that means Rick likes her.  Elizabeth is happy that Anna has been spending a lot of time dancing with Jim Sturbridge. Jessica asks Rick to dance and he does say yes! As Jess and Rick slow dance, Anna turns to Jessica, and as Anna dances in Jim’s arms Anna whispers ” I think I’m in love!”

Cammi is playing Monopoly with her family but keeps staring at her phone ( which is a TDD a special phone where deaf people can send and receive typed messages) trying to get the courage to call Anna to write the profile. Cammi then thinks of how she always knew her parents were different than others because of the TDD and the closed caption on the TV and what not.  Cammi then thinks that because her parents are deaf she has more responsibilities than other kids, yet Cara seems to have all these friends and be a lot more carefree than Cammi is. Cammi does call Anna, but Mrs. Reynolds says Anna is at the Wakefields’ beach party. Cammi tells that to her parents and they are concerned- Mrs. Adams says that Cammi should never feel she has to miss a party to help her parents, and they did get along fine  in the hearing world for several years before Cammi was born.  Cammi lands in jail and Cara says Cammi has to roll the dice, and then Cammi thinks of how she is in a jail because of living with her deaf parents. Ya know I am feeling a little sorry for Cammi, but she’s also a whiny brat.

Jessica sees Cathy talking to Jake at the rocks. Jessica is trying to spy and she can’t see Cathy and Jake for a few minutes. But then Jessica gets a better view- and she sees Cathy and Jake KISSING in the shadows!!!  When Elizabeth and Jess get home, Jessica tells Elizabeth about how she saw Cathy kissing Jake. Elizabeth doesn’t believe it especially when Jessica says the sun was setting at the time, but then Jessica says she knows Cathy must be tired of smelling Steven’s sweaty socks. Jessica wants to tell Steven, but Elizabeth says absolutely not. Jessica knows Steven will be SHATTERED when he does find out Cathy is cheating on him with some young 7th grader!

Cammi goes to Anna’s house to do the interview. Anna is wearing a t-shirt with her name finger spelled on it and Anna tells Cammi that’s what it is, and Cammi says ” I know” and Anna asks  if Cammi knows how to finger spell. Cammi says no , she just assumed that’s what it was. Anna says most people just stare at her t-shirt blankly when they see her in that shirt. Anna introduces Cammi to her older brothers and they all tease each other for a few minutes, and then Anna shows Cammi the TV closed captioning.  Cammi notices that Anna’s whole family signs and Cammi asks Anna if they always do. Anna says yes and it does feel good because that way everyone in the family speaks the same language. Cammi asks why Anna wanted to go to a regular school then, and Anna says it’s because she just wants to be treated like a regular person. Cammi thinks that Anna never will be regular! Anna then talks about how much she likes Jim Sturbridge. Then- Cammi sees the latest history quiz in Mrs. Arnette’s class on Anna’s desk. It has a big red F on it. Cammi thinks that’s odd as Cammi thought the quiz was easy. Cammi asks Anna how classes are going, and Anna says they are OK other than the fact that Mrs. Arnette aka the Hairnet puts her to sleep. Cammi is a little perturbed that Anna isn’t actually doing well in school, but everything else seems to be going really well in Anna’s life.  Cammi asks Anna how she deals with being deaf, and Anna says she made the choice to accept her deafness rather than be miserable about it. Cammi can’t believe Anna is getting along so well at Sweet Valley Middle, and doesn’t get how Anna does it.

At lunch, Jessica tells Lila and the other Unicorns that Jess saw Lila’s man kissing another woman- a sophomore in high school! Lila demands to know who it is, but Jessica just can’t tell Lila it was Cathy Jessica saw kissing Jake, because that would be too humiliating for Steven.  Cammi hands in her article to Liz. Elizabeth tells Cammi the article on Anna seems short, and Elizabeth is surprised Cammi didn’t cover more on what it’s like to be deaf, and Elizabeth thinks kids at school would want to know about things like sign language. Cammi says Anna didn’t seem to want to talk about it very much, and Elizabeth says that doesn’t seem like Anna!  Elizabeth asks for Cammi to talk to Anna a little more, and Cammi says she has no time and that Elizabeth should have Amy or Julie write the article. Then Cammi runs off.  Elizabeth knows something is going on with Cammi and decides she has to talk to her.

It’s the start of Anna’s aerobics class. Mr. Clark is talking to Anna before class, and Amy and Liz notice that Anna looks a little upset. Amy figures that maybe Anna didn’t get permission to use the gym, but then Anna is all composed and says Mr. Clark just wanted to give her a pep talk before class starts.  The class is very exhausting- Anna sure kept the girls moving!

After aerobics class, the girls hear all of the guys tease Jake about the ” older woman who is warm for Jake’s form” ( Peter DeHaven’s words). Jake has no idea what the guys are talking about. Jessica is mad at the Unicorns, wondering who told. Well, of course they all told- Janet, Kimberly, Ellen- I mean these gals aren’t known for keeping secrets. So the whole school now apparently knows that Jake Hamilton was seen making out with an older lady woooo

Jessica sees Jake at lunch the next day, and tells Jake she knows he and Cathy are an item. Jake says he doesn’t know who Jess is talking about at first but when Jess says ” Cathy Connors” Jake is like ” whoa she’s pretty.” Jessica tells Jake she doesn’t get what Cathy would see in a seventh grader, and Jake says he doesn’t know either. This plot is stupid- as most B plots are. Especially any Wakefield involved B plots.

Cammi is home alone and Elizabeth Wakefield comes over! Cammi tries to get rid of Liz, but that’s not happening!!! Cammi says Cara is sick and Mrs. Adams went to get medicine for her. Elizabeth notices the telephone and Cammi says that her dad uses it for work and he’s an inventor and is trying to work out some kinks with the phone and oh lights go off whenever the phone rings- hah hah her dad hasn’t worked things out yet- what Cammi’s dad is Rick Moranis from Honey I shrunk the kids??? Liz tells Cammi it appears something is bothering her, and Liz is always there if Cammi needs a friend. Cara and Mrs. Adams come home and Cara is in her tutu dancing around saying she’s the Sugerplum Fairy. Cammi tells Cara she must be delirious and to go to bed. Shit, Cammi is a terrible liar. Mrs. Adams asks Elizabeth to stay for dinner in her strange sounding voice,  ( that’s what the book says!) and Elizabeth, to Cammi’s surprise, does not laugh at Cammi’s mom- she says yes! Elizabeth then says Cammi’s parents are really nice.  Cammi says if she had known Liz would be nice to her parents and accept them, Cammi would have had her over for dinner a lot sooner. Elizabeth says Cammi can’t hide her parents forever and Cammi says that when she was younger, at an open house, Cammi’s dad asked a question and his speech isn’t that great and all of these kids- and PARENTS- laughed- UGH UGH UGH!! Cammi’s dad cried, and that broke Cammi’s heart. Elizabeth says that Cammi still can’t hide her parents forever, and there are kids who are nice. Elizabeth tries to tell Cammi about how well Anna’s adjusting and Cammi says she knows Anna won’t be accepted forever. Cammi says despite how well Anna seems to be doing, Cammi isn’t as brave and isn’t ready to tell everyone all about her parents yet. UGH

Amy and Liz hear a girl crying in the restroom. Elizabeth then sees a crumpled up piece of paper, and it has a big red F and Anna’s name next to it- it’s a quiz from English class. Elizabeth signs under the stall and Anna signs she is OK. Anna comes out of the stall and Amy says that she and Liz can help Anna study next time, and Anna says that won’t help, and that nothing will help. Anna says the problem is she doesn’t understand half of what the teachers say because they constantly turn around to write on the board, or don’t always remember to face Anna when they talk. Heaven forbid these teachers adjust any of their teaching methods for Anna. Mr. Clark has told Anna that if things don’t improve in a WEEK, he may have to send her back to special school permanently. I am just flabbergasted. Anna says maybe she can’t make it in regular school after all. Elizabeth and Amy say they want Anna to stay but Anna says if she has to go, she has to go, although she will miss aerobics class, her new friends, and Jim- but if she has to go she doesn’t want Amy or Liz to feel sorry for her because she can’t stand  others feeling sorry for her.

Steven is upset that Cathy cancelled their date for tonight. Jessica is trying to tell Steven Cathy is lying about having to go to her aunt’s for the weekend and Jessica tells Steven to call Cathy so that she can prove Cathy snuck out- well Cathy is home so that doesn’t work too well.  The next morning, Jessica tells Elizabeth she heard Anna was kicked out of school. Elizabeth says she hasn’t been , but may be kicked out soon. Jessica tells Liz she will think of some kind of way for Anna to stay at SVMS!!!

In Mr. Bowman’s class, Anna is crying because Mr. Bowman keeps turning his back and Anna can’t get a word he says. Cammi feels bad for Anna, and hands her a tissue.  Then Cammi hears Caroline Pearce and Ellen talking about how Anna is basically done at Sweet Valley Middle and Caroline says it’s for the best because kids like Anna don’t belong in regular school. Wow, Caroline is stuck in like 1942. Cammi knows that she thought Anna would fail all along- but then why does that make Cammi feel so rotten?

Ellen convinces Jess to tell Steven about Cathy and Jake. Steven goes nuts and says he wants to find the worm that stole his woman away!  Lila tells Steven Jake has basketball practice the next afternoon at the middle school gym.  Meanwhile, Cammi gets home and Cara introduces Cammi to her new best friend, Joan. Joan thinks that the fact Ludwig doesn’t bark because Cammi’s parents couldn’t hear it, and that their phone is different, is really cool. Cara says she told Joan that Cammi is very nice and brave, and Cammi thinks she sure doesn’t feel brave. Mrs. Adams tells Cammi that Cara feels Cammi is brave because she’s not afraid to get shots at the doctor’s office. Then Mrs. Adams tells Cammi she also feels Cammi is brave, because she has to deal with a lot of stuff other kids don’ t have to due to her parents being disabled. Cammi knows she doesn’t deserve her family’s praise.

Mr. Bowman’s class again. He still doesn’t bother facing the class so Anna can read his lips. Anna is crying more and more, and Cammi can’t take it anymore. Cammi then starts to use sign language so Anna can get what Mr. Bowman is saying!!!! Anna asks Cammi how she learned to sign so well, and Cammi finally tells Anna both her parents are deaf. Lila says that now that Cammi can help Anna by signing to her, she hopes Mr. Clark will let Anna stay so that aerobics class can go on. Mr. Clark had been observing Anna in class, and was so impressed that Anna answered Mr. Bowman’s class due to Cammi’s translation. Cammi tells Anna she’d be happy to translate because she’s in all of Anna’s classes and people think she’s a nerd anyway, so if Anna doesn’t mind hanging out with a nerd, Cammi doesn’t mind hanging out with a deaf person! Anna and Cammi sign the word ” Friend” to each other.

After school, Cathy is actually at SVMS and warns Jessica that Jake is an expert at karate and Cathy is afraid he will DESTROY Steven!  As Jake and Steven are going to fight, Jessica tells them to stop and Jake and Steven say ” no sweat” and agree to all get milkshakes at Casey’s, because ” acting” works up an appetite! Acting, you say? Well, Steven called Jake last night to get him to go along with a trick Steven was playing on Jessica teaching her not to be nosy. At the beach party, Jess did see Jake and Cathy walking to the rocks together, but Jake was going to look for Lila to see if she wanted to take a walk- Cathy and Steven were kissing, NOT Cathy and Jake! Lila asks Jessica how she could assume Jake would EVER cheat on her? Jessica promises never to be nosy again! Yeah, right!

It’s Anna’s birthday party, and it is being held at Cammi’s house. Cammi’s parents make Anna a cake and everyone gives her presents. Then Anna has a gift for Cammi- Anna has made Cammi a gorgeous silver bracelet with a disc of two fingers intertwining- the sign for ” Friends” in ASL.

By the end of the week, I hope to recap ” Jessi’s Wish” and a Fabulous Five book!! Stay tuned!

MORE BOOKS!

I just bid on a pretty big lot of Baby Sitters Little Sister books ( I know all of my dear readers love those recaps) and also on ” Crash Landing” the Sweet Valley High book where Enid Rollins is injured in a plane crash. I never read that book as a kid but I adore reading the recaps of it as an adult, so I can’t wait to read it!!! I also bought a Taffy Sinclair book- the one where Taffy ” makes over” Melanie and as soon as that comes, I will be reading it and recapping- which yes may put a slight wrinkle in my upcoming recaps, but ah well it is what it is. I am just too excited NOT read it right away!

In a few months time I may be moving in with my Jeffrey French like BF so I will have to sell a lot of my YA novels but not to worry- I have plenty I haven’t read yet that I will keep so that recaps WILL keep coming! I know this blog may end eventually- BUT NOT ANYTIME SOON! And if I do get ideations to stop this blog, you guys will know- but for now I am having WAY too much fun to stop working on this blog!!

Happy weekend to all! And upon weekend’s end ( or OK by Wednesday the latest) enjoy a recap of Won’t Someone Help Anna? And- yes- here is one of my famous L-O-N-G list of BOOKS TO COME! and remember in between these my Taffy Sinclair book MAY be recapped! and oh yes I did forget- I have a huge lot of Freshman Dorm comin’ soon!! YAY!!!!

BSC #48- Jessi’s Wish

The Fabulous Five #8- The Runaway Crisis

The Gymnasts #13- First Date

BSC #56- Keep Out, Claudia!

Sweet Valley High #74- The Perfect Girl

Sweet Valley Twins #3- The Haunted House

Sweet Valley Kids #23- Lila’s Haunted House Party

SVT #44- Amy Moves In

The Fabulous Five #24- The Great TV Turnoff

Sleepover Friends #26- The New Kate

Sweet Valley Kids #3- The Twins’ Mystery Teacher

BSC Little Sister #10- Karen’s Grandmothers

Sweet Valley Twins #4- Choosing Sides

BSC #1- Kristy’s Great Idea

BSC Little Sister #15-Karen’s in Love

Sleepover Friends #27- Where’s Patti?

Freshman Dorm #15- Freshman Dorm

BSC Super Special 11- the Baby Sitters Remember

Sweet Valley Kids #39- Ellen is Home Alone

Sleepover Friends #11- Stephanie’s Family Secret

Freshman Dorm 27- Freshman Passion

 

GOD- I will be BUSY these next few months- and if I am REALLY ambitious I hope to have ALL OF THESE recapped by the New Year!

Sleepover Friends #9- No More Sleepovers, Patti?

Patti’s dad said he needed to talk to Patti about something, so Patti is not riding her bike to school with Stephanie, Kate and Lauren.  When Lauren gets to school, Wayne Miller is teasing her saying she won’t win the twenty mile bike a thon. But it’s not really something you win- for everyone who finishes, money they raise is going toward some wildlife fund. Wayne and his friend Ronnie are entering, and so are Lauren and Patti.  Then Christy Soames comes up to Stephanie and says she loves Stephanie’s jacket. Christy only can talk about shopping, apparently, and bores the hell out of Kate. Before Christy can go on and on about the bracelet her mom just bought for her, the bell rings.  When Patti comes into class, her eyes look puffy as if she were crying.  At lunch, Patti says her dad wanted to tell her about these great new jobs her mom and dad ( who are both professors) may be offered.  Patti’s mom and dad may get jobs at a college in- ALASKA!!!! Tomorrow, Patti, her unfortunately named brother Horace, and her parents are going to Alaska to visit the city of Anchorage and for her parents to go on interviews. Patti is really upset because she will be away from school for ten days, she will miss the science fair, and she doesn’t WANT to leave Riverhurst! Patti had been working on teaching her cat, Adelaide, tricks for a long time to prove that cats aren’t stupid.  Kate, Stephanie, Patti and Lauren have to do a party the next afternoon as well- Lauren and Patti play clowns for kids’ birthday parties, and Stephanie and Kate tape it.  At least Patti can still attend tonight’s sleepover.  Patti asks if any of the girls can have Adelaide stay at her house while Patti goes to Alaska. Stephanie says Adelaide can stay at her place and chill with Stephanie’s cat, Cinders.  Then the girls get the idea that Patti can bring Adelaide to Stephanie’s tonight to play with Cinders, and Lauren and Kate can bring their cats along too for a ” family reunion” of sorts as the four cats are from the same litter.  They are going to have tons of snacks for the cats too- tunafish, sardines, cheese for Lauren’s cat Rocky and shrimp dip for Kate’s cat Fredericka. 

For the sleepover, Stephanie’s mom is getting the girls their favorite ice cream drinks at Charlie’s Soda Fountain, Lauren is making her special dip, and Stephanie’s dad is ordering pizza. Kate is making her famous fudge as well.  When Lauren and Kate get to Stephanie’s, Adelaide and Cinders are hissing at each other like crazy.  Fredericka and Rocky jump out of their boxes, and all four cats are rolling around on the floor fighting like crazy- gee no one could see this coming!  Mrs. Green walks into the room and splashes the four cats with water which seperates them right away!! Then Mrs. Green suggests that the four cats be separated before they pounce on each other again!  Mr. Green bought Dr Pepper and potato chips along with the pizza, so it’s time to PIG OUT! Patti says that her parents are so excited about the potential move to Alaska because of the fresh air and wide open spaces there.  If they get the jobs, both parents would get a lot more money and big raises.

The girls feed the kittens their dinner, and then Patti agrees to show some of the tricks Adelaide can do.  Patti first moves a pizza crust right ACROSS Adelaide’s line of vision and Adelaide swats on it right away. Patti also explains that if you pull a cat’s whiskers gently, their eyes will always close as whiskers are used as feelers.  Patti then shows the girls how Adelaide can stand on her hind paws when Patti commands her to!  Patti said she worked with Adelaide every day and gave her a lot of food bribes to get Adelaide to do tricks. Adelaide can also roll over and jump into Patti’s arms when told! Adelaide rocks!  To get Patti’s mind of Alaska, the girls play Trivial Pursuit but every question they happen to get relates to Alaska somehow!  Then Lauren talks Stephanie into being a clown along with Lauren at the party tomorrow. The party is for Christy’s little bro, so Stephanie hopes Christy won’t be there. The party is a Western theme, so Lauren says they can tell a lot of cowboy jokes.

The next morning, Adelaide and Cinders are getting along better and even sleeping next to each other.  When Patti goes off to the airport, Lauren tries to see if Adelaide will do tricks if Lauren commands it, and Adelaide CAN!!! So Lauren and Kate decide to enter Adelaide in the science fair for Patti! They even remember some of the scientific facts Patti told them about cats.

Stephanie calls Lauren a little later in the day- right before the birthday party- and says that she can’t be a clown because she hurt her ankle doing cartwheels.  Stephanie says she can still tape the party, and Lauren has to tell Kate that she has to be a clown with Lauren.  Kate doesn’t believe for a minute that Stephanie’s ankle is twisted, and Kate bets that Steph just didn’t want to look like a fool in front of Christy Soames at her little brother’s birthday party.  Lauren is thinking that Patti has only been gone a few hours, and Stephanie and Kate are already going to have a disagreement!

Kate actually looks very cute as a fairy clown. When they get to the Soames’ home for Jeffrey’s party ( Jeffrey is the bday boy) it turns out that Christy is there wearing a pink jumpsuit and being all excited that Stephanie is there. As Kate and Lauren are charming the kids, Stephanie is too busy chattering with Christy about clothes until Kate pretty much yells at her to tape the party. Jeffrey got a full cowboy outfit from his grandparents for his birthday.  After the party, Lauren thinks that Kate probably won’t admit it, but she thinks Kate had a great time being a clown at the party. In the car, Stephanie and Kate barely talk to each other and Lauren asks if Stephanie will help train Adelaide tomorrow, but Stephanie claims to be busy.  The next day, after Kate and Lauren work on posters with facts for the science fair, they decide to groom Bullwinkle, Lauren’s big dog, outside. Then they see a car with a Born to Shop bumper sticker on it ( where can I get that?) and Mrs. Soames,Christy and Stephanie driving by! Lauren wants to call Stephanie that night to ask what Stephanie was doing but she couldn’t because her older brother was on the phone with his girlfriend half the night.  So the next day at lunch, Christy goes to Lauren, Kate and Steph’s table and is all shrieking to Stephanie about how fun shopping was yesterday, and calling Stephanie ” Steffi.” Christy then keeps chattering about how she could be a model, and Kate says she’s going to the library and asks if Lauren is coming. Lauren thinks she sees Stephanie shaking her hand at Lauren as if Steph really doesn’t feel like being alone with Christy, but Lauren does go off with Kate instead.  Stephanie does agree to meet that evening to train Adelaide.

A postcard from Patti comes that day and Kate talks about how sweet and non self centered Patti is, and Stephanie tells Kate that best not be a dig at Christy.  Stephanie doesn’t have tape around her ankle anymore which is going to make Kate say it was a fake injury, but then Stephanie shows Lauren and Kate her ankle and sure enough it’s all bruised. So Steph wasn’t faking after all.  Stephanie starts feeding Adelaide ham right away despite Kate telling Stephanie not to feed Adelaide until she does a few tricks. Stephanie says the ham will do no harm.  After Stephanie and Kate try  to get Adelaide to do all these tricks, Adelaide gets tired of it and runs off. They search for Adelaide everywhere- and because Adelaide did so many tricks on a full o ham tummy, she barfs.

It’s the day of the science fair, and Adelaide wows the judges!!!  Walter Williams wins a blue ribbon for his robot, but Patti’s Adelaide project gets a second place blue ribbon!!! WOOO for Adelaide! When the reporters take a picture of Adelaide, Kate, Steph and Lauren for the paper, Lauren is sure to give all of the credit to Patti fo rthe project.

Friday- Kate is discussing  the sleepover at her house. Stephanie mentions she wants to invite someone. Kate instantly assumes it was Christy Steph wanted to invite, and Kate EXPLODES and starts screaming at Christy, and Stephanie yells back that Stephanie wanted to invite Jane Skyes, a really nice girl in their class, and not Christy! Lauren yells at both of them that she is choosing not to speak to either Kate or Stephanie until they apologize to each other! Lauren tells her mom that for the first time ever on a Friday night, she is NOT going to a sleepover! Lauren thinks that she couldn’t have stayed up too late anyway because the next morning is the Bike a Thon, but it’s not much comfort.

When Lauren gets to the Bike a Thon, Kate and Stephanie are there with their bikes! They tell Lauren they wanted to keep Lauren company! Kate and Stephanie say they apologized to each other, and they both apologize to Lauren as well. Lauren and Kate do manage to do OK biking and Stephanie is really struggling but all of them finish the race. Wayne Miller, after all of his bragging and even after his attempts to cheat and take shortcuts, flops over the finish line on two flat tires! Then right as Lauren, Kate and Steph finish the race- PATTI IS THERE!! AND- PATTI IS NOT MOVING AFTER ALL, so the Jenkins family came back early!  Patti says that it turns out there is dirty air in Alaska, and the university at Riverhurst offered Patti’s ‘rents TONS more money so they are staying!  Since there was no sleepover last night, Patti says they can sleep over her house tonight. Patti makes a special dip she got from the hotel they stayed at in Alaska- tuna, cream cheese, ketchup and some other stuff you mix in a blender. Sounds kinda ewww to me. Stephanie tells the gals that she got tired of Christy Soames only talking about shopping and calling her Steffi so that friendship is done.  Patti got the other girls each a little gift- carved little animal figurines that Eskimos make- a penguin for Steph, a fawn for Kate, and a bear for Lauren. Patti is also so glad the girls entered Adelaide in the science fair!  Patti also got a bigger figurine of four girls hugging in a circle and Patti says it reminds her of the Sleepover Friends- FOREVER! I swear, every damn book ends with ” Sleepover Friends Forever.” It’s a little much.

Well next time- VERY SPECIAl BOOKS are back- so expect a special tale from the land of the Sweet Valley Twins, ” Won’t Someone Help Anna?” to be done by early next week I’d say, and by the week after I will be recapping ” Jessi’s Wish” from the BSC, and then another small break in the ” special” will happen with the Fab Five book ” The Runaway Crisis.”

GO DIABLO! And SVH #40- On The Edge

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2009/09/23/2009-09-23_diablo_cody_to_pen_sweet_valley_high_movie_film_will_be_based_on_beloved_teen_no.html

First of all- how KICK ASS is the news in the above link? When THAT movie comes out you best believe my sister and I will FIRST in line!!!

 

Well, on to today’s recap- which is from our beloved Sweet Valley High- ON THE EDGE! This book is iconic, pretty much anyone knows the story of Regina Morrow’s tragic death from cocaine. But of course the story behind how Regina died can never be told too many times- and because this deals with death and tells us that ” drugs are bad, mmmmkay?” this HAD  to be added to my ” Very Special Episode” series!!!

This begins with Jessica Wakefield checking out her hot self in a cheerleading outfit- MAKE ME GAG! Amy Sutton comes rushing into the locker room, all proud of herself because Bruce Patman was COMPLETELY checking her out, and Amy just knows that Bruce is completely over Miss Regina and will dump her any second!  Maria Santelli backs Amy up and says that Bruce seems extremely smitten with Amy. Jessica isn’t sure. Bruce Patman did seem to be quite the playboy until he started dating Regina Morrow, and everyone thought Bruce was completely devoted to Regina- they even survived a long distance romance while Regina was in Switzerland getting treatments to restore her hearing.  But Amy and Bruce have been working on an intense project for health class ( how to make babies??? and Amy is a gorgeous blonde, so Jessica can maybe see how Bruce has decided to go back to his old ways and fall for Amy.  Amy continues to say that Bruce says he and Regina are pretty much over, but he is just trying to find the right time to tell Regina they are through.

As Elizabeth and Jess are preparing dinner, Jessica tells Elizabeth about Amy and Bruce’s new romance. Elizabeth just can’t believe it.  Elizabeth is pissed that Amy is making such a huge play for Bruce ( yep of course it’s only the woman’s fault)  and Amy definitely shouldn’t be telling all of her friends because what if Regina hears about Bruce and Amy’s romance through the grapevine?  Elizabeth also says she wouldn’t be surprised if Amy wasn’t completely exaggerating.  Elizabeth says she can’t believe Bruce would actually dump someone as wonderful as Regina for slutty-kins Amy. Jessica retorts that Regina and Bruce have been together forever, and Jessica really can’t blame Bruce for wanting a little excitement.  Now, Amy and Bruce are working on an oral report about drugs in SWEET VALLEY- YES, SWEET VALLEY HAS DRUGS!!!  Jessica says it’s only natural that Amy and Bruce fell in love after working on such an intense project- ummm it’s about drugs… eh whatever.

Amy and Bruce are at the Patmans’ sprawling estate, and Amy grabs Bruce’s hand and says it’s fate that Amy and Bruce were thrown together to work on the health project.  Amy then says her cousin Mimi knows all about drugs in Sweet Valley ( she’s a drug abuse counselor or doing an internship in counseling or some shit- or else she’s a druggie and Amy is sure she and Bruce will have the best grade in the class.  Amy tells Bruce that she had a dream that she and Bruce were kissing.  And of course this gets Bruce to start making out with Amy. Men are sooo dense.  Bruce says to Amy afterward that he thought Regina was the only one for him but being with Amy makes him realize that he misses ” sharing the old Bruce Patman magic with one than one girl.”- EWWWWWWWW  Bruce promises Amy that he will break things off with Regina VERY soon, because he just MUST see more of Amy – and share his magic.

At lunch the next day, Amy tells Jessica she doesn’t mind being the ” other woman” for a little while but not for long because she wants Bruce to buy her expensive gifts. Jessica mentions that she and Elizabeth are having a cookout tomorrow  and since they are inviting Bruce, Amy and Regina what is going to happen? Amy says she hopes that she and Bruce will be getting together! Then Jessica sees Regina sitting with Justin Belson. Jessica had no idea Regina and Justin were friends.  The last Jessica heard, Justin was on academic probation and Jess didn’t think Regina hung out with losers like Justin.  Seeing Regina and Justin eating together makes Jessica uneasy, and she is not sure why. 

Regina is having a bad day. Bruce cancelled their date at the country club last night, and stood her up at lunch. So when Justin asked her if he could join Regina for lunch, Regina agrees.  Justin tells Regina he has always wanted to say hello to her but he always sees her with Bruce, and Justin asks if Bruce is her man. Regina says yes. Justin tells Regina he is supposed to be a senior, but he’s only a junior because he took a year off because of ” problems.” Justin asks Regina out for that night but Regina says Bruce wouldn’t like it. So Justin asks if he and Regina could have lunch together one day next week, as he’d love to get to know her better. Regina agrees.

Elizabeth and Jessica are planning the BBQ menu the next day. Elizabeth says she doesn’t see where Jess is at all excited over this BBQ, because Liz is going to hate watching Regina’s heart break. Jessica is giddy over the excitement of a couple possibly breaking up. Jessica’s a sick woman.  Elizabeth wonders if she should warn Regina about Bruce and Amy.  Jessica tells Liz NOT to tell Regina because Amy told Jessica not to tell Elizabeth and if Elizabeth tells Regina what is going on, she’ll go to Bruce, Bruce will go to Amy and Amy will go to Jess and Amy will just MURDER Jessica! Elizabeth says she can’t promise that she won’t tell Regina.  Elizabeth asks Jeffrey ( JEFFREY WOOO) what he would do if Jeffrey was in her situation. Jeffrey says he can see both sides- if Regina finds out that everyone knew about Bruce and Amy before her, Regina could be completely humiliated. On the other hand,  Amy may be completely exaggerating and Bruce has no intention of breaking up with Regina.  Then if Liz tells Regina, Liz could be responsible for some big confrontation and Regina would blame Liz for causing some big scene.  Elizabeth is just torn as to what to do. Elizabeth decides that Regina has to hear it from Bruce, and she will NOT meddle!!! Sheesh!

Justin Belson calls while Regina is getting ready to go the Wakefield BBQ. He asks if Regina can see a movie that night and Regina says she has plans with Bruce. Justin sounds wistful, and Regina says they can definitely have lunch together next week. Nicholas asks Regina if that was really Justin Belson on the phone, and Regina says yes. Nicholas tells Regina Justin seems like bad news, and Nicholas heard that Justin has some friends who are into drugs.  Then Regina’s mom overhears and Nicholas tells Skye Morrow- who is 38 and hot by the way- that Regina is hanging out with a ” bad crowd” and Skye tells Regina she thought Regina was so tight with Bruce and his awesome friends. Regina says she is NOT hanging with a bad crowd, Justin is nice and he just called to say hello, and Nicholas is making a big deal out of nada.  Regina is on her way to the BBQ after that, and thinking about how she’s very uneasy about the state of her and Bruce’s relationship and needs to see Bruce to assure herself that everything is OK.

Regina tells Bruce she is a little hurt that she and Bruce are spending less time together, and Bruce says the project is a lot of work and Amy is getting tons of info from her cousin Mimi. Regina tries to voice more of her concerns and Bruce cuts her off because they are at the Wakefield home and they don’t want to be rude to the Wakefields.  Bruce goes off to barbeque the burgers and ‘dogs, as Regina goes to sit with the ladies.  Regina thinks that she sometimes still feels like an outsider in Sweet Valley as the Morrows just moved to Sweet Valley this year and Regina was away getting the treatments for quite awhile.  Regina does admit that the girls she is sitting with are nice- Caroline Pearce is a pretty redhead who is sweet and tons of fun, Maria Santelli is the cheerleader who is Winston’s woman and seems nice, Olivia Davidson is ” artsy,” Enid Rollins is Liz’s best friend and just the sweetest thing ever, Cara Walker is Steven Wakefield’s woman and a gorgeous brunette ( gorgeous brunettes exist in Sweet Valley?)  and Lila seems jealous of Regina but even she is acting sweet tonight. Then Amy comes over to the table.  Amy locks eyes with Bruce as he is cooking on the grill and Regina is seeing a momentary ” hotness” between them- but it quickly passes. Regina is feeling increasingly uneasy re: Bruce and Amy’s connection.  The other girls then start acting uneasy as well- or is it Regina’s imagination? Regina thinks she has no reason not to trust Bruce, but she does want to confront him later about his feelings for Amy.

Elizabeth notices that Regina is sitting by herself at the pool, and Bruce and Amy are nowhere to be found. Jeffrey and Liz find Amy and Bruce making out behind a tree.  Elizabeth tells Jeffrey to tell Bruce to carry on someplace else, and this is rude to do right when Regina is there, and Elizabeth will try to make sure Regina doesn’t see this. Regina asks Liz if she’s seen Bruce, and Elizabeth lies and says no.  Then Regina sees Jeffrey leading Amy and Bruce from the back of the tree and Regina instantly knows what’s going on and goes OFF on Liz!  Elizabeth says she wanted to protect Regina, and poor Regina just repeats ” I thought you were my friend.” Regina then screams ” you all knew!” and makes Bruce give her the keys to the Porsche so that Regina can get home and the keys will be in the mailbox for Bruce the next day. Elizabeth says she or Jeffrey can drive Regina home as she’s upset and Regina says ” oh yeah it’s obvious you care about my feelings” and yells ” I hate you” to Amy and everyone else and speeds off in Bruce’s car. I can’t say I blame Regina for being pissed. When Regina goes home, she goes straight to her room and cries her eyes out.

On Sunday morning, Regina thinks over last night’s events and how she called Justin Belson and is glad they are going out tonight. Regina thinks about how she sensed Bruce was bored, but was still devestated over his behavior and Amy’s.  At breakfast, Nicholas says he heard from Ken Matthews that Bruce and Regina had a ” misunderstanding.” Regina wonders why this is such news in town already ( Regina, baby girl, it’s Sweet Valley!) and Regina says she and Bruce broke up, and it’s all for the better.  Regina and Justin go to Kelly’s Bar that day. Yep-Kelly’s!! Justin orders a beer for himself ( yep Kelly’s will serve teens) and a Coke for Regina. Justin says next time Regina can pick where to go, as he can see Regina is uncomfy at Kelly’s. Justin then tells the story of his family- Justin’s dad was murdered 2 years ago during a robbery at the liquor store he owned. Ever since Justin’s dad got killed, his mom has been a barely functional pill popper. Justin says that the only thing that got him through was his girlfriend Molly.  Molly and Justin dated since junior high, but they broke up recently because Molly is mixed up with a druggie crowd and hangs with people like Jan Brown, who is real hard core into drugs and Justin loves Molly so much and can’t stand to see her ruin her life. Regina makes up her mind to be a good friend to Justin, as Justin said ” you can’t stop people you love from growing apart from you” and that strikes a chord in Regina. Regina also wants to show Regina that there is such thing as kindness in this world.

Monday at noon, Amy runs up to Jessica at lunch and tells her that the BBQ was the best night of her life!! God, Amy is a cuntbag. Jessica says she’s so glad to hear that, but doesn’t Amy realize that Elizabeth is pissed at Jess because Elizabeth feels Jess is partly responsible for the break-up of Liz and Regina’s friendship? Amy says it will soon blow over but Amy just wants Bruce to completely FORGET about Regina and she’s not sure he has. God, Amy is such a fucking bitch. I NEVER liked Amy even in Sweet Valley Twins- though she’s tolerable in SV Kids.  Jessica sees Regina with Justin and tells Amy that maybe Regina is seeing Justin to show Bruce that she’s not the old Regina anymore, because Regina and Justin sure don’t seem like likely friends! Jessica is a little worried that Regina is friends with someone whose middle name seems to spell ” Trouble.”

At lunch, Regina meets Molly for the first time. Molly tells Justin they are “on” for Saturday- Molly’s parents go away every year and Molly always has a party when they do- and Molly is going to have an ” anything goes” sort of party. Molly is excited because Buzz may even show up- gotta love that the town drug dealer is named BUZZ- ugh. Molly tells Regina she hopes Regina can come to the party because Buzz is so fun. Justin tries to tell Molly not to invite Buzz, but Molly tells Justin not to “mother” her. Justin looks extremely concerned.

Elizabeth tells Enid on Wednesday that Regina seems like a completely different person in the span of four days! Elizabeth wants to go apologize to Regina, and Enid hears that Regina hangs up on Bruce every time he calls- shit so would I! Why is that shocking?  Elizabeth sees Regina with Justin and he walks off as Liz and Regina talk. Elizabeth starts telling Regina how Justin is ” bad news” and he hangs out with druggies like Molly and Jan Brown, and Regina tells Elizabeth she has no business judging Justin and his friends.  Elizabeth tells Regina she’s sorry about last Saturday and Regina tells Elizabeth that Bruce and Amy look perfectly happy together, she’s over it and she doesn’t want to talk about it. Miss Meddle Elizabeth tells Regina to just be careful around Justin and his friends and Regina yells at Liz that Justin and his friends are a hell of a lot better than Liz and her friends!! BURRRNNNNNN- if Justin’s friends didn’t associate with dudes named Buzz,I’d soooo agree.

Amy and Bruce meet Cousin Mimi ( she’s a social work student at Sweet Valley College who knows tons about drugs) at the Box Tree Cafe for more info on that intense project.  Mimi tells Amy and Bruce that she knows all these names of kids at Sweet Valley High who are wickedly into drugs- ummmm….ok… and she names Margaret Hecht ( Molly), Jan Brown, and James Benson. Mimi tells Amy and Bruce she heard there is going to be a party at Molly’s Saturday night and Buzz, the biggest dealer at Mimi’s college, may be attending. Mimi tells Amy and Bruce that Buzz has been dealing since junior high ( methinks Mimi may be a regular customer for some reason) and the police have been trying to track Buzz down forever. As a favor, Mimi asks Amy and Bruce that if either of them know anyone who plans to go to Molly’s party on Saturday, to warn them not to attend because Buzz may show up with drugs. Bruce says he has to call Regina, which makes Amy frown. Bruce knows Regina is very cozy with Justin, and Justin is still good friends with Molly. Bruce tells Regina not to go to Molly’s party on Saturday because Amy’s cousin heard there would be drugs there. Regina basically tells Bruce she appreciates Amy and Mimi’s concern, but she wants them all to ” buzz” off.  Jessica then tells Elizabeth about Molly’s party. Elizabeth goes to call Regina to warn her right away not to attend Molly’s party. Regina does tell Liz she’s sorry for blowing up at her the other day and she appreciates that Liz is concerned but she has nothing to worry about and Regina knows how to take care of herself. DOOM!! DOOM!!!!

As Regina is dressing for the party, she thinks of how she completely alienated herself from good friends like Elizabeth and she feels bad.  She then gets a little nervous about going to Molly’s party if Buzz will really show, and she plans to tell Justin her feels. But first Regina HAS to write a letter….

Regina tells Justin her concerns, but Justin tells Regina he HAS to go to the party because he is concerned about Molly and doesn’t want her involved in anything stupid and if Buzz shows up ” what’s the worst that can really happen”and tells Regina just to ignore him. Regina sees that Justin still really loves Molly and tells Justin he does owe it to himself to be there for Molly and he should tell her how he really feels, and Regina pretty much wants to make it her mission for Justin and Molly to get back together. Justin admits he had a small crush on Regina, and he has never been able to talk to anyone like he does to Regina.

Elizabeth is pacing around wondering what to do about Regina. Jess tells Liz to call Nicholas and have him meddle. Elizabeth calls Nicholas and tells him the scoop on Molly’s party and this dude Buzz. Nicholas decides he is going to drive to Molly’s and set Regina straight.  It takes Nicholas a lot longer than he planned to go to Molly’s- he can’t find his keys, then he can’t find his wallet. Nicholas decides not to drive with his license just this once. Nicholas is speeding – and gets pulled over!  Nicholas tells the cop his sister could be in real danger, and the cop tells Nicholas to go to the station because this can’t be discussed on the road. Oh, boy.

Regina feels very uncomfortable at Molly’s. Molly and Justin go off to dance and Jan Brown starts harassing Regina and says ” I heard you don’t even DRINK” . Regina tries to tell Jan she is not stealing Justin from Molly and she knows Justin still loves Molly. Jan doesn’t seem to care. Jan asks if Regina does drugs and Regina says no because she never wanted to.  Regina finds Justin and he says he promises they can leave soon- and then Buzz shows up and these kids act like Brad Pitt just walked into Molly’s house. The cops agree to go to Molly’s house as they have heard that Buzz may be there tonight.

Regina tries to find Justin and she can’t find him anywhere.  The others try to pass Regina a joint and she refuses. Regina tells Molly Justin still loves her, and Jan mocks Regina and says she doesn’t believe her. Then Molly’s 14 year old bro says Buzz has the ” good stuff” and Jan, Molly and some redhead named Tina go run off to get Buzz’s great drugs. Regina grabs her coat to leave and Jan says ” oh no the party just started.” Of course, Regina could walk out anyway but she’s 16 and at 16 we do tend to be dumb. Justin says he will go with Regina and Jan again accuses Regina of wanting to ” steal” Justin and Jan tells Regina to sit down.  Then Buzz gets out the cocaine and everyone oohs and ahhhs as if Buzz took out a Tiffany necklace. Justin tells Regina they have to stay because Buzz wants Molly to try heroin and he can’t allow that. Cocaine is perfectly fine, but not THE HEROIN per Justin!! GGGRRRRRRR  Everyone keeps taunting Regina, trying to get her to try the cocaine , saying it will make her forget all her troubles. Regina then decides she’s sick of being Miss Goody Two Shoes, and she decides she is going to try cocaine and be a ” bad girl.”  Regina does one line and Molly says Regina must do another one. Justin says no way but Molly insists and Jan HOLDS DOWN REGINA’S HEAD as Regina snorts another line of coke. And yeah- in the book Outcast I don’t remember Jan Brown being shunned. UGH. Regina says “oh I am kind of high” then Regina’s heart starts beating and beating really really really fast and she can’t breathe.  Justin has Regina lie down as she looks pale and her breathing is ragged, and Ty goes to get wet paper towels. Justin wants to call 911 and Buzz says no but as Justin is about to call there’s a knock on the door- it’s the cops-and Nicholas. God, I remember being nine years old and hoping Nick Morrow would save the day….

Nicholas shoves Justin and screams ” what did you do to my sister?” Buzz runs away undetected. The police call the paramedics, and Regina is gasping for air but is awake.  Regina tells Nicholas to tell everyone it’s ” not their fault” and she wants to see Liz and Bruce and tells Nicholas to find them- then Regina passes out.  Bruce and Liz are at Lila’s and both go to the hospital to see Regina. Bruce cries hysterically and Elizabeth tells Bruce this is not his fault and crying won’t help Regina right now.  When Elizabeth and Bruce get to Joshua Fowler Hospital, Mr. Morrow tell them that Regina may not make it. Elizabeth can’t believe that- Regina is young and strong- she HAS to live!

After two hours, a doctor comes out crying and says they tried everything but they couldn’t save Regina- she is dead.  The doc explains that Regina had an extremely rare reaction to the cocaine she snorted – an accelerated heart rate due to Regina having a heart murmer that aggravated the effects of the cocaine. Poor, tragically dead Regina. I am shocked that Bruce didn’t only date girls who resembled Regina after this.  Elizabeth is torturing herself, thinking she could have stopped Regina, as Mrs. Wakefield cries for Regina’s parents and over what a pretty girl Regina was. Jeffrey tells Liz to drink some cocoa and that Liz can’t beat herself up over this.

There is an assembly at school Monday about Regina’s death. Lila hates Justin and Molly for what they did to Regina and feels they should get life in prison. Lila also says some of the kids at Dad’s country club love cocaine but she’s glad she never tried it. Caroline Pearce said her sister’s friends say that shit is great and Caroline never knew cocaine was harmful. Caroline HELLO this is the ” Just say No” era where have YOU been?  Mr. Cooper announces that on Friday there will be a memorial service for Regina at the school, and the family says anyone can come and honor Regina’s memory and life. The funeral is for family only. Nicholas Morrow is going to say a few words.  Mr. Cooper also says the Morrows hold no one responsible for Regina’s death and Elizabeth finds that to be hogwash because Liz feels that since the party was at Molly’s house, Molly is at least partly responsible. OK Lizzie let’s go with that- then Bruce is also responsible because he cheated on his girlfriend pretty much right in front of her face- at YOUR party- and YOU didn’t tell Regina that Bruce and Amy were fooling around- so in that case, Liz, Regina’s death is also your fault, right? And it’s Justin’s for taking her to the party, and Jan’s for goading Regina, and Amy’s for being a cuntbag.

Liz gets a letter- FROM REGINA!!! The letter pretty much says Regina doesn’t blame Bruce or Amy for falling in love with each other and crap happens. Regina also writes that she really values her friendship with Elizabeth, and Regina has always admired Liz. Regina also has realized that couples sometimes just grow apart, and Regina and Bruce were growing apart and it’s no one’s fault. Elizabeth cries tons after reading this.

It’s the day of the memorial. Mr. Collins does a short tribute to Regina as he was her favorite teacher- naturally.  Elizabeth kept trying to write a speech the night before and finally she recites a poem by Edna St Vincent Millay. How sad is it that SVH books got me into Edna St Vincent Millay’s poetry?  Part of the poem, “Dirge Without Music” goes like this, ” Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.” Seriously when I read this poem to do this recap, I cried a little.  After the memorial, Nicholas tells Elizabeth how moving that poem was. They then see Justin, who looks as if he hasn’t slept in days. Molly tries to go up to talk to Justin, and he shrugs her off and walks away. And of course that is the preview for Book #41- Outcast- AKA the first SVH book I EVER read in the third grade after seeing it at the A and P and begging my dad to buy it for me!!!

Now, before I go back to flipping between Dancing with the Stars and America’s Next Top Model, I will let you know that I am taking a short break from ” the Very Special” and recapping a Sleepover Friends book that I loved as a child- probably I will be done with that book and recapping it by the end of this week or the beginning of next.  Next week, I will also try to recap ” Won’t Someone Help Anna?” a very special book from the Sweet Valley Twins series about a deaf Asian girl.

The week of October 5 I will be recapping ” Jessi’s Wish” aka the BSC cancer book.  In that same week I may be recapping the Fabulous Five book the Runaway Crisis but I may not it depends on how busy that week turns out to be.  So the week of October 12 I will possibly be recapping that Fab 5 book, or else I will then be writing on Gymnasts #13 First Date and yes the fab five and gymnasts books represent another break in the ” Special Series”

But then- the week of October 19 ( maybe even before then as Gymnasts books tend to be pretty short) it will a very special book on prejudice- BSC #56- Keep Out, Claudia!! 

After that, depending on how things are going in my life, I will either be recapping SVH #74 The Perfect Girl- one of my FAVORITES as a teen or ( in honor of Halloween- either way by Halloween this will be recapped) Sweet Valley Twins #3 Haunted House. By Halloween, I will also be recapping ” Lila’s Haunted House” which is a Sweet Valley Kids book and Lila looks ADORABLE on the cover!!

With ” The Perfect Girl” comes the end of the Very Special, and following those books expect these treats-

Sweet Valley Twins #44- Amy Moves In ( yet to read this again, but Amy looks DAMN fug on the cover)

Fab Five #24- The Great TV turnoff

Sleepover Friends #26- the New Kate

BSC #26- Claudia and the Sad Good-bye

I will have to say that there probably won’t be much snark in this recap only because the death of Mimi is sooo sad- I was very sad about it at the age of 13, and I am sad about it now. I do love the Christmas light earrings Claudia is rocking on the cover of this book, though.  And she is wearing them IN the book!! Mimi is so adorable- sigh And sooo much cooler than Kristy’s Nannie, I am sorry.

Chapter 1:  Claudia is coming home from school and greets Mimi. Claudia throws her backpack on the floor, but Mimi doesn’t say anything. Claudia explains that if her parents or Janine saw that they’d tell to bring her stuff upstairs and she’d wait at least 10 minutes just to prove to them that they can’t boss her around.  But Claudia brings her bag upstairs right away because Mimi didn’t tell her anything. Mimi is preparing special tea.  Mimi makes Japanese tea and serves it in cups with no handles, and Claudia loves special tea with Mimi.  Claudia says Mimi likes to make the tea herself even though her hand isn’t as steady since her stroke last summer. Mimi also has become forgetful lately.  Claudia and Mimi talk about Claudia’s day at school- Claud got a B+ on a composition Mimi helped her write- and art and baby sitting.  Claudia says Mimi understands her better than anyone in this world and is her best friend. Gosh, I am tearing up already.  Claudia goes upstairs to work on her painting for awhile, and Mimi says it’s beautiful. Then Mimi asks about starting dinner, and Claudia thought Mimi had started it an hour ago. Then Mimi forgot what she was making for dinner, and Claudia helps her.  Mimi needs a lot of help these days, and it’s hard on Claudia’s family.

Chapter 2: A BSC meeting is about to start. Mal runs into her room upset because Mimi yelled at her, saying she and Mallory can’t go shopping again because Mal takes too long in the dressing room. Mallory doesn’t get why Mimi is saying that because Mallory has never taken her shopping. Mal is really upset about all of this.  Then Mal says Mimi seemed to be back to her old self, and Mimi gave her a small china bird and said she wanted Mallory to have it. Mallory asks if Claudia minds if Mallory has the bird,  and Claud thinks she minds a little but not because of the bird. It’s because that the new behavior Mimi is displaying really bothers Claudia.  Then Kristy barrels into Claud’s room, and Mimi troubles are forgotten during the meeting.  During the meeting, the mom of children we never hear about calls and is calling requesting an art teacher for one of her children. The caller is Mrs. Addison and  the children are Sean and Corrie. Mrs. Addison wants an art teacher for Corrie. Dawn says that Mr and Mrs Addison want time for themselves so they constantly shuttle Sean and Corrie to tons of classes and activities so Mrs. and Mr. A can be alone- UGH as hell, man! Corrie is nine and Sean is 10, BTW. Mrs. Addison wants Claudia to give Corrie an art lesson once a week. Why can’t she enroll Corrie in an ACTUAL class?  Then Claudia has a great idea- maybe she can hold an art class for a bunch of little kids in the neighborhood, like Myriah and Gabbie Perkins and Jamie Newton- and she can hold the class on Saturdays in her basement!  Claudia thinks this would be great because she may want to be an art teacher one day, and Kristy, of course, thinks this could bring more biz to the BSC. Claudia feels that with all those kids, she may need an assistant, and Mary Anne volunteers.

Chapter 3:  After club meetings, Claud sometimes feels lonely, and it makes her miss Stacey ( who is living in New York with her parents at this point in the series) all the more. Then Claudia remembers that Mimi is right downstairs, and Claudia will go and help Mimi make dinner. Mimi insists on doing lots of the work herself, but Claudia has to be there because Mimi’s hands really shake, so Claud worries when she uses a veggie peeler, and sometimes Mimi forgets to wash chicken or veggies, things like that.  Despite these worries, Claudia’s parents haven’t banned Mimi from the kitchen yet – they know on good days it’s good for Mimi to maintain her independence and on bad days Claudia is there to help.  Claud says that they can make a fancy dinner and serve it in the dining room with candles, and Mimi agrees.  As Claudia starts to serve pea soup as the first course, Mimi kind of slithers in her chair and slumps and Mr. Kishi catches Mimi right before she falls to the floor. Mrs. Kishi tells Claudia to call 911 right away.  Claudia does  and sees Mimi on the floor and wonders if she’s dead. Janine says no, and Claud observes Mimi on the floor talking about ” the old country” and looking very confused. A paramedic says Mimi has low blood pressure. Mimi and Mrs. Kishi go off in the ambulance, and Janine, Claud and Claud’s dad go in the car behind the ambulance.  Claud is relieved that Mimi is in the hospital and can get better there. as we know what’s coming.

After school the next day, Claudia decides to take a teddy bear to Mimi.  Mimi is sleeping, and Claudia’s mom says they think Mimi has some kind of problem with her blood, but they don’t know what yet.  Two more days go by, and they give Mimi more and more blood tests and still don’t know what’s wrong, and Mimi keeps saying nonsense things. Claud spends all of her afternoons with Mimi, as her family thinks THEIR activities are sooo much more important than Claudia’s.  But Claudia doesn’t mind much. The doctors then give Mimi a couple of pints of fresh blood, and Claudia feels that did the trick.  Mimi seems much more alert and has her appetite back, and the next day after getting more blood, Mimi wants to take a walk.  Claudia and Mimi walk down to the nursery and they see an Asian baby with its hair sticking straight up, and Mimi says Claudia looked like that when she was a baby, and squeezes Claud’s hand. Claudia instantly feels guilty for resenting having to be with Mimi at the hospital.  Mimi gets to go home the next day, and Claudia says Mimi seems to be like her old self.  Claudia makes special tea for Mimi and Mimi yells that it’s all wrong!  Claudia leaves the room in a huff, and Mimi says ” sorry, my Claudia” behind her.  Then on Friday before a meeting Mimi keeps asking for stuff and then asks for the newspaper. Claudia gets annoyed and throws a bunch of newspapers and magazines on the bed and says ” need anything else” in an angry voice. Mimi starts to cry and Claudia says she is sorry but she is tired of being Mimi’s maid.  Of course, just as in book 7 Claudia and Mean Janine, Claud volunteered to always help Mimi.

Chapter 4:   Claudia says she felt awful about how she treated Mimi on Friday and kept saying she was sorry, but she still feels bad. Luckily, the next day it’s Claudia’s first art class!  The kids who signed up are Corrie Addison, of course, Myriah and Gabbie Perkins, Jamie Newton, Marilyn and Carolyn Arnold. and Matt Braddock. Claudia says Matt is a ” wonderful deaf boy” who everyone just loves to bits. OK great.  Claudia decides the class will be fun and relaxed and today she will just give them some paint, water and paper and let the kids mess with color or whatever.  Claudia meets Corrie, who has blondish brown hair and is quite pale.  Corrie is not smiling. Claudia introduces herself and takes Corrie to her basement.  The kids all have a  great first art class. Myriah works on a picture of her baby sister Laura. Claudia teaches Matt how to make inkblots. Gabbie just mixes up a bunch of different colors of paint to make different colors. Marilyn and Carolyn both paint brick houses.  Claudia sees Corrie making a beautiful landscape and tells Corrie she is very talented. Corrie tells Claudia she loves art. Then Corrie says she doesn’t love piano lessons, ballet or baseball lessons.  Corrie then says Sean is at a tuba lesson, but she has no idea where her parents are, and she can’t wait to show Mommy her picture. My gosh, my heart bleeds for this kid. Between Corrie and Mr and Mrs Neglectful, and Mimi, I am surprised Ididn’t cry all over this book.  Mrs. Addison arrives to pick up Corrie half an hour late. UGH

Chapter 5:  Next art class- the kids are going to learn to make puppets, and they are all super excited! Gabbie decides she will make a Cabbage Patch doll puppet.  Marilyn Arnold wants to make a witch puppet, and Myriah says she will make a rabbit.  Matt wants to make a baseball player puppet. Jamie wants to make a space monster.  Corrie looks thoughtful and finally says she wants to make a Nancy Drew puppet and Claudia is all happy that Corrie also likes Nancy Drew.   Claudia is already sensing a bond between her and Corrie.  Claudia hears Mimi calling for her, and Claud tells Mimi not to go down the stairs. Claudia tries to tell Mimi again not to go down the stairs, but Mimi starts to and is all wobbly.  Mary Anne leads Mimi the rest of the way down and has her observe the art class.  Claud decides Mimi can stay for the class, and as Claudia turns to get a chair, she hears Mary Anne scream. Mimi has fainted again.  Jamie screams Mimi and goes to run to her, but Mary Anne holds him in a bear hug. Poor Jamie.  Mary Anne is with Mimi and takes control of the kids as Claudia runs to get her dad.  Claudia’s dad is working on his car and he had no idea Mimi was out of bed.  Mr. Kishi tells Claud to call the paramedic and tells Mary Anne to take the kids home.  Janine and Claudia stay with Mimi as Mr. Kishi tells the paramedics where to go.  Mary Anne takes home the kids who live close by and then leads the remaining kids back to Claud’s so they can wait for their parents to pick them up and Corrie starts to cry, saying Claudia must be so sad about Mimi.   Mary Anne thinks that Claudia and Corrie are getting close already.

Chapter 6:  Claudia rides the ambulance with Mimi as Janine stays behind to tell Claudia’s mom what happened and Claud’s dad rides behind the ambulance.  Mimi is awake and confused, but Mimi says she is glad Claudia is there.  Mimi gets more blood and she jokes that she’s a vampire. Claudia thinks that if Mimi is joking, she must be OK. Mimi is in bad pain and Mr. Kishi keeps trying to call for the nurse to give her painkillers. After a day or two, Mimi keeps talking about wanting to give things away at home.  Then on a day Claud goes to see Mimi after school, Mimi actually throws pudding at the wall which is not like her at all.  The doctors then do more tests, and Mimi tells Claudia she loves her.  Then, they say Mimi can go home the next day! Mimi calls that night and tells Claudia she doesn’t want to confuse the Muses, ( Claud has no clue what that means) and tells Claudia she loves her, and Claudia says she loves Mimi too.

Chapter 7:  It’s 4:52 am. Claudia hears her parents talking in low voices,and her mom crying and saying ” we have to tell the girls.” Claudia sees her parents hurriedly getting dressed, and asks them what is going on. Claudia’s mom keeps crying and tells Claud to sit in her lap, which she does even though she hasn’t in years. That’s when Claudia’s mom says that Mimi is dead.  Claudia says she doesn’t believe it, and Mimi was fine. Claud’s dad starts to cry and says Mimi wasn’t fine- she was old and sick and probably just ” wore out.” This is seriously too sad.  Claudia and Janine sit with regular cups of tea and Claudia tells Janine about what Mimi said about the Muses. Janine says the muses are creative powers or spirits that are supposed to inspire artists, musicians and other creative folk.  Claud thinks of how only Mimi understood how important her art was, and now Mimi is gone.  Claudia and Janine then go to call various people- Janine the relatives to tell them about the funeral that will be in 3 days, Claud to call her friends. Claudia calls Mary Anne first, because she was closest to Mimi as Mary Anne grew up without her mom and all. Mary Anne cries and cries upon hearing the news. Then Claudia lets Mary Anne call Jessi, Mal and Dawn and Claudia says she will call Stacey and Kristy herself.  Claudia calls Stace first. Stacey was about to leave for school but stays to talk as soon as she hears Claudia’s voice. Stacey says of course she and her parents will go to the funeral.  When Claud calls Kristy Kristy does not cry, but keeps saying she is sorry and asks if there is anything she can do. Kristy wants to cancel the club meeting but Claud insists on holding as she wants things to be somewhat normal and needs the BSC”s company. Claudia then talks about how all these people came over and brought food and she doesn’t get why as they can all cook.  Claud says each time the doorbell rings, it means that Mimi is really dead. Janine sits with the BSC during the meeting as she doesn’t want to be alone and the girls barely really say anything but Claudia feels better not being alone.  Claud is upset with herself  because of getting upset with Mimi and especially throwing the magazines on Mimi’s bed.

Chapter 8:  On the night before Mimi’s funeral, Mary Anne invites the BSC over for a pizza supper, figuring Claudia may want some time with friends and pizza before the funeral the next day. Dawn was already going to be over while Mary Anne’s pop and Dawn’s ma are out on a date.  Kristy starts wanting to tell Mimi stories and the girls all agree. Kristy tells a story of how Mimi first tasted pizza. It was Claud’s 8th bday and they were going to go to a fancy Japanese restaurant and Mimi even wore her kimono- but the restaurant was closed! Mr. Kishi drives around and around to find a place to eat and Claud says she wants pizza so they pull into some seedy joint where teens hang out. Probably  like the Kelly’s of the BSC world. Mimi walks in there with her kimono, tries the pizza, and says ” Best Japanese food I have ever eaten!”  They then talk about Russ and Peaches- Peaches is Claud’s aunt and Mimi’s daughter, and Russ is her hubby, who is not Japanese by the way. One time in a snow storm, apparently Russ went to check on Mimi by driving over in a golf cart. Claud says another time Mimi decided to be an ambulance chaser, and it turns out the ambulance was going to Peaches’ house because she had fallen down the stairs!! Mimi never chased an ambulance after that!  Then Corrie calls and tells Claudia a smelly old lady is baby sitting for her and Sean and Claudia says to avoid the old lady, Corrie can just tell her she’s going to bed. Claudia always did that when she didn’t like her sitters when she was little.  Claudia doesn’t know how she will get through Mimi’s funeral the next day.

Chapter 9: Stacey and Mrs. McGill drive to Stoneybrook. Mr McGill didn’t come because apparently they were fighting tons the night before.  There’s not much to say about the funeral. Everyone from the BSC, even Logan, attended the funeral- but not Shannon as she didn’t know Mimi.But she knows Claudia I’d think Shannon would at least go to support Claud. All of Claud’s relatives come, of course, as the Newtons and the Perkins family also attend.  Watson and Nannie didn’t attend either ( ????), just Sam, Charlie and Kristy’s mother. Claudia explains Watson barely knew Mimi so he is staying home to help Nannie watch the little ones. Well OK I guess.  Mary Anne crys and crys but Stacey didn’t – she says she felt like a stone. Claudia says she felt the same way. Claudia feels guilty about this because even her dad is crying.  Claudia says she feels she has no tears left. I will say I felt that way when my cat died this February- that I had no tears left.  Stacey stays to hang with Claud even after the others leave, and Mimi tells Stacey she put Mimi’s portrait in the attic- she’s not ready to look at it. Then Claudi and Stacey hug and hug.

Chapter 10:  Claudia is actually glad to go back to school so she can feel normal. Well, that doesn’t exactly happen.  Hardly any of the kids even talk to Claudia.  Claudia is upset and feels the kids are treating her like a leper.  Dawn says maybe the kids just don’t know what to say to Claudia.  Mary Anne says maybe the kids think now something like this will happen to them now, and it’s scary.  Logan says ” Claudia’s not catching” which everyone laughs at even though it’s not that funny.  Saturday finally rolls around, and it’s another art class.  Corrie arrives first and asks how Claudia is feeling and Claud says fine and thinks she doesn’t want to talk about Mimi she just wants to work on the puppets.  Claudia observes that Corrie’s Nancy Drew puppet is far and away the best in the class.  At the end of the class Corrie is smiling and she tells Claud she will give the puppet to her mom, because Corrie knows it will please her.

Chapter 11:  Kristy says at the club meeting that Emily is learning English REALLY fast. Gee, that sure changed a few books later!!!  Dawn and Mary Anne talk about Dawn’s ma and Mary Anne’s dad- and Dawn says her mom doesn’t see ” the Trip Man” AS OFTEN, as Mary Anne says her dad ONLY sees Mrs. Schafer! Wow, Dawn’s mom is a slutbag, huh??? Then Mary Anne and Dawn wonder why Mrs. Schafer and Mr. Spier aren’t married yet- shit, girls, calm down it’s been what- two months? Or maybe 18 in BSC land- I dunno.  Jessi talks about wanting to audition for Swan Lake at the Stoneybrook Civic Center,but she is not sure she would get a part. Claudia says that Mimi always said you have to try things no matter what or else you’ll never know what you are capable of. Then Mal starts to tell a Mimi story, but Claud is not feelin’ it and goes ” mmm” not too happily. Then Mal starts to say she is sorry and Claudia tells Mallory to be quiet and that she doesn’t want to talk about Mimi.  Kristy says she doesn’t really want bring this up but she does anyway- Kristy tells Claud to make sure Corrie isn’t just ” filling a hole” in Claud’s life where Mimi used to be.  Kristy tells Claud NOT TO DROP CORRIE, even when Claudia starts to feel better.  Kristy then says she doesn’t think Claud would do that but she just wants Claudia to be careful.  Kristy says everyone thinks little kids don’t ” break” but they do inside and Kristy remembers how she ” broke” when her dad left. 

Chapter 12:  Claudia’s grades drop to a solid D average, and Claud’s parents don’t even say anything.  Claudia is surprised by this. Claudia also feels more tired than usual.  Claudia is finding it hard to concentrate. Claudia is at least glad that kids like Dorrie and Ashley are talking to Claud at school again.  But none of her friends will talk about Mimi, even though Claud wants to now. 

Then comes another art class. Gabbie keeps adding all kinds of glue and sparkles to her puppet.  Corrie is done with her Nancy Drew puppet. After class, Corrie and Claud sit on the stoop and are waiting for a long time- so long that when Mary Anne gets back from dropping off Jamie and the Perkins gals, Corrie and Claudia are still sitting there.  Then Janine says the phone is for Claudia and it’s Mrs. Addison.  Mrs. Addison says she cannot get Corrie for another HOUR as she is running late with her errands!  Claudia barely says fine before Mrs. Addison rushes off the phone.  Claudia tells Corrie the news and says that she can show Corrie her art stuff and they can have some lunch.  Janine says maybe they can even make milkshakes.  Poor Corrie keeps saying things like  ” I wonder where Daddy is ” and ” who’s watching Sean”? And then Corrie gives Nancy Drew to Claudia, saying she doesn’t want to give her puppet to her mom anymore.  Claudia says that while Mimi being gone is awful, at least Claudia had her love.

Chapter 13:  After dinner, Claud sees Janine on Mimi’s bed with her jewelry box open.  Claudia asks what Janine is doing and Janine says it’s about time someone went through Mimi’s things.  Claudia is really upset and tells Janine Mimi’s only been dead a few weeks and she can’t believe Janine is already going through her stuff.  Claudia then starts screaming she doesn’t want Mimi’s dumb old things anyway and she HATES Mimi! Claudia’s parents hear Claudia and run upstairs.  Claudia says she doesn’t hate Mimi but she is upset with Mimi for leaving her and her family. Claud then says maybe Mimi died so she wouldn’t be a nuisance anymore. Janine then says she doesn’t think Mimi WANTED to die but Mimi KNEW her time was over in this world. Janine even found a paper at the bottom of Mimi’s jewelry box where Mimi had written her own obit- and listed the date of death as the year she died. This is soooo sad.  Claudia’s mom says that Mimi just couldn’t hold on any longer and she knew her time had come.  Claud’s dad tells her to try to remember the fun things and times Claud had with Mimi.  The family does agree to go through some of her things and Janine hands Claud a pearl pin. Claudia knows she won’t wear it, but she will always keep it because it reminds her of Mimi.

Chapter 14:  Another Saturday, another art class. The kids are making collages. Collages rule.  The kids decide they want to make a big collage mural for their next project. As Claudia goes to get a big bottle of glue, she sees Mrs. Addison there even though class isn’t over for another 15 minutes. Mrs. Addison explains that she and Mr. A got tickets to an ice skating show- FOR THE KIDS! and a BABYSITTER will meet them at the civic center. Nope, these parents can’t even see one stinkin ice show with their  own kids.  The parents want an afternoon to themselves and Claudia is ready to blow as ALL Mr. and Mrs. Addison HAVE are afternoons to themselves!  So Claudia DOES blow!  Claudia pretty much tells Mrs. A how rotten she is, and I know the BSC meddle a lot but in this case I am seriously all for it.  And it WORKS- Mrs. Addison starts to cry!  Mrs. A then says she and Mr. Addison will go to the show with Corrie and Sean!  And Corrie actually gives her collage to her parents. As Corrie leaves with her parents,  Claudia realizes that Mimi gave her the strength to stand up to the Addisons.

Chapter 15:  Claudia has made a tribute to Mimi- a collage.  It includes pics of tea cups, knitting, a Japanese woman holding a baby, and a bunch of charms.  Claudia even has it framed.  Claudia shows it to the BSC and everyone says it’s so beautiful and touching. It really is.  Dawn says it’s Mimi as everyone wants to remember her.  Claudia then shows it to her parents and Janine, who also love the collage.  Claudia says she wants to hang it in Mimi’s room to remember her, and her parents agree.

Last art class-  the kids and Mary Anne don’t let Claudia come downstairs for quite awhile. And then when they do the kids unveil- a collage mural dedicated to Mimi! And the kids didn’t even know about Claud’s collage for Mimi they thought of this on their own!  Claud decides the collage can also go in Mimi’s room.  Corrie then gives Claud a special present- a sketch of Claudia. After Corrie and the others leave, ( Mrs. Addison is ON TIME!) Claudia finally gets out Mimi’s portrait and hangs it in old spot in Claudia’s room. Claudia looks at Mimi’s smiling face, and Claudia smiles back.

Well, kids, I gotta take a few days off just because that book is so incredibly sad and death is a hard topic. But by Friday, I hope, I will get to recap a book on MORE death- the death of Regina Morrow in SVH #40 ” On the Edge.”  Following that, a break from the ” Very Special” – Sleepover Friends #9 No More Sleepovers, Patti? 

Other books to look forward to- BSC #48 Jessi’s Wish, Sweet Valley Twins #69 Won’t Someone Help Anna?, SVH #74 The Perfect Girl, Sweet Valley Twins #3, The Haunted House, and Sleepover Friends #11 Stephanie’s Family Secret.