Karen's Carnival

Baby-Sitters Little Sister #20

by Ann M. Martin

One day Karen, Hannie, and Nancy are board, bored, bored. They can't go roller-skating, and the playground is too far away. So Karen decides to have a carnival, with all kinds of games and prizes! What will the girls do with the money they make from their carnival? Hannie wants roller skates-but Karen can think of something even better.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Juvenile, Chapter Books, Young Readers

99 pages

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Ann Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.

Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.

Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.

Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.

After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...

Reviews

[Luna · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this episode of Baby-Sitters Little Sister, Karen follows in Kristy's footsteps by creating a carnival. Her minions, Hannie and Nancy, go along with it. But Hannie grows a backbone for a day and realises that Karen is actually somewhat of a bully and fights back. But eventually she succumbs and apologises... while Karen doesn't.

The hell, Karen?

I always feel sorry for Mrs Porter, AKA, Morbidda Destiny. She's probably just a lonely old woman, who is perhaps a touch senile. She just wanted to help out at your carnival, Karen. She wasn't going to curse you! Though I really wouldn't blame her. I'd turn to witchcraft, too, if the child next door kept taunting me.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karen is awful in this book (especially to Andrew and Natalie) but this was still a cute one.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quintessential Karen Brewer. She gets into a scrap with her best friend, she names a carnival after herself that the three musketeers created together, she gets a visit from the "witch" next door, she spends more than she makes and much more. By book 40 she is considerate enough to title their created newspaper 3M instead of Karen again. All three girls were raising money for a new playground and contributed $32.40.
I felt slightly bad for the neighbor and Karen's general rudeness at times but it was also comical because I just expect it from Karen.

[Sayo -bibliotequeish-]

Karen dabbles in witchcraft


When you were too old for childrens books, but too young for The Baby Sitters Club.
Ann M. Martin really is a genius to piggy back on the success of The Baby Sitters Club.

After reading the little sisters series I remember feeling like a real adult opening up that first BSC book.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story, though boo on Karen for calling Hannie "Hatie Hannie" just coz she wanted to stick to the original plan of using the money raised from the carnival for roller skates instead of donating it to the playground fund. And like, why not split the money three ways and each Musketeer decides what to use it on?

And I get that Karen has this whole fantasy about her neighbour Mrs Porter actually being a witch named Morbidda Destiny. So I get why she'd be freaked out that Mrs Porter comes to her booth for a fortune telling. But like, as an adult reading it, I just feel really bad for Mrs Porter. Karen was borderline rude to her, and happily saying "the coast is clear" immediately after Mrs Porter leaves (AFTER she bought like multiple items at the carnival and supported your precious little project) is just bratty. And yes, this is my adult brain talking.

Also, LOL that they spent like $50+ on materials and made only like $30+ in revenue. Should've asked Stacey McGill to help you plan! Also, Mrs Porter who Karen was so rude to spent like $2, so probably a good chunk of the overall take, and more than a lot of the kids who went.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karen and her friends want to raise money to build a new playground near the big house. Her stepmom gives them $30 to buy prizes for the carnival they want to hold to raise money, but they don’t make that amount back and actually made less, though they still donated the money. I guess it’s a good lesson that no amount is too small to give. I also liked how Karen went to the book nook store and met an author.

[Laura Pickles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen’s carnival is about Karen, Nancy and Hanney wanting to have roller skates,”but they didn’t have enough money to get them so Karen Nancy and Hanney had a carnival and then they used that money that they had to work for the playground.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love any time Morbidda Destiny makes an appearance.

[V. Arrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, although I feel like the Karen and Hannie fight either shouldn't have been included or should have taken longer to resolve.

[A_Chirping_Aquarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thrilling n heart warming book

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun interesting read! I loved Karen’s carnival idea and the lessons she learned about putting on fundraisers! Very cute quick read

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen and her friends help build a playground for the community. They all are raising money to build the playground, parents and kids. I think it is nice that they are doing this. I think it is cool how the playground is by her Dads hoose so she and her friends can ride there to play.

[Baby Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

team work is the best and everything will turn out ok.

[Cws]

JEAR2LS-Mar

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

In which Karen pretends to be a fortune teller at a carnival (another book based around events in the BSC series), and lots of people get mad because of the crap she tells them.

[Jackie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

What young girl did not love the Baby-Sitters Club and Karen, the Baby-Sitters Little Sister?

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thisbbook is realy easy to read it is so fun. Karen and her friends do a carnivsl to raise money for a play ground. An unspected ending which realy makes children think.

[Mellanie C]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14688194