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The Truth About Stacey
Excellent Book
Paperback
Published August 12, 2015
11 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
Ann M. Martin
1,114 books3,059 followersAnn 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 16, 2024
Quick cute nostalgic read, as always. Loved Stacey working through her health issues and talking through them with her parents. Also liked seeing how important it is to have a responsible babysitter for children and the babysitters letting the parents know when they saw something wrong with the other babysitters in this one. Great resolution in the end with Stacey and her old friend too.
December 2, 2024
I recently picked up "The Truth About Stacey: Full Color Edition" from The Baby-Sitters Club series, and I must say, it was a delightful trip down memory lane! As a fan of the original books, I was excited to see this updated version with vibrant illustrations that really bring the story to life.
The plot explores themes of friendship, trust, and dealing with personal challenges in a way that resonates well with both younger readers and adults reminiscing about their youth. Stacey's character development is particularly compelling, as she navigates the ups and downs of her life, including her struggles with diabetes and the impact it has on her relationships.
The full-color artwork is a standout feature. It adds a fresh perspective to the beloved characters and makes each page more engaging. I appreciated how the illustrations captured the emotions and nuances of the story, making it an enjoyable experience for both new readers and long-time fans.
However, I felt that some of the narrative pacing was a bit rushed compared to the original. It might leave younger readers wanting a bit more depth in certain scenes. Despite that, the overall message and the fun of the Baby-Sitters Club are still very much present.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this edition for anyone looking to introduce a new generation to the charm of Ann M. Martin's series or for fans who want to relive these heartwarming stories. It’s a fantastic addition to any bookshelf, and I can't wait to see the rest of the series in full color!
The plot explores themes of friendship, trust, and dealing with personal challenges in a way that resonates well with both younger readers and adults reminiscing about their youth. Stacey's character development is particularly compelling, as she navigates the ups and downs of her life, including her struggles with diabetes and the impact it has on her relationships.
The full-color artwork is a standout feature. It adds a fresh perspective to the beloved characters and makes each page more engaging. I appreciated how the illustrations captured the emotions and nuances of the story, making it an enjoyable experience for both new readers and long-time fans.
However, I felt that some of the narrative pacing was a bit rushed compared to the original. It might leave younger readers wanting a bit more depth in certain scenes. Despite that, the overall message and the fun of the Baby-Sitters Club are still very much present.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this edition for anyone looking to introduce a new generation to the charm of Ann M. Martin's series or for fans who want to relive these heartwarming stories. It’s a fantastic addition to any bookshelf, and I can't wait to see the rest of the series in full color!
August 3, 2025
-4.65
The Baby-Sitters Club series was a window into many different worlds while I was growing up. After all, it was through these books that the words “brittle diabetic” entered into my vocabulary and how I first learnt about diabetes. Stacey McGill’s life-altering condition was ever present and sensitively handled in the books; her best friend Claudia Kishi always ensured there were pretzels for her to snack on while the rest ate sugary American junk food at their club meetings.
The Truth About Stacey is one of a number of books from the original series that’s been chosen for comic book adaptation. As the title suggests, the story focuses on the character of Stacey and we soon discover what her ‘truth’ is. As her estranged friend Laine shouts in the darkness of the movie theatre in one scene in the book, “You never even told me the truth about your… your sickness.” Their ensuing conversation clarifies misconceptions about diabetes (“thought you were contagious”) and solves the mysteries that shrouded the early days of her condition, which caused a rift between them.
Raina Telgemeier artfully brings to life Ann M. Martin’s writing in a warm and approachable graphic style. Its strength is the ways in which it realises the perspectives of every young person, and it’s a dynamic depiction full of emotion and humour. The comic book features numerous plot lines in addition to the main one and each subplot is thematically connected. How can children assert themselves against those who are older and more powerful? The Baby-Sitters Club have difficulties with older girls trying to steal their business; meanwhile Stacey has to deal with overprotective parents who never allow her to have input into her care.
At the start of Stacey’s story, her dinner plate is zoomed into with each item labelled with calories, carbohydrates and exchange—the latter being what anyone with diabetes has to start thinking in terms of. On the following page with the family seated at the dinner table, Stacey’s mother expresses concern about how little her daughter is eating and asks, “Are your blood sugars running high?” Stacey responds with a frown, “I was 105 before dinner, ok? Do you think I want to make myself get sick?” Unconvinced, her mother proceeds with, “I’ll call the doctor on Monday… just in case.”
From the expressions on both mother’s and daughter’s faces in these panels, it’s clear that this is a familiar dance and an uncomfortable one at that. The mother is used to making healthcare decisions regardless of how her 13-year-old daughter feels—Stacey rolls her eyes, raises her arms in the air, grits her teeth… all to no avail. “Young lady, I don’t appreciate the tone of your voice,” says her father. A new doctor is then mentioned, one who performs “miracles with diabetes” and despite Stacey’s noisy and sustained protest, her desperate parents have booked her into seeing him. “Your father and I want the best for you,” says her mother. The scene ends with Stacey slumped on the couch and arms folded across her chest. Her struggle—and failure—to be heard highlights the lack of consent as to what’s taking place. (Though given her minor status, perhaps ‘assent’ is more appropriate.)
However, in the world of these young women, not all adults are difficult to communicate with; just the adults closest to them. In direct contrast to her interactions with her parents, Stacey babysits a girl whose mother is a doctor, someone she can confide in about her parents and their quest for a miracle cure. Wide-eyed and anxious, Stacey begs, “Dr Johanssen, you have to help me!” The conversation raises a professional dilemma for Dr Johanssen as to the right course of action and how she might intervene, if indeed it is appropriate given she is unacquainted with Stacey’s parents and is not their family doctor. For Stacey, however, this conversation is the start of her understanding that in order to assert herself and have control over her care, she needs to be more proactive – perhaps these are her first real steps into (young) adulthood.
In one of the last scenes of the book, Stacey acknowledges the role her parents have played in trying to secure the best care for her before handing them a referral letter from Dr Johanssen. It’s an action which catches them off guard. “I wish you’d discussed this with us before you made an appointment,” says her father. To which Stacey replies: “You make appointments for me without asking me first.” It ends up being an empowering experience for the whole family with a doctor that “even made my parents feel comfortable”. For the first time the parent-child roles are temporarily reversed. Dr Graham becomes another trusted adult who finally persuades her parents to change their behaviour. “What Stacey needs is some stability,” he says and her mother finally concedes, “Maybe… it’s time Stacey had more to say about her treatments”. The scene ends with Stacey beaming and shaking hands with Dr Graham.
The Baby-Sitters Club was a mainstay of my own childhood and introduced many important concepts into my inchoate understanding of the world, which I was powerfully reminded of as I read this familiar story in comic form. I can only imagine how much more affirming it would be for a young woman struggling with diabetes. Through its graphic depiction of young adulthood with a chronic condition like diabetes, a useful resource with great emotional resonance has been created. Reading this comic book is an exercise in empathy for adults, and especially for parents
The Baby-Sitters Club series was a window into many different worlds while I was growing up. After all, it was through these books that the words “brittle diabetic” entered into my vocabulary and how I first learnt about diabetes. Stacey McGill’s life-altering condition was ever present and sensitively handled in the books; her best friend Claudia Kishi always ensured there were pretzels for her to snack on while the rest ate sugary American junk food at their club meetings.
The Truth About Stacey is one of a number of books from the original series that’s been chosen for comic book adaptation. As the title suggests, the story focuses on the character of Stacey and we soon discover what her ‘truth’ is. As her estranged friend Laine shouts in the darkness of the movie theatre in one scene in the book, “You never even told me the truth about your… your sickness.” Their ensuing conversation clarifies misconceptions about diabetes (“thought you were contagious”) and solves the mysteries that shrouded the early days of her condition, which caused a rift between them.
Raina Telgemeier artfully brings to life Ann M. Martin’s writing in a warm and approachable graphic style. Its strength is the ways in which it realises the perspectives of every young person, and it’s a dynamic depiction full of emotion and humour. The comic book features numerous plot lines in addition to the main one and each subplot is thematically connected. How can children assert themselves against those who are older and more powerful? The Baby-Sitters Club have difficulties with older girls trying to steal their business; meanwhile Stacey has to deal with overprotective parents who never allow her to have input into her care.
At the start of Stacey’s story, her dinner plate is zoomed into with each item labelled with calories, carbohydrates and exchange—the latter being what anyone with diabetes has to start thinking in terms of. On the following page with the family seated at the dinner table, Stacey’s mother expresses concern about how little her daughter is eating and asks, “Are your blood sugars running high?” Stacey responds with a frown, “I was 105 before dinner, ok? Do you think I want to make myself get sick?” Unconvinced, her mother proceeds with, “I’ll call the doctor on Monday… just in case.”
From the expressions on both mother’s and daughter’s faces in these panels, it’s clear that this is a familiar dance and an uncomfortable one at that. The mother is used to making healthcare decisions regardless of how her 13-year-old daughter feels—Stacey rolls her eyes, raises her arms in the air, grits her teeth… all to no avail. “Young lady, I don’t appreciate the tone of your voice,” says her father. A new doctor is then mentioned, one who performs “miracles with diabetes” and despite Stacey’s noisy and sustained protest, her desperate parents have booked her into seeing him. “Your father and I want the best for you,” says her mother. The scene ends with Stacey slumped on the couch and arms folded across her chest. Her struggle—and failure—to be heard highlights the lack of consent as to what’s taking place. (Though given her minor status, perhaps ‘assent’ is more appropriate.)
However, in the world of these young women, not all adults are difficult to communicate with; just the adults closest to them. In direct contrast to her interactions with her parents, Stacey babysits a girl whose mother is a doctor, someone she can confide in about her parents and their quest for a miracle cure. Wide-eyed and anxious, Stacey begs, “Dr Johanssen, you have to help me!” The conversation raises a professional dilemma for Dr Johanssen as to the right course of action and how she might intervene, if indeed it is appropriate given she is unacquainted with Stacey’s parents and is not their family doctor. For Stacey, however, this conversation is the start of her understanding that in order to assert herself and have control over her care, she needs to be more proactive – perhaps these are her first real steps into (young) adulthood.
In one of the last scenes of the book, Stacey acknowledges the role her parents have played in trying to secure the best care for her before handing them a referral letter from Dr Johanssen. It’s an action which catches them off guard. “I wish you’d discussed this with us before you made an appointment,” says her father. To which Stacey replies: “You make appointments for me without asking me first.” It ends up being an empowering experience for the whole family with a doctor that “even made my parents feel comfortable”. For the first time the parent-child roles are temporarily reversed. Dr Graham becomes another trusted adult who finally persuades her parents to change their behaviour. “What Stacey needs is some stability,” he says and her mother finally concedes, “Maybe… it’s time Stacey had more to say about her treatments”. The scene ends with Stacey beaming and shaking hands with Dr Graham.
The Baby-Sitters Club was a mainstay of my own childhood and introduced many important concepts into my inchoate understanding of the world, which I was powerfully reminded of as I read this familiar story in comic form. I can only imagine how much more affirming it would be for a young woman struggling with diabetes. Through its graphic depiction of young adulthood with a chronic condition like diabetes, a useful resource with great emotional resonance has been created. Reading this comic book is an exercise in empathy for adults, and especially for parents
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2025
This is another fantastic adventure packed book by the famous author, Raina Telgemeier!!!
The story starts when Stacey moves into a new neighborhood, there she faces lots of problems, especially with her diabetes and babysitting. Poor Stacey. She is suffering with problems left and right and doesn't know how to fix them. Fortunately, she has three new friends- Kristy, Claudia and Marry Anne. Together they form the Baby Sitters Club-and they will deal with whatever's thrown in their way ... Even if it's a rival Baby-sitting club, like the baby-sitters agency.
I love this book series since it has amazing pictures, wonderful stories and you will just dive into the book since you're so captured in the book. I rate this book with five stars!! The Best Book Ever!!!!
The story starts when Stacey moves into a new neighborhood, there she faces lots of problems, especially with her diabetes and babysitting. Poor Stacey. She is suffering with problems left and right and doesn't know how to fix them. Fortunately, she has three new friends- Kristy, Claudia and Marry Anne. Together they form the Baby Sitters Club-and they will deal with whatever's thrown in their way ... Even if it's a rival Baby-sitting club, like the baby-sitters agency.
I love this book series since it has amazing pictures, wonderful stories and you will just dive into the book since you're so captured in the book. I rate this book with five stars!! The Best Book Ever!!!!
January 30, 2024
this is a book about a baby sitters club and how they have a riot with the baby sitters agency who are older and "more mature" than the baby sitters club. It is also about Stacey and how her diabetes effects her.
January 21, 2025
I read this book with my daughter, Millie. Good conflict resolution and I'm pretty impressed with the way Stacey handles her childhood diabetes. Also the way her and her bestie make up at the end was a sweet ending! 3.5 stars
July 20, 2024
Helt okej
October 1, 2024
I love the baby sitters club books and I want to find more books in the library of the baby sitters club.
Read
November 29, 2024I had to see what my nieces were reading. Cute story.
June 30, 2025
i hate this app
October 31, 2025
I love how Stacey handled her childhood diabetes and how she and her friend Laine made up at the end missing the movie in the cinema. But of course it was worth it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2025
I really enjoy the series of books but this one wasn’t what I thought it would be like
Read
December 13, 2025loved and nostalgic
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews