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The Baby-Sitters Club #127
Abby's Un-Valentine
Valentine's Day is Abby's least favorite holiday. Mushy stuff like valentines, red hearts, and a school dance turn her into a Valentine's Scrooge. When Ross Brown, a perfectly nice guy in Abby's English class, invites her to the dance, Abby tries to set him up with her twin sister, Anna.
160 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1999
60 people are currently reading
531 people want to read
About the author
Ann M. Martin
1,123 books3,086 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 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 13, 2021
this is my first time reading this book.
note: this is my first 5-star review for a bsc book read since Claudia and the First Thanksgiving which I read over a year ago.
in this book by ghostwriter Nola Thacker, abby is crusading against romance. everyone at sms and in the bsc seems obsessed with romance, including abby’s classmate ross brown (who we know from being referenced as stacey’s crush in Stacey’s Emergency). ross seems to have seen one too many movies and thinks that when girls show that they’re not interested in you it just means you have to act more rapey until they like you. but what’s worse is that all of abby’s friends think ross is such a nice guy and that abby is lucky such a nice guy likes her, so they keep trying to convince her to date him. he shows up at her house with roses (which, by the way, abby is allergic to) and compliments the music playing (which, by the way, is anna’s music). abby finds out that stacey has been helping ross woo her, and she is understandably PISSED. claud, stacey, mary anne, and jessi are all extremely condescending to abby, so finally abby fights back by implying that they only have boyfriends because they’re desperate. BOOM. abby tries to get ross to date anna instead but through a series of slightly unbelievable circumstances (“here anna, wear my shirt! oh no, my contacts tore, better put on my glasses!”) ross thinks abby is anna and vice versa. he gets along well with anna, though he thinks she’s abby, and he’s humiliated when he finds out he had the wrong twin. finally abby apologizes to ross and suggests he date anna, so he does. and the bsc make up and apologize to abby for being super acephobic. the subplot is that scout (from Kristy Thomas, Dog Trainer) has to go back to the guide dog foundation and andrew is upset because he’s come to think of her as his dog. he’s a huge brat about it, but it’s also a sad plotline.
highlights:
-in 2018, there aren’t enough stories about ace/aro teens. but in 1998, there were even fewer. though they never call it what it is, it’s incredibly powerful reading a book about a teen who just plain DOESN’T want to date, and everyone trying to convince her she’s wrong, and finally by the end they get it and leave her alone.
-valentine’s anecdote from abby's youth: she and anna bought their parents a box of valentine candy but it was abby's favorite candy so she ate the whole box before she could give it to them.
-erica blumberg won abby's best excuse for not doing homework award for telling the teacher her mom had composted it
-abby composes a sonnet in her head, "to valentine's day: how do I detest thee? let me count the ways." it’s basically the scene from 10 things I hate about you
-inspired by the scene in my so-called life (YES!) abby reads sonnet #130 to the class as a romance buzzkill
-there’s a fun babysitting chapter where they make wood davers and watch birds and talk about how it's bird tv. it's because andrew is being too much like strong sad:
-the bsc members keep pressuring abby to go to the dance with ross, and abby says she doesn't want to, so jessi says that maybe someone she likes will ask her. abby says that no matter who asks her she'll say no. I love abby so damn much.
-abby puts it so well: "I didn't ask ross to like me. so why does everyone act as if I did something wrong when I told him no?"
-kristy is the only one who doesn't pressure abby and who totally gets it. she didn't want to date bart but felt like she was supposed to (see Kristy + Bart = ?)
-kristy pretends to be a blind person who needs scout and talks about how she's going to give scout a good home because she's such a good dog, and says andrew has to let her go, and he does, and I actually cried at this part. poor andrew. he’s so little, and it’s kind of cruel that his parents put him in this situation and expected him to be okay with saying goodbye to scout.
-abby: "what part of 'no' does ross not understand?" jessi: "it's nice that someone likes you." abby: "no, it's not. not if you don't like him back." BOOM.
-abby and kristy go on valentines day to see a movie called pepperoni man (YES!). abby wins a box of valentines chocolates. the movie theater manager says "I hope you have someone special to share it with." abby says she does, and brings it back to kristy. maybe abby isn't aro actually and she and kristy can be ace together forever?
lowlights/nitpicks:
-abby says something about how claud's parents should be okay with her eating junk food, "as long as claud eats her vegetables and doesn't pork out." eeechhhh abby, we're in a fight now
-abby says that they moved to stoneybrook because their mom couldn't take the long commute on the LIRR. but depending on where they lived in long island, it might be closer than stoneybrook.
-how did ross get abby and anna confused when they have different length hair?
-maybe the ending is a little too neat. there’s a twin who does like ross. I personally wouldn’t want to date the guy who kept harassing my twin sister to date him. but it’s okay because I just want abby to be happy, and in the end she is.
claudia outfit:
-"Today she was dressed in ski-lodge mode. That meant a woolly sweater, long black tights with thick blue socks, and hiking boots. But these weren't just any hiking boots--they were tied with shiny silver shoelaces with little snowflakes on the ends. They'd also been decorated--by Claudia--with a motif of snow-capped mountains running along the outside of each boot. Claudia's sweater was blue, white, and gray with a snowflake-patterned yoke. It was enormous, stretching almost to her knees. Her hair was pulled back in a long braid. From one ear dangled a silver earring in the shape of a pair of crossed skis, and from the other hung a small silver polar bear."
stacey outfit:
-"Today she was wearing a short, dark brown leather skirt over pale stockings. She had on these cool boots that came to just above her knees. Her sweater was the color of butter, and it looked unbelievably soft. There were three pearl buttons at the collar. Stacey had left two of them unbuttoned. Her blonde hair was pulled into a French braid, and she was wearing what looked like real pearl earrings."
snacks in claudia’s room:
-salt-and-vinegar chips (n.s.)
-pretzels (n.s.)
-hershey's kisses (n.s.)
-bite-size snickers (n.s.)
note: this is my first 5-star review for a bsc book read since Claudia and the First Thanksgiving which I read over a year ago.
in this book by ghostwriter Nola Thacker, abby is crusading against romance. everyone at sms and in the bsc seems obsessed with romance, including abby’s classmate ross brown (who we know from being referenced as stacey’s crush in Stacey’s Emergency). ross seems to have seen one too many movies and thinks that when girls show that they’re not interested in you it just means you have to act more rapey until they like you. but what’s worse is that all of abby’s friends think ross is such a nice guy and that abby is lucky such a nice guy likes her, so they keep trying to convince her to date him. he shows up at her house with roses (which, by the way, abby is allergic to) and compliments the music playing (which, by the way, is anna’s music). abby finds out that stacey has been helping ross woo her, and she is understandably PISSED. claud, stacey, mary anne, and jessi are all extremely condescending to abby, so finally abby fights back by implying that they only have boyfriends because they’re desperate. BOOM. abby tries to get ross to date anna instead but through a series of slightly unbelievable circumstances (“here anna, wear my shirt! oh no, my contacts tore, better put on my glasses!”) ross thinks abby is anna and vice versa. he gets along well with anna, though he thinks she’s abby, and he’s humiliated when he finds out he had the wrong twin. finally abby apologizes to ross and suggests he date anna, so he does. and the bsc make up and apologize to abby for being super acephobic. the subplot is that scout (from Kristy Thomas, Dog Trainer) has to go back to the guide dog foundation and andrew is upset because he’s come to think of her as his dog. he’s a huge brat about it, but it’s also a sad plotline.
highlights:
-in 2018, there aren’t enough stories about ace/aro teens. but in 1998, there were even fewer. though they never call it what it is, it’s incredibly powerful reading a book about a teen who just plain DOESN’T want to date, and everyone trying to convince her she’s wrong, and finally by the end they get it and leave her alone.
-valentine’s anecdote from abby's youth: she and anna bought their parents a box of valentine candy but it was abby's favorite candy so she ate the whole box before she could give it to them.
-erica blumberg won abby's best excuse for not doing homework award for telling the teacher her mom had composted it
-abby composes a sonnet in her head, "to valentine's day: how do I detest thee? let me count the ways." it’s basically the scene from 10 things I hate about you
-inspired by the scene in my so-called life (YES!) abby reads sonnet #130 to the class as a romance buzzkill
-there’s a fun babysitting chapter where they make wood davers and watch birds and talk about how it's bird tv. it's because andrew is being too much like strong sad:
-the bsc members keep pressuring abby to go to the dance with ross, and abby says she doesn't want to, so jessi says that maybe someone she likes will ask her. abby says that no matter who asks her she'll say no. I love abby so damn much.
-abby puts it so well: "I didn't ask ross to like me. so why does everyone act as if I did something wrong when I told him no?"
-kristy is the only one who doesn't pressure abby and who totally gets it. she didn't want to date bart but felt like she was supposed to (see Kristy + Bart = ?)
-kristy pretends to be a blind person who needs scout and talks about how she's going to give scout a good home because she's such a good dog, and says andrew has to let her go, and he does, and I actually cried at this part. poor andrew. he’s so little, and it’s kind of cruel that his parents put him in this situation and expected him to be okay with saying goodbye to scout.
-abby: "what part of 'no' does ross not understand?" jessi: "it's nice that someone likes you." abby: "no, it's not. not if you don't like him back." BOOM.
-abby and kristy go on valentines day to see a movie called pepperoni man (YES!). abby wins a box of valentines chocolates. the movie theater manager says "I hope you have someone special to share it with." abby says she does, and brings it back to kristy. maybe abby isn't aro actually and she and kristy can be ace together forever?
lowlights/nitpicks:
-abby says something about how claud's parents should be okay with her eating junk food, "as long as claud eats her vegetables and doesn't pork out." eeechhhh abby, we're in a fight now
-abby says that they moved to stoneybrook because their mom couldn't take the long commute on the LIRR. but depending on where they lived in long island, it might be closer than stoneybrook.
-how did ross get abby and anna confused when they have different length hair?
-maybe the ending is a little too neat. there’s a twin who does like ross. I personally wouldn’t want to date the guy who kept harassing my twin sister to date him. but it’s okay because I just want abby to be happy, and in the end she is.
claudia outfit:
-"Today she was dressed in ski-lodge mode. That meant a woolly sweater, long black tights with thick blue socks, and hiking boots. But these weren't just any hiking boots--they were tied with shiny silver shoelaces with little snowflakes on the ends. They'd also been decorated--by Claudia--with a motif of snow-capped mountains running along the outside of each boot. Claudia's sweater was blue, white, and gray with a snowflake-patterned yoke. It was enormous, stretching almost to her knees. Her hair was pulled back in a long braid. From one ear dangled a silver earring in the shape of a pair of crossed skis, and from the other hung a small silver polar bear."
stacey outfit:
-"Today she was wearing a short, dark brown leather skirt over pale stockings. She had on these cool boots that came to just above her knees. Her sweater was the color of butter, and it looked unbelievably soft. There were three pearl buttons at the collar. Stacey had left two of them unbuttoned. Her blonde hair was pulled into a French braid, and she was wearing what looked like real pearl earrings."
snacks in claudia’s room:
-salt-and-vinegar chips (n.s.)
-pretzels (n.s.)
-hershey's kisses (n.s.)
-bite-size snickers (n.s.)
November 29, 2017
Before this book, it had never stood out to me that Abby didn't have a love interest. Her turning down Ross's dance invitation reminds me a lot of how I turned down straight guys before I realized that I was trans—I liked boys but something about the idea of me pursuing a relationship with a straight guy seemed wrong to me, and I only wanted to pursue relationships with guys who weren't straight. Abby's reasons for rejecting Ross could be interpreted as Abby being gay but not yet realizing it. The other club members other than Kristy all think she should go to the dance with Ross and that Abby's making a big deal out of nothing. Abby has a conversation with Kristy where Kristy reveals that she dated Bart because it was socially expected of her and she went along with it, and not because she wanted to date him. It's very easy to read Kristy and Abby as gay in this book, and that's why I enjoyed it so much.
February 5, 2022
This was an interesting read.
As an older BSC fan, I had stopped reading by the introduction of Abby (and her twin Anna) to the series. I have no nostalgia or attachment to her as a character. And jumping into an end-of-the-series book about a character I know nothing about probably wasn't the smartest. Yes, this is my first Abby book.
This really didn't feel like a Baby-Sitters Club book to me. I'm not sure if the ghostwriter just didn't hit the usual notes that I've come to expect, or if my lack of attachment to the later books just made it more difficult to read.
What I did like about this book was the way Abby really didn't like Valentine's Day and made it perfectly clear that she wasn't going to bend. A boy in their class is persistent in inviting her to the SMS V-Day dance, but she's clear that she's not interested. Eventually, she hooks the boy up with her twin sister (a little weird,) and ends up going to see a horror movie with Kristy (ahem?) on Valentine's Day. I really liked that. And it was odd how the other club members were pushing her to date, even though she told them that's not what she wanted.
There's also a side plot with the Thomas-Brewer's having to give back a dog they've been training to be a guide animal and *that* part of the book was handled so well. Poor Andrew. But also, what is this family doing? They have a bazillion people living together, plus pets, plus a rather young new adopted child and now they're training a guide dog? My god.
As an older BSC fan, I had stopped reading by the introduction of Abby (and her twin Anna) to the series. I have no nostalgia or attachment to her as a character. And jumping into an end-of-the-series book about a character I know nothing about probably wasn't the smartest. Yes, this is my first Abby book.
This really didn't feel like a Baby-Sitters Club book to me. I'm not sure if the ghostwriter just didn't hit the usual notes that I've come to expect, or if my lack of attachment to the later books just made it more difficult to read.
What I did like about this book was the way Abby really didn't like Valentine's Day and made it perfectly clear that she wasn't going to bend. A boy in their class is persistent in inviting her to the SMS V-Day dance, but she's clear that she's not interested. Eventually, she hooks the boy up with her twin sister (a little weird,) and ends up going to see a horror movie with Kristy (ahem?) on Valentine's Day. I really liked that. And it was odd how the other club members were pushing her to date, even though she told them that's not what she wanted.
There's also a side plot with the Thomas-Brewer's having to give back a dog they've been training to be a guide animal and *that* part of the book was handled so well. Poor Andrew. But also, what is this family doing? They have a bazillion people living together, plus pets, plus a rather young new adopted child and now they're training a guide dog? My god.
February 9, 2021
This one wasn’t my favorite. The subplot was too sad and Abby is usually funnier than she was in this one. Also, as someone who is friends with identical twins, it is possible to tell them apart, so it seemed far fetched that Ross would mix up Abby and Anna, especially since their hair looks different. On the plus side, I love Charlie (Kristy’s brother). It seems like he always has good advice, or a funny comment.
November 17, 2020
I don't know why I disliked Abby so much when I was a kid. Rereading the books now as an adult, I'm realizing how cool she is. This book added to the coolness level. I'm looking forward to reading more Abby-centric books in the future.
February 27, 2025
Abby is the greatest. I know people don't like her mostly cause most of us who read the BSC in the 80's and 90's when it originally came out had outgrown the series usually around the 60's long before she and Anna came on the scene. I first read about her in the Super Mysteries and thought she seems fun. Now as I read her regular books I like her. She's Kristy only more self aware. It's Valentine's Day again. Everyone is all hearts, flowers, pinks and reds except Abby. I too hate Valentine's Day, the only good thing are all the good chocolates and candy that are tougher to buy any other time if year except Christmas. A boy in her class named Ross has taken a shine to her. Bringing her flowers that make her sneeze, writing her poems and then he asks her to the dance. She says no. He persists, all the BSC minus Kristy persist causing Abby to snap at them and make them all mad at her. She then realizes that Ross is perfect for Anna and an accidental twin swap happens. But of course all works out in the end. The b plot was both sad and annoying. For once Karen wasn't the spoiled brat, she was actually decent. It was Andrew who was the brat. The guide dog the family was training, Scout is ready to go to school and Andrew is a whiny little brat. I question all four of their parents if both kids are this spoiled and bratty. The only good side of this was that they didn't end up getting Andrew his own dog which is how they usually end these stories. But it was sad when Scout left. Not as bad as when Louie died but still a touching moment, but the Andrew thing was jarring like the time Jamie Newton was being a raging brat about learning to ride his bike. But I love Abby so much. Unlike most I don't believe she's gay. I think she's just independent and confident plus she's frigging 13, I didn't really get interested in dating until I was closer to 14 or 15. She might when she's older or she might not. But she'll always be my new favourite.
June 7, 2011
This is the book that the "Abby is totally gay" contingent in fandom points to and says, "Look. PROOF." Since Abby was mostly after my time in the BSC, apart from the occasional book picked up out of curiosity, I'd never read it before and I was curious. Thanks to a friend who shall remain awesome, I finally got to read the book after all this time.
And... I... don't really get the Abby is gay vibe. Instead it seems that Abby isn't interested in anyone. At all. Male or female, thank you very much, and that she's perfectly fine with this, but she's not fine with how no one else seems to be fine with her decision to not date. Things are complicated by the fact that the guy who has a crush on her, Ross, is much more suited to her twin sister, Anna. Inadvertent twin switches ensue.
The B-story involves Andrew Brewer's guide puppy having grown up enough to be sent off to guide dog school. Since his sister, Karen, has a new kitten, and his step-brother David Michael has permanent puppy Shannon, Andrew is clinging desperately to having his own dog. He's not willing to give up Scout easily, even going so far as to try and sabotage her training. I admit it. I cried when Scout left, but so did Kristy. So there.
And... I... don't really get the Abby is gay vibe. Instead it seems that Abby isn't interested in anyone. At all. Male or female, thank you very much, and that she's perfectly fine with this, but she's not fine with how no one else seems to be fine with her decision to not date. Things are complicated by the fact that the guy who has a crush on her, Ross, is much more suited to her twin sister, Anna. Inadvertent twin switches ensue.
The B-story involves Andrew Brewer's guide puppy having grown up enough to be sent off to guide dog school. Since his sister, Karen, has a new kitten, and his step-brother David Michael has permanent puppy Shannon, Andrew is clinging desperately to having his own dog. He's not willing to give up Scout easily, even going so far as to try and sabotage her training. I admit it. I cried when Scout left, but so did Kristy. So there.
July 19, 2011
it's february YET AGAIN in stoneybrook, & abby is complaining about how much she hates valentine's day. she's allergic to flowers, she doesn't want a boyfriend, & she sick of all the emphasis on goopy love stuff. she says something about how february is awesome because it's the one month of the year where there aren't a lot of allergens. i could have sworn there is another february abby book in which she declares february to be the worst month of the year because the weather is rotten & you can't go jogging & play soccer. but leaving aside these inconsistencies...
at school, a boy named ross brown starts paying abby a lot of attention. he's in abby's english class, which is doing a section on shakespearean sonnets. when abby complains about the readings & criticizes them for being too romantic & cheesy, ross gets her back...but in weird ways that abby doesn't agree with. he asks to walk her to her classes & compliments her jokes & her contributions to class discussion. abby doesn't pick up on the cues until ross asks her to the upcoming valentine's day dance. abby is kind of dumbfounded & says no without thinking about ross's feelings.
when she gets home from school that day, anna corners her & tells her that ross is going to ask her to the dance. abby explains that he already did & she said no. anna is stunned. she thinks ross is nice & funny & would be a great guy with whom to go to the dance. abby shrugs & says that she's not interested in going to the dance or having a boyfriend.
but ross doesn't give up. she shows up at abby's house with a bouquet of roses. they make abby sneeze & she is annoyed, but anna thinks they're beautiful & puts them in a vase. abby tells anna she can have them.
abby tells the other babysitters what's going on. kristy supports abby in knowing what she wants--or doesn't want, as the case may be, but the other babysitters think abby should have accepted the invitation to the dance. they're worried that abby hurt ross's feelings by saying no. abby concedes that maybe she did, but says she's not going to do something she doesn't want to do just to spare someone's feelings. go, abby! if these girls carry on with their "say yes to avoid hurt feelings" routine, they are going to be getting pregnant when they're 14 years old. the babysitters insist that ross is a nice guy & would be a good date. abby says that ross is nice, but she doesn't care--she doesn't want a date. somehow this turns into a weird fight in which the other babysitters think abby is accusing them of dating people just for the sake of having dates. it's pretty clear to me that she's not, but if that's what the other babysitters want to believe, maybe they need to look at their own guilty consciences.
ross leaves a carnation outside abby's locker. he is really starting to creep me out. why can't he take no for an answer? abby thinks the flower sitting at the bottom of her locker looks like a tombstone. then she thinks it's fitting because she is feeling grave. then she laughs at her own joke. this is why i actually like abby. what a goofball. he also leaves her a book of "new yorker" cartoons, which seem a little sophisticated for a 13-year-old. abby likes them, but not enough to go to the dance with ross.
then abby has a brainstorm: ross likes classical music. anna likes classical music. abby realizes that anna has a little crush on ross. all she has to do is get ross to see that anna is the right girl for him, not abby. she concocts a plan to invite ross over while anna is home, & then have kristy place an emergency call to anna. abby will leave to talk to kristy, giving ross & anna some time to talk to each other, causing ross to realize that anna is the one he really likes. she gets anna & kristy on board with this plan.
unfortunately, right before ross shows up, abby lets anna borrow her lucky shirt. she puts on anna's sweater instead. then abby tears a contact & has to put on her glasses. so when ross shows up, he thinks abby is anna & vice versa. abby tries to correct him, but anna rolls with it. so abby lets it happen. but then their mom comes home & she can tell the girls apart even when they are twin switching. sure enough, mrs. stevenson blows the girls' cover & ross is pissed because he thinks they deliberately tricked him...even though his conversation with anna had been going well. he storms out, & anna is pissed at abby because she really liked ross & now she thinks he hates her.
abby spends a few days in turmoil before deciding that ross may not listen to individual apologies from anna & abby, but if they ambush him at home & in tandem, maybe they'll get somewhere. that's what they do, & ross concedes that he should have listened to abby the first time she said no, & that he was less angry than embarrassed about mixing the girls up. he expresses interest in anna & invites her to go see a chamber music concert or something. she gladly accepts. the date goes well & ross invites anna to the valentine's day dance. she accepts again. everyone is happy.
while anna & the other babysitters are at the dance, abby & kristy take in a romantic viewing of a new horror movie called pepperoni man. abby wins a big box of chocolates that she decides to share with the babysitters at the next club meeting. all's well that ends well, i guess.
the babysitting B-plot focuses on the thomas-brewers & their guide dog-in-training, scout. in kristy thomas, dog trainer, it was established that guide dogs-in-training live with their puppy walker families for 18 months. apparently those 18 months have passed magically, with no one except for scout getting any older. scout is now ready to enroll in their guide dog school on long island. but andrew had decided that scout is his dog & he doesn't want to give her up. he even lets her do things that guide dogs aren't supposed to do, like eat treats, sit on his bed, & go outside with her training vest on. every time he does something like this, everyone is like, "andrew! no! scout's not your dog & you're going to ruin her!" do they not get that andrew is four years old? four is a little young to conceive of the idea that something does not belong to you & that you might mess something up if you do what everyone around you is doing. karen has a new kitten, david michael has shannon, so andrew sees the other little kids in his family playing with their pets in a normal pet way, giving them treats & letting them misbehave. HE'S FOUR. a four-year-old is not just a tiny 30-year-old with the same intellectual & emotional development. they're going to give him a complex.
however, this storyline also shows that karen doesn't have the market cornered on brattiness. andrew is pretty bratty about scout. abby catches on to andrew's distress before anyone else, & brings it to kristy's attention. kristy tells watson & elizabeth, who are like, "yup. he thinks the dog belongs to him. but she doesn't, so we're taking it to long island." they literally do NOTHING to help ease the transition. andrew even asks to get a dog of his own after scout leaves & watson & elizabeth say, "no. we have too many pets as it is." um, one dog leaves, another dog comes, what's the diff? i do think four is probably too young to have a dog, but they could do SOMETHING to make him feel better.
finally kristy saves the day by pretending to be blind & acting like scout is her new guide dog. she gives a big speech about how much she needs scout because she can't see, & how she heard that scout's puppy walker family did a great job training her, & scout has worked really hard to be an awesome guide dog. for some reason, this gets through to andrew & he lets scout go. not that he ever had a choice. i think this was one of the more fucked up babysitters club B-plots, from beginning to end.
at school, a boy named ross brown starts paying abby a lot of attention. he's in abby's english class, which is doing a section on shakespearean sonnets. when abby complains about the readings & criticizes them for being too romantic & cheesy, ross gets her back...but in weird ways that abby doesn't agree with. he asks to walk her to her classes & compliments her jokes & her contributions to class discussion. abby doesn't pick up on the cues until ross asks her to the upcoming valentine's day dance. abby is kind of dumbfounded & says no without thinking about ross's feelings.
when she gets home from school that day, anna corners her & tells her that ross is going to ask her to the dance. abby explains that he already did & she said no. anna is stunned. she thinks ross is nice & funny & would be a great guy with whom to go to the dance. abby shrugs & says that she's not interested in going to the dance or having a boyfriend.
but ross doesn't give up. she shows up at abby's house with a bouquet of roses. they make abby sneeze & she is annoyed, but anna thinks they're beautiful & puts them in a vase. abby tells anna she can have them.
abby tells the other babysitters what's going on. kristy supports abby in knowing what she wants--or doesn't want, as the case may be, but the other babysitters think abby should have accepted the invitation to the dance. they're worried that abby hurt ross's feelings by saying no. abby concedes that maybe she did, but says she's not going to do something she doesn't want to do just to spare someone's feelings. go, abby! if these girls carry on with their "say yes to avoid hurt feelings" routine, they are going to be getting pregnant when they're 14 years old. the babysitters insist that ross is a nice guy & would be a good date. abby says that ross is nice, but she doesn't care--she doesn't want a date. somehow this turns into a weird fight in which the other babysitters think abby is accusing them of dating people just for the sake of having dates. it's pretty clear to me that she's not, but if that's what the other babysitters want to believe, maybe they need to look at their own guilty consciences.
ross leaves a carnation outside abby's locker. he is really starting to creep me out. why can't he take no for an answer? abby thinks the flower sitting at the bottom of her locker looks like a tombstone. then she thinks it's fitting because she is feeling grave. then she laughs at her own joke. this is why i actually like abby. what a goofball. he also leaves her a book of "new yorker" cartoons, which seem a little sophisticated for a 13-year-old. abby likes them, but not enough to go to the dance with ross.
then abby has a brainstorm: ross likes classical music. anna likes classical music. abby realizes that anna has a little crush on ross. all she has to do is get ross to see that anna is the right girl for him, not abby. she concocts a plan to invite ross over while anna is home, & then have kristy place an emergency call to anna. abby will leave to talk to kristy, giving ross & anna some time to talk to each other, causing ross to realize that anna is the one he really likes. she gets anna & kristy on board with this plan.
unfortunately, right before ross shows up, abby lets anna borrow her lucky shirt. she puts on anna's sweater instead. then abby tears a contact & has to put on her glasses. so when ross shows up, he thinks abby is anna & vice versa. abby tries to correct him, but anna rolls with it. so abby lets it happen. but then their mom comes home & she can tell the girls apart even when they are twin switching. sure enough, mrs. stevenson blows the girls' cover & ross is pissed because he thinks they deliberately tricked him...even though his conversation with anna had been going well. he storms out, & anna is pissed at abby because she really liked ross & now she thinks he hates her.
abby spends a few days in turmoil before deciding that ross may not listen to individual apologies from anna & abby, but if they ambush him at home & in tandem, maybe they'll get somewhere. that's what they do, & ross concedes that he should have listened to abby the first time she said no, & that he was less angry than embarrassed about mixing the girls up. he expresses interest in anna & invites her to go see a chamber music concert or something. she gladly accepts. the date goes well & ross invites anna to the valentine's day dance. she accepts again. everyone is happy.
while anna & the other babysitters are at the dance, abby & kristy take in a romantic viewing of a new horror movie called pepperoni man. abby wins a big box of chocolates that she decides to share with the babysitters at the next club meeting. all's well that ends well, i guess.
the babysitting B-plot focuses on the thomas-brewers & their guide dog-in-training, scout. in kristy thomas, dog trainer, it was established that guide dogs-in-training live with their puppy walker families for 18 months. apparently those 18 months have passed magically, with no one except for scout getting any older. scout is now ready to enroll in their guide dog school on long island. but andrew had decided that scout is his dog & he doesn't want to give her up. he even lets her do things that guide dogs aren't supposed to do, like eat treats, sit on his bed, & go outside with her training vest on. every time he does something like this, everyone is like, "andrew! no! scout's not your dog & you're going to ruin her!" do they not get that andrew is four years old? four is a little young to conceive of the idea that something does not belong to you & that you might mess something up if you do what everyone around you is doing. karen has a new kitten, david michael has shannon, so andrew sees the other little kids in his family playing with their pets in a normal pet way, giving them treats & letting them misbehave. HE'S FOUR. a four-year-old is not just a tiny 30-year-old with the same intellectual & emotional development. they're going to give him a complex.
however, this storyline also shows that karen doesn't have the market cornered on brattiness. andrew is pretty bratty about scout. abby catches on to andrew's distress before anyone else, & brings it to kristy's attention. kristy tells watson & elizabeth, who are like, "yup. he thinks the dog belongs to him. but she doesn't, so we're taking it to long island." they literally do NOTHING to help ease the transition. andrew even asks to get a dog of his own after scout leaves & watson & elizabeth say, "no. we have too many pets as it is." um, one dog leaves, another dog comes, what's the diff? i do think four is probably too young to have a dog, but they could do SOMETHING to make him feel better.
finally kristy saves the day by pretending to be blind & acting like scout is her new guide dog. she gives a big speech about how much she needs scout because she can't see, & how she heard that scout's puppy walker family did a great job training her, & scout has worked really hard to be an awesome guide dog. for some reason, this gets through to andrew & he lets scout go. not that he ever had a choice. i think this was one of the more fucked up babysitters club B-plots, from beginning to end.
October 6, 2020
Stoneybrook Middle School students were excited about Valentine's Day and the school's celebratory dance. Abby hated Valentine's Day and judged her classmates, including her own twin sister, for enjoying the holiday. Abby did not have romantic feelings for her classmate, Ross, so declined his invitation to the Valentine's Day Dance. Ross violated Abby's consent when he disregarded her "no" and persevered in trying to change her mind about attending the dance. Several of the other BSC members tried to help Ross woo Abby because they thought it was nice he asked. Harassment isn't nice.
However, I thought Abby's hatred of Valentine's Day was over-the-top. She said she had a boyfriend or two back in Long Island. But her classmates were wrong for wanting to celebrate love and romance? It was possible that Abby was lying about a past boyfriend, that she was aromantic, and that she hated Valentine's Day because it made her feel separate from alloromantic people. However, my theory is that Abby hated Valentine's Day because of the holiday's heteronormativity. Abby had romantic toward other girls, which made her feel like an outsider because there were no openly gay students attending her suburban Connecticut middle school in the late 1990s.
Kristy also hated Valentine's Day for the holiday's heteronormativity. She said she was glad Abby did not go to the dance with Ross just because he liked her, the way Kristy did with Bart. "'When I started sort of seeing Bart, it was because he was a good friend and I felt comfortable with him. But I think I knew all along that I was never going to, you know, feel romantic about him or anything.'" It is headcanon that Kristy is a lesbian. I have seen many fans point to Kristy's romantic relationship with Bart to explain away her lesbianism. But, as seen in the aforementioned quote, Kristy never had romantic feelings toward Bart.
On Valentine's Day, while the other BSC members were at the dance, Abby and Kristy went on their first date! They saw a movie called Pepperoni Man and got pizza afterward. Abby + Kristy = LUV ❤️
However, I thought Abby's hatred of Valentine's Day was over-the-top. She said she had a boyfriend or two back in Long Island. But her classmates were wrong for wanting to celebrate love and romance? It was possible that Abby was lying about a past boyfriend, that she was aromantic, and that she hated Valentine's Day because it made her feel separate from alloromantic people. However, my theory is that Abby hated Valentine's Day because of the holiday's heteronormativity. Abby had romantic toward other girls, which made her feel like an outsider because there were no openly gay students attending her suburban Connecticut middle school in the late 1990s.
Kristy also hated Valentine's Day for the holiday's heteronormativity. She said she was glad Abby did not go to the dance with Ross just because he liked her, the way Kristy did with Bart. "'When I started sort of seeing Bart, it was because he was a good friend and I felt comfortable with him. But I think I knew all along that I was never going to, you know, feel romantic about him or anything.'" It is headcanon that Kristy is a lesbian. I have seen many fans point to Kristy's romantic relationship with Bart to explain away her lesbianism. But, as seen in the aforementioned quote, Kristy never had romantic feelings toward Bart.
On Valentine's Day, while the other BSC members were at the dance, Abby and Kristy went on their first date! They saw a movie called Pepperoni Man and got pizza afterward. Abby + Kristy = LUV ❤️
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July 29, 2020As a kid my best friends sister had the whole BSC series on a book shelf in her room. I thought she was so grown up. And I envied this bookshelf. And would often poke my head into that room just to look at it.
And when I read BSC, I felt like such a grown up.
And while I might have still been a little too young to understand some of the issues dealt with in these books, I do appreciated that Ann M. Martin tackled age appropriate issues, some being deeper than others, but still important.
And when I read BSC, I felt like such a grown up.
And while I might have still been a little too young to understand some of the issues dealt with in these books, I do appreciated that Ann M. Martin tackled age appropriate issues, some being deeper than others, but still important.
October 27, 2017
This is really one of the last books in the regular series? Seriously? Ugh.
Abby, you suck. You suck, and you will never TRULY be a member of the BSC. You were barely here, and I am now glad you're gone because you're annoying. so is your sister. So is Ross Brown.
At least we got some weird closure about Scout the guide dog in training. I guess.
Abby, you suck. You suck, and you will never TRULY be a member of the BSC. You were barely here, and I am now glad you're gone because you're annoying. so is your sister. So is Ross Brown.
At least we got some weird closure about Scout the guide dog in training. I guess.
December 21, 2019
Just like I did in my younger years I binge read this book. Loved it. Nostalgia! It was good to revisit my kid days with my favorite girls growing up. I had friends that wanted to start our own BSC! I have always loved this series and hope to collect every book again someday and collect those I didn’t have.
March 18, 2023
When I was 10 I joined a readers club/group where we got a new book every week. I chose The babysitters club.
The books are fantastic! So enjoyable. I loved getting the book every week. They are super quick reads and I was able to read it in one day.
Highly recommend for young teenagers to read or even younger if they are able too read well.
The books are fantastic! So enjoyable. I loved getting the book every week. They are super quick reads and I was able to read it in one day.
Highly recommend for young teenagers to read or even younger if they are able too read well.
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August 17, 2019Abby and Kristy go on a Valentine's Day date. A four year old isn't allowed to be upset about giving away a dog bed bonded with. A guy is too dumb to realise a girl he likes is a twin but it's totally the twins faults because men can't be expected to know such trivial details.
November 3, 2023
I think this is the best valentines book since Karen’s in Love. A guy likes abby and asks her to the school dance, but she says no. Later, she thinks he has more in common with her twin Anna since they both like classical music and tries to connect them
May 28, 2024
Abby is not excited for Valentine's Day or the Valentine's Day dance...but no one believes her. Ross keeps asking her out; and all of Abby's friends think she should go. Abby needs to find a way to keep her friendships while celebrating Valentine's Day in a way that makes her happy.
January 20, 2021
(LL)
Eh, this was okay. Could have been done a lot better to get the same message across, which was decent in the end.
Eh, this was okay. Could have been done a lot better to get the same message across, which was decent in the end.
February 21, 2022
I just had to read this for Valentine's Day this year!
I'm one of the few BSC fans that actually like Abby, and I love that she is fiercely herself in this book and doesn't give in to peer pressure.
I'm one of the few BSC fans that actually like Abby, and I love that she is fiercely herself in this book and doesn't give in to peer pressure.
October 18, 2023
I stan asexual queen Abby Stevenson.
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December 6, 2023Abby and Kristy just need to get together already.
Also, I was not prepared for how emotional the Scout storyline made me.
Also, I was not prepared for how emotional the Scout storyline made me.
January 17, 2024
I thought it was a well written book I liked how it wasn’t the usual valentines book.
July 1, 2025
Stacey is my favorite, but Abby is so me in this book. The little misunderstanding at the heart of it is ridiculous and annoying, but this one was fun.
January 30, 2018
for whatever reason Abby was my absolute favorite BSC member and I still remember this book and the whole twin switch stuff vividly
May 26, 2025
2023 review: The Abby storyline was fun, and I'm so glad Anna got her own romance out of it.
But the Andrew + Scout storyline made me cry, my God. (A good story and no animals were harmed or anything.)
Scout is a guide dog in training whom Kristy's family was fostering. Now it's time for her to graduate to formal guide dog school and then be assigned to the person she'll be guiding.
Thing is, Kristy's younger brother, Andrew, has fallen in love with Scout -- she's HIS dog, just like Pumpkin is Karen's cat and Shannon is David Michael's dog. So Andrew tries insisting that Scout stay with them, and at one point, even tries to run away with her. And on the day Scout has to leave, he locks himself up with her in his room so Watson can't take her away.
And it's just unbelievably heartbreaking. And yes, Kristy and the others talk to him about the importance of letting Scout go coz she's actually done really well in training and will be a great guide dog for a blind person. And yes they all have good points.
But also...why can't Scout stay??? 😭 she's also a fantastic pet dog and Andrew loves her so much and even though my adult brain knows that letting Scout go on to becoming a full-on guide dog is right thing to do, my heart was just breaking that it had to happen. The scene where Andrew has to let her go and David Michael offers to share Shannon with him, legit made me cry. I can't remember if I ever cried at another BSC book...maybe the one where Mimi dies? Bah.
(Scout, as a well-trained future guide dog, is fine, and followed Watson's "Scout, come!" order immediately.)
Ugh. 4 stars for the Abby/Ross/Anna story which was cute and a very important lesson for the BSC members that no means no (as in, when Abby says she doesn't like Ross in that way, respect her decision and stop teying to pressure her). And bumped up to 5 for the Andrew/Scout sobfest.
But the Andrew + Scout storyline made me cry, my God. (A good story and no animals were harmed or anything.)
Scout is a guide dog in training whom Kristy's family was fostering. Now it's time for her to graduate to formal guide dog school and then be assigned to the person she'll be guiding.
Thing is, Kristy's younger brother, Andrew, has fallen in love with Scout -- she's HIS dog, just like Pumpkin is Karen's cat and Shannon is David Michael's dog. So Andrew tries insisting that Scout stay with them, and at one point, even tries to run away with her. And on the day Scout has to leave, he locks himself up with her in his room so Watson can't take her away.
And it's just unbelievably heartbreaking. And yes, Kristy and the others talk to him about the importance of letting Scout go coz she's actually done really well in training and will be a great guide dog for a blind person. And yes they all have good points.
But also...why can't Scout stay??? 😭 she's also a fantastic pet dog and Andrew loves her so much and even though my adult brain knows that letting Scout go on to becoming a full-on guide dog is right thing to do, my heart was just breaking that it had to happen. The scene where Andrew has to let her go and David Michael offers to share Shannon with him, legit made me cry. I can't remember if I ever cried at another BSC book...maybe the one where Mimi dies? Bah.
(Scout, as a well-trained future guide dog, is fine, and followed Watson's "Scout, come!" order immediately.)
Ugh. 4 stars for the Abby/Ross/Anna story which was cute and a very important lesson for the BSC members that no means no (as in, when Abby says she doesn't like Ross in that way, respect her decision and stop teying to pressure her). And bumped up to 5 for the Andrew/Scout sobfest.
May 1, 2013
Fantastic books for young girls getting into reading!! Great stories about friendship and life lessons. The characters deal with all sorts of situations and often find responsible solutions to problems.
I loved this series growing up and wanted to start my own babysitting business with friends. Great lessons in entrepreneurship for tweens.
The books may be dated with out references to modern technology but the story stands and lessons are still relevant.
Awesome books that girls will love! And the series grows with them! Terrific Author!
I loved this series growing up and wanted to start my own babysitting business with friends. Great lessons in entrepreneurship for tweens.
The books may be dated with out references to modern technology but the story stands and lessons are still relevant.
Awesome books that girls will love! And the series grows with them! Terrific Author!
January 19, 2016
I think than Ann Martin is giving us a theme: Valentine's Day is not just about love. It's about friendship, too. This story is about a Valentine's day skeptic in the midst of Valentine's day obsessed-people. Everyone is trying to convince her that she needs to get a boyfriend, but she knows better. In the text it says: "Popcorn and a chiller thriller .. free candy and good friends. What more could I ask for from Valentine's Day"(132)? I absolutely agree with this theme. Not everything has to be about true love on Valentine's Day. Friendship counts too.
August 20, 2008
I liked this book. I started it when I went camping I only read one chapter and on the way home I finished it.
November 1, 2013
In which the truth about Abby is revealed. STFU, Abby.
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May 18, 2019This is the best Valentine book about abby♌♌♌♌♌♌♌♌🔚🔚🔚🔚🔚🔚🔚🔚🔚🔚🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝🔝
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