What do you think?
Rate this book
The Baby-Sitters Club #67
Dawn's Big Move
When Dawn announces that she is moving back to California, the other Baby-sitters cannot believe that she would even consider leaving them. Original.
147 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1993
53 people are currently reading
823 people want to read
About the author
Ann M. Martin
1,101 books3,054 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...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 16, 2022
¿Es normal que esté tan feliz de que un personaje se haya ido? ESPERO QUE NO VUELVA WUUUUU.
September 4, 2017
Dawn is gone for six, glorious months! Thank you, Lerangis! I mean it sure doesn't feel like she was gone, because she has other books ahead, but still. Almost as good as when she permanently left the club.
Why was down insufferable in the regular series, but normal in the California Diaries series? One of life's greatest mysteries.
Why was down insufferable in the regular series, but normal in the California Diaries series? One of life's greatest mysteries.
September 23, 2016
this is my first time reading this book!
in this entirely forgettable dawn book by ghostwriter/dawn-lover extraordinaire Peter Lerangis, dawn is longing for california; she misses her dad and jeff, she misses her friends, and she misses the "hot" california weather. she decides to move back to california for six months. the subplot is that there's a group athletics day, and each of the bsc members' families compete in some of the events, and the bsc does too. it's super boring, and feels like filler.
highlights:
-jessi goes to see her cousin/other best friend keisha back in new jersey, and she has a bad time since keisha is sort of laine-ish now (see Stacey's Ex-Best Friend for what I mean). this makes dawn reconsider going to california. but also I just like it because it's such an 11-year-old plotline. you can never really go home, and 11-year-olds change best friends every five minutes.
-perfect claud moment: "I read that athletics can be harmful for your health," Claudia remarked, stuffing a Ring Ding in her mouth."
-finally (!) there are references to the papadakises being super greek. they have a lamb roasting on a spit for their family reunion/party, plus spanakopita and tiropita. they always describe the kids as swarthy and they have such a greek name, but there's never been any acknowledgment of greek culture in their family.
lowlights/nitpicks:
-at first, dawn's dad sounds wary about her moving back to california, and she interprets it as him not wanting her. dawn is such a drama queen.
-when the bsc members (mary anne especially) are happy for dawn that she will get to go to california, dawn gets mad and thinks that means they won't miss her. I repeat, dawn is such a drama queen.
-they have a surprise going away party with the kids. how many surprise going away parties/homecoming parties are there in this series? I want to reread it all and keep a running tally.
dawn outfit (in this quote, mary anne tells her what to wear):
-"I haven't seen you wear those nice cream-colored drawstring waist pants you bought last month, and that ribbed cotton T-shirt with the buttons down the front."
snacks in claudia's room:
-holiday m&ms behind a very full rack of clothes in her closet
-sesame crackers (n.s.)
-ring dings (n.s.)
-popcorn rice cakes in her dresser drawer
-chock full of chakra macrobiotic dessert snacks cookies (n.s.)
-raisinets (n.s.)
in this entirely forgettable dawn book by ghostwriter/dawn-lover extraordinaire Peter Lerangis, dawn is longing for california; she misses her dad and jeff, she misses her friends, and she misses the "hot" california weather. she decides to move back to california for six months. the subplot is that there's a group athletics day, and each of the bsc members' families compete in some of the events, and the bsc does too. it's super boring, and feels like filler.
highlights:
-jessi goes to see her cousin/other best friend keisha back in new jersey, and she has a bad time since keisha is sort of laine-ish now (see Stacey's Ex-Best Friend for what I mean). this makes dawn reconsider going to california. but also I just like it because it's such an 11-year-old plotline. you can never really go home, and 11-year-olds change best friends every five minutes.
-perfect claud moment: "I read that athletics can be harmful for your health," Claudia remarked, stuffing a Ring Ding in her mouth."
-finally (!) there are references to the papadakises being super greek. they have a lamb roasting on a spit for their family reunion/party, plus spanakopita and tiropita. they always describe the kids as swarthy and they have such a greek name, but there's never been any acknowledgment of greek culture in their family.
lowlights/nitpicks:
-at first, dawn's dad sounds wary about her moving back to california, and she interprets it as him not wanting her. dawn is such a drama queen.
-when the bsc members (mary anne especially) are happy for dawn that she will get to go to california, dawn gets mad and thinks that means they won't miss her. I repeat, dawn is such a drama queen.
-they have a surprise going away party with the kids. how many surprise going away parties/homecoming parties are there in this series? I want to reread it all and keep a running tally.
dawn outfit (in this quote, mary anne tells her what to wear):
-"I haven't seen you wear those nice cream-colored drawstring waist pants you bought last month, and that ribbed cotton T-shirt with the buttons down the front."
snacks in claudia's room:
-holiday m&ms behind a very full rack of clothes in her closet
-sesame crackers (n.s.)
-ring dings (n.s.)
-popcorn rice cakes in her dresser drawer
-chock full of chakra macrobiotic dessert snacks cookies (n.s.)
-raisinets (n.s.)
December 26, 2021
This book is so weird. I don't necessarily think Dawn moving back and forth is an inherently bad idea, but I just don't get it specifically for Dawn.
For one thing, it's hard to feel any empathy towards Dawn's California homesickness because her main concern about moving away is basically that people in Stoneybrook aren't going to miss her enough.
You would think Dawn's mom would be a complete wreck now that both of her children have returned to California to move in with their dad, but she really doesn't seem that bothered. She was devastated when Jeff moved away even though it was the right thing; Sharon barely cries when Dawn moves out. I guess we're just supposed to infer that she's okay on her own now that she has Richard Spier, but it's still weird.
For one thing, it's hard to feel any empathy towards Dawn's California homesickness because her main concern about moving away is basically that people in Stoneybrook aren't going to miss her enough.
You would think Dawn's mom would be a complete wreck now that both of her children have returned to California to move in with their dad, but she really doesn't seem that bothered. She was devastated when Jeff moved away even though it was the right thing; Sharon barely cries when Dawn moves out. I guess we're just supposed to infer that she's okay on her own now that she has Richard Spier, but it's still weird.
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 18, 2019
Awe this was a really cute book, Dawn is feeling homesick for her dad, brother and California so starts to become gloomy and sad. She eventually speaks up and shares her feelings and her parents arrange everything but moving isn’t as easy as she thought. leaving her friends and family she has in stoneybrook is harder than she expected it to be. But everyone supported her knowing she needed to go.
The secondary story in the book was interesting the whole town were preparing for a huge event to raise money for charity in the town, all playing fun and wacky games as family teams and friend teams to win the most points against another town. All the local kids had something fun to prepare for all having fun.
It was a good book, very sweet and sad that Dawn was leaving them but I love the way it was written, it was delicate and gentle like her character is which I really liked about it.
The secondary story in the book was interesting the whole town were preparing for a huge event to raise money for charity in the town, all playing fun and wacky games as family teams and friend teams to win the most points against another town. All the local kids had something fun to prepare for all having fun.
It was a good book, very sweet and sad that Dawn was leaving them but I love the way it was written, it was delicate and gentle like her character is which I really liked about it.
September 10, 2020
Ah, the start of Dawn's coastal waffling, although I did appreciate the buildup in the previous few books. And as annoying as her flip-flopping can be, I do appreciate the whole drama with it. After all, it would be hard having half your family ALL THE WAY across the country. (And as someone who is super close with her little brother, it would kill me to have him that far! He lives a two and a half hour drive now and that's too far!) So yeah, I enjoyed this book. I'd like to read about the other side, Dawn readjusting to life in California and getting back together with her friends.
And also I loved the end of this book and Dawn's mom. But I love any BSC book that makes me cry haha.
And also I loved the end of this book and Dawn's mom. But I love any BSC book that makes me cry haha.
December 18, 2020
(LL)
This book does a great job tackling: deciding to move and why change can be a good thing. Missing family can be a powerful force that most people can’t hold off for long, and Dawn’s love for her dad and brother (and the California lifestyle) brought her to the brink. It’s a good move, and Dawn is a good character, but I don’t think I’ll miss her all that much.
As an aside: the Run for Your Money event was a fun subplot. I enjoyed the laughter and competition with the towns in all the games.
This book does a great job tackling: deciding to move and why change can be a good thing. Missing family can be a powerful force that most people can’t hold off for long, and Dawn’s love for her dad and brother (and the California lifestyle) brought her to the brink. It’s a good move, and Dawn is a good character, but I don’t think I’ll miss her all that much.
As an aside: the Run for Your Money event was a fun subplot. I enjoyed the laughter and competition with the towns in all the games.
September 10, 2023
This was all right. Dawn has been missing California for a while so it makes sense that she go back for six months. Her poor mom, TBH, and I'm glad she has Richard and Mary Anne. And poor dad as well; I like that Dawn actually reflects on how he's had to adjust from bachelor life to suddenly having to parent again, first Jeff and then a 13 year old girl.
The Run for the Money charity thing was fun. Such a Stoneybrook thing to do, and I'm glad Richard and Sharon were actually also involved in it.
The Run for the Money charity thing was fun. Such a Stoneybrook thing to do, and I'm glad Richard and Sharon were actually also involved in it.
Read
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.
April 7, 2021
While Stoneybrook (and all of Stoneybrook's families) prepare for a join-city charity fundraiser, Dawn starts thinking more and more about her Dad and Jeff in California. After multiple discussions with her mom and dad, Dawn decides to move to California. Her family and the rest of the BSC is heartbroken, so the day after the hugely successful Run for Your Money fundraiser, they surprise Dawn with a going away party.
September 19, 2023
This one is actually really, really good. I had a hard time giving it five stars because it's not a Mimi book, but I think it warrants them. It's really heartfelt and candid with emotions, and I think all the characters were really well-drawn (except Adam being too embarrassed to hold hands with his own brother for a game, come ON). And several scenes were truly hilarious, I was cracking up. The comedy was written really well. This one felt like Anne M Martin put a lot of herself into it.
July 3, 2024
4.5 stars. This is one of the books in the series that I remember vividly. I distinctly remember crying when I read this when I was like seven lol. I still loved this. Dawn misses her dad and her brother and wants to go back to California for at least six months. I thought she handled everything really well as it was a really tough decision to leave. This was such a fun and heartfelt read and I'm glad that it still holds up so well because this is a big turning point in the BSC.
June 19, 2025
I do not like Dawn. I find her smug and irritating. She was an annoying clean eating girlie before that was a thing.
Why did Dawn ask to go for six months? Wouldn’t it have made more sense for her to go for the rest of the school year? I mean we all know Stoneybrook is stuck in a time loop and they will be in 8th grade forever but still.
Tofu and rhubarb pie sounds like the most disgusting flavor combo ever. I like both those things separately.
Why did Dawn ask to go for six months? Wouldn’t it have made more sense for her to go for the rest of the school year? I mean we all know Stoneybrook is stuck in a time loop and they will be in 8th grade forever but still.
Tofu and rhubarb pie sounds like the most disgusting flavor combo ever. I like both those things separately.
March 5, 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.
April 24, 2024
I thought that this book was well done, definitely brought me back to when I was a kid.
It is about Dawn whose parents have divorced and Dawn moved in with her mom. The option has come up for Dawn to move back to California and into her dad's home. Dawn isn't sure if she wants to do that as she has made new friends and has joined the BSC (Babysitters Club) and she does enjoy her new life.
It is about Dawn whose parents have divorced and Dawn moved in with her mom. The option has come up for Dawn to move back to California and into her dad's home. Dawn isn't sure if she wants to do that as she has made new friends and has joined the BSC (Babysitters Club) and she does enjoy her new life.
December 21, 2025
This was one of those that made me wish books in the BSC series were allowed to exceed 15 chapters. I really enjoyed how it showed the messiness of the decision-making process for Dawn to move to California for six months. But since it was so short, it didn’t feel like it really got the depth it needed.
September 15, 2017
I've been re-reading a lot of the early BSC books, so when I got to this one I immediately noticed a change in the writing from the ghostwriters. I never noticed as a kid, but it's so obvious to me now.
May 4, 2019
I really needed a 90s throwback. A book about the time before cell phones and computers and before constantly being connected through the web. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed this series, and how much I'd missed those days, until tonight. Lovely, as always!
September 11, 2021
Dawn always annoys me so much but this book actually made me sad. Her poor mom. Honestly, the plot points were kind of weak but the fun balanced out the sadness (? mostly sad that she's gone but still has upcoming books but still) of the situation so it worked out.
October 16, 2019
Review on www.Audible.com please listen to this book.
May 19, 2020
BSC ❤️
Read
June 9, 2020It was an ok book
Read
September 23, 2020Read my recap at A Year with the BSC via Stoneybrook Forever: https://www.livethemovies.com/bsc-blo...
Read
November 12, 2023this made me cry
January 17, 2024
Loved the story line a great book.
April 28, 2022
This cover is iconic BSC fashion. Every single member is exquisitely on theme. *chef's kiss* perfection. So, on to the actual book. I'm not sure why I gave this one 4 stars, I guess I'll figure it out as I review. Maybe because Dawn finally goes back to Cali and we get rid of her whining for awhile? Well, it starts off with Spier-Schafer family dinner and Richard tells them all about a charity "Run for Your Money" with silly races like tug-of-war, pie-eating contests, underwear race... Somehow the girls convince Mister Stuffy Pants Spier to practice for the underwear race.
[Mrs Schafer] had even bought him a Simpsons tank top undershirt and an oversized pair of boxer shorts with red hearts on them, just for the occasion. The hearts showed through his pants, which made us laugh even more. Plus his belly jiggled beneath his undershirt.
"Oh honestly, I give up," Richard finally said in a huff. He was standing there in his heart boxers, with his pants gathered around his ankles and his clodhopper shoes poking out. We were screaming. We couldn't help it.
They're having so much fun, as a family, and then Dawn ruins it all by basically shouting out that she wants to go home. To California and her dad and Jeff and the beaches and blah blah...we get it Dawn, Stoneybrook sucks. And not just for a visit but for like 6 months. Forget about how that makes her mom feel (Jeff already moved back home), forget her bff & sister Mary Anne, the BSC, how difficult that will make school. Dawn is set on it. So her mom & dad talk on the phone, a lot, and finally decide to let her go. Then suddenly Dawn feels like everyone wants her to go so bad and won't miss her and maybe she shouldn't go after all. Like, geez Dawn, get it together.
Of course, Kristy is the exception. She's annoyed, worried, skeptical, you name it. The club is getting busy and how on earth are they going to survive without Dawn for 6 months?? (hint: next book) There's a side story about Kristy sitting for the Papadakis kids and helping out with their family reunion and she's totally grossed out by all the Greek food (lamb, baklava, spanakopita...sounds amazing to me lol). And she has the idea to do a going-away party for Dawn. Vanessa Pike writes this sappy poem (spelling errors included):
Dawn, Dawn, please don't go,
We all love you so.
Your nice to us, you make us smile
We love your hair, your laugh, your stile.
When you're away in California
We'll be so sad, we'll really moarn ya.
We wish you luck, tho you upset us
Please, please, please, Dawn, don't forget us.
The charity fundraiser is fun, Mr Spier refuses to do the underwear race, the girls do events together, Stoneybrook wins, Dawn changes her mind about going fifty times, finally ends up on the plane, Mrs Schafer tells her "let Daddy love you as much as I do." And that's the end. Honestly, I'm bumping it down to 3 stars.
Reviewed at SeeJennRead.
[Mrs Schafer] had even bought him a Simpsons tank top undershirt and an oversized pair of boxer shorts with red hearts on them, just for the occasion. The hearts showed through his pants, which made us laugh even more. Plus his belly jiggled beneath his undershirt.
"Oh honestly, I give up," Richard finally said in a huff. He was standing there in his heart boxers, with his pants gathered around his ankles and his clodhopper shoes poking out. We were screaming. We couldn't help it.
They're having so much fun, as a family, and then Dawn ruins it all by basically shouting out that she wants to go home. To California and her dad and Jeff and the beaches and blah blah...we get it Dawn, Stoneybrook sucks. And not just for a visit but for like 6 months. Forget about how that makes her mom feel (Jeff already moved back home), forget her bff & sister Mary Anne, the BSC, how difficult that will make school. Dawn is set on it. So her mom & dad talk on the phone, a lot, and finally decide to let her go. Then suddenly Dawn feels like everyone wants her to go so bad and won't miss her and maybe she shouldn't go after all. Like, geez Dawn, get it together.
Of course, Kristy is the exception. She's annoyed, worried, skeptical, you name it. The club is getting busy and how on earth are they going to survive without Dawn for 6 months?? (hint: next book) There's a side story about Kristy sitting for the Papadakis kids and helping out with their family reunion and she's totally grossed out by all the Greek food (lamb, baklava, spanakopita...sounds amazing to me lol). And she has the idea to do a going-away party for Dawn. Vanessa Pike writes this sappy poem (spelling errors included):
Dawn, Dawn, please don't go,
We all love you so.
Your nice to us, you make us smile
We love your hair, your laugh, your stile.
When you're away in California
We'll be so sad, we'll really moarn ya.
We wish you luck, tho you upset us
Please, please, please, Dawn, don't forget us.
The charity fundraiser is fun, Mr Spier refuses to do the underwear race, the girls do events together, Stoneybrook wins, Dawn changes her mind about going fifty times, finally ends up on the plane, Mrs Schafer tells her "let Daddy love you as much as I do." And that's the end. Honestly, I'm bumping it down to 3 stars.
Reviewed at SeeJennRead.
November 25, 2023
I'm glad Dawn is leaving because she continues to be the worst. Even in California Diaries she's not much better but she has an awesome cast of characters to back her up. As was hinted constantly in the previous book Dawn misses California her dad and brother even if Jeff is a jerk, he's a kid so he might grow out of it. The family works it out for six months with dad six months with mom which makes no sense. What about school? It would make more sense to have Dawn stay out west for the school year and spend summer in Stoneybrook. I mean her biggest complaint is the cold weather. But I've never been in a divorced family so what do I know? Anyway it's mostly Dawn being all dramatic. Her dad wants to know if she's sure she thinks he doesn't want her, everyone is excited for her she thinks they don't want her either. It's quite annoying but she does goes in the end.
The b plot is the best part of the book and had me dying of laughter. The town is running a family event called Run for your Money. It involves Richard Spier in a Simpsons tank top and heart boxer shorts and it was hilarious. This one was okay, if not for the b plot it would've been dull and very annoying just like Dawn.
The b plot is the best part of the book and had me dying of laughter. The town is running a family event called Run for your Money. It involves Richard Spier in a Simpsons tank top and heart boxer shorts and it was hilarious. This one was okay, if not for the b plot it would've been dull and very annoying just like Dawn.
January 8, 2011
this book is dreadful. dawn misses california, her father, & jeff. she finally asks her mom if she can move back to california for six months. mrs. schafer calls mr. schafer, they both talk to the guidance counslors at their local middle schools, & they give dawn permission. she is stoked. at the last second, she becomes concerned that claifornia won't live up to her memories of how awesome it is, & she decides not to go, but mrs. schafer gently talks her into it. the babysitters club give her a surprise going away party attended almost exclusively by sitting charges & serving almost nothing but sugary sweets. that's it.
the B-plot involves the run for your money charity field day thing. the schafer-spiers enter, as does the babysitters club. stoneybrook teams are playing against teams from nearby mercer & whiever town wins the most events will have money donated to the charity of its choosing. stoneybrook wins. there's some light amusement when richard considers entering an underwear race, & an even tries to practice for it, but other than that...boring.
the B-plot involves the run for your money charity field day thing. the schafer-spiers enter, as does the babysitters club. stoneybrook teams are playing against teams from nearby mercer & whiever town wins the most events will have money donated to the charity of its choosing. stoneybrook wins. there's some light amusement when richard considers entering an underwear race, & an even tries to practice for it, but other than that...boring.
May 17, 2024
Dawn decides to go back to Calfornia for 6 months. The entire book is about this and related events and second thoughts. Mary anne is unusually supportive about.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews