The Summer Before (The Baby-Sitters Club, #0.5) by Ann M. Martin

May 30, 2010 Rachel Brand rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: babysitters-club, children, own, 2010, favourites, ann-m-martin

I must have read at least fifty of these books as a child and after coming across them in a charity shop at the age of sixteen and rediscovering the joy of the adventures of these preteen babysitters, I started to recollect the books. I now have half a shelf full of these colourful little novels sitting on my bookcase that I revisit when I'm in need of some light relief to destress myself. So when I heard that a prequel was being written I was naturally excited at the premise of it. Although man...more I must have read at least fifty of these books as a child and after coming across them in a charity shop at the age of sixteen and rediscovering the joy of the adventures of these preteen babysitters, I started to recollect the books. I now have half a shelf full of these colourful little novels sitting on my bookcase that I revisit when I'm in need of some light relief to destress myself. So when I heard that a prequel was being written I was naturally excited at the premise of it. Although many BSC fans would like to hear about the lives of the characters as adults, writing about children is what Ann M. Martin does best. The Summer Before did not disappoint.
Martin seemed to slip back into the voices of the characters very easily. I particularly liked Stacey's story as it showed her as a normal girl, dealing with the problems of broken friendships and moving house. A lot of the BSC books focused on Stacey's diabetes or her boyfriends or how "sophisticated" she was. In The Summer Before she was just a regular preteen girl and I felt that she was very realistically portrayed. I also enjoyed Claudia's story and the excitement yet disappointment of having your "first love." This was also very natural, although it would have been nice to see more of Claud's relationship with her sister Janine. Mary Anne has to cope with convincing her dad that she's old enough to babysit, and although she came across as less mature than the other girls this was in fitting with her character in the regular series. It was nice to watch Mary Anne grow and become more confident with babysitting and talking to her dad. Kristy's story was my least favourite as it seemed a bit out of the blue for her to suddenly expect her dad to visit, but it did kind of tug at heart strings. I could never imagine what it would be like to be missing one parent and have no way of contacting them, but her emotions seemed believable to me.
All in all, this was a fantastic book and was definitely worth waiting for. I only wish Ann M. Martin was creating more new Babysitters Club books as she definitely hasn't lost her touch. 10/10(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 19, 2010 Larissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kinder, 2010, usa, spontaneous-reads

When I found out that there was a new Babysitter's Club coming out, I actually pre-ordered the book from my local bookstore. I was--although I probably shouldn't have been--kind of amazed at the instantaneous nostalgia that this publication inspired for me. Suddenly, I was remembering the family driving trip through the Four Corners where I pretty much missed all of Utah because I was reading the first Super Special (Babysitters on Board!) and literally could not pull my eyes away from the pages...more When I found out that there was a new Babysitter's Club coming out, I actually pre-ordered the book from my local bookstore. I was--although I probably shouldn't have been--kind of amazed at the instantaneous nostalgia that this publication inspired for me. Suddenly, I was remembering the family driving trip through the Four Corners where I pretty much missed all of Utah because I was reading the first Super Special (Babysitters on Board!) and literally could not pull my eyes away from the pages. I remembered the awesome passages about Claudia's fantastic wardrobe, which inspired in me a life-long love of red shoes and dangly earrings (and has since been immortalized, to great effect, in the blog ""What Claudia Wore.") I remembered the sympathy I felt for Mary Ann, who had, like myself, a rather strict set of rules to live by. There's really no doubt that this series was one of the pivotal cultural touch points of my young life, which I'm sure is true for a lot of my peers.

The point being, it would be difficult for anyone to live up to the nostalgia created by this series, so I commend Ann M. Martin for being brave enough to attempt to write a new installment. Maybe she was capitalizing on a moment and trying to revive her series' popularity for a new generation, but I'm going to choose not to be cynical. I think it was a bold move, and she pulled it off rather well. There's actually not an excess of babysitting in this prequel, but enough to set the stage. And Martin still treats each girl with a great deal of empathy and concern for the problems--big and small--that affect each of them. She gently captures a range of experiences: Mary Ann sorting through her deceased mother's memory box, Claudia spending the summer with her first boyfriend, Kristy struggling to let go of her absent father, and Stacey getting a fresh start in Stoney Brook after a humiliating year of dealing with her diabetes in New York.

The only real problem I had was that at the end of the book, Kristy, Mary Ann, and Claudia all have a heart to heart after a summer of being a little disconnected from one another and their self-awareness and getting-at-the-big-theme-ness is a little overbearing. Claudia repeats a sentiment that Mimi shared with her--that all girls grow up at different rates--and neither Mary Ann nor Kristy are remotely affronted that she's basically just called them immature. Then there is a whole bunch of dialog where they explicate that they are bonded together through experience and friendship and that (I'm paraphrasing) "we are the glue that holds us together." Now, young girls are extremely intense in their friendships, that is true, but this seems a little too end-of-the-episode/Big Idea for three 12 year olds to be explaining. But, eh--I still don't really mind. It's a sweet set up for the series.

As a sort of side note, I realized reading this book how affirming the actual set up of the Babysitter's Club is for young girls. I didn't realize it at the time, but here was a series of books that was encouraging teen age girls to take a form of employment that almost all young women fall into at one time or another--babysitting--and use it to develop all sorts of important, quasi-feminist qualities. For one, they don't need allowances--they make their own money. (I don't think allowances are mentioned at all in this new book; I forget about the others.) They are innovative (kid-kits!), responsible, independent, supportive, and smart. So I'm just all aglow with the Babysitter's books, all over again. (less)

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 16, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Kira M for TeensReadToo.com

Ever wondered what the girls of the Baby-Sitters Club were like before KRISTY'S BIG IDEA? How Kristy's mom met her step-dad?

A prequel to the original series, these four girls will do a lot of growing up before Kristy comes up with her great idea for the Club.

The summer before seventh grade is not going as well as Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey thought it would. Kristy's mom is dating a new guy, but Kristy still hopes her dad will come back and pick...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 06, 2011 Jesse Bornemann added it

Before sexy vampires and werewolves with six-pack abs, before angsty adolescent wizards, there was The Baby-Sitters Club (the BSC, natch). As a former Club devotee, turned card-carrying almost 30-something, I rushed out to purchase “The Summer Before,” Ann M. Martin’s new BSC prequel. As I presented the hardback to my almost 30-something salesclerk, she exclaimed, “I’ve been meaning to buy this! Which girl was your favorite?” With less hesitation than I approach 99% of life’s questions, I replie...more Before sexy vampires and werewolves with six-pack abs, before angsty adolescent wizards, there was The Baby-Sitters Club (the BSC, natch). As a former Club devotee, turned card-carrying almost 30-something, I rushed out to purchase “The Summer Before,” Ann M. Martin’s new BSC prequel. As I presented the hardback to my almost 30-something salesclerk, she exclaimed, “I’ve been meaning to buy this! Which girl was your favorite?” With less hesitation than I approach 99% of life’s questions, I replied, “Well, I always identified most with Mary Anne...” (“Me too!” the salesclerk said.) “But I’d have to say that Claudia was my favorite. She had the best clothes.” (“Mine too!” my new BF affirmed. “And she was an artist!”) Maybe we should all form a club.

“The Summer Before” is a pared-down version of most BSC books, since it takes place before Kristy had her momentous “great idea.” There’s no crunchy granola Dawn or prima ballerina Jessi—only the original Fab Four: Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey. Mallory makes a cameo as one of Mary Anne’s first baby-sitting charges, but she’s blanketed under the other seven Pike dwarves. (Or, as the Duggars call them, “That cute little family.”)

Not much has changed since Stoneybrook circa 1990. I wondered how Martin would handle the elaborate descriptions of Claudia’s over-the-top, uber-trendy fashions—would Claud step out in a “Team Edward” t-shirt and derby, instead of barrettes and strirrup pants? Duh, of course not. It’s “The Summer Before,” not “Years Later.” Kristy is still perfecting her softball pitch, Mary Ann is still chafing under Dad’s rules, Stacey is still diabetic and misunderstood, and Claudia is wearing a “fluorescent-green hat” that resembles “a bejeweled engineer’s cap.” If only it were the ‘00s instead of the early ‘90s, Claudia would’ve had a field day with the BeDazzler.

The BSC’s stubborn refusal to age is both sweet and a bit frustrating. “The Summer Before” was written for a preteen (or younger) version of you, not 30-something you. There are no “wink, nudge” references to the Super Specials or BSC Mysteries. There aren’t any major revelations about the girls. There’s not even a Logan Bruno to sultry up the mix. You might almost ask why Ann bothered to revisit the old gang at all. Maybe she wanted to have one last, long summer with the four characters who inspired millions of future babysitters—and future parents—and future almost 30-somethings. Maybe, like me, she missed her friends.

(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 20, 2012 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: female-author, young-adult

A nice trip down memory lane, this book tells the story of the original four BSC members before Kristy's Great Idea. Mary Anne is struggling with her strict father, Kristy is dealing with her absentee father and her mother's relationship with Watson, Claudia is becoming more interested in boys and makeup and less interested in her childish friends, and Stacey is leaving her ex-best friend Laine and NYC for small town Stoneybrook.

The book was typical BSC yet it somehow tugged at my heartstrings...more

like · see review

Sep 06, 2012 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was a big fan of Ann M. Martins Babysitters Club series when I during my middle and upper primary school years. I smiled to myself a few years ago when I learned that the series was to be re-released for a new generation of readers, along with a brand new prequel, and wondered if kids today would enjoy it as much as I did. But it wasn't until a trip to QBD last week when I found a copy of the BSC prequel The Summer Before sitting on the shelf that I began to feel excited. Very excited. Even th...more I was a big fan of Ann M. Martins Babysitters Club series when I during my middle and upper primary school years. I smiled to myself a few years ago when I learned that the series was to be re-released for a new generation of readers, along with a brand new prequel, and wondered if kids today would enjoy it as much as I did. But it wasn't until a trip to QBD last week when I found a copy of the BSC prequel The Summer Before sitting on the shelf that I began to feel excited. Very excited. Even though it was aimed at children, I just had to take this book from the shelf, buy it and take it home. And you know what? I'm glad I did.

The Summer Before is the perfect nostalgia trip for grown up BSC fans. Yes, it is a childrens book, but did we ever really, truly want to know what happened to the girls after they graduated from Stoneybrook Middle School? There's something much more comforting about going back to Bradford Court and reading about where it all began, to a time when Mary-Anne was still being treated like a little girl by her strict father, where Claudia is growing up faster than her friends, when Stacey is about to move from New York to Stoneybrook and start anew and when Kristy is having difficulties coming to terms with the fact that her father is no longer a part of her life and that her mother has a new boyfriend. Each girl has her own set of problems and their summer isn't always a pleasant one. Stacey in particular has suffered a large degree of bullying from her former best friend Laine as well as having to cope with an extreme form of type 1 diabetes. The authors attention to detail is incredible and many well-known Stoneybrook locations are mentioned, such as Fawcett Avenue and Stoneybrook Middle School. A sullen ten-year-old Mallory Pike makes a brief appearance as a sitting charge (she is quickly instated by Kristy as a junior babysitter,) and many other minor characters from the early books in the series appear throughout the novel, including sitting charges like Jamie Newton and Jenny Prezziosos. It was also pleasing to see that the author had made Janine Kishi a far more sympathetic character and it was lovely to read about Mimi, one of my favourite 'adult' characters from the series. And, of course, because its Stoneybrook, the kids all seem much older than their twelve years and the town has a real 1950s sense of community about it.

All good fun, a great read for kids and a perfect nostalgia trip for grown up fans.

*This review previously appeared on my blog, Kathryn's Inbox(less)

like · see review

Mar 15, 2012 Jessica Schley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Honestly, there wasn't even time for me to put this on "to read" and/or to list progress on it. I was walking through the new children's library when I went to renew my card yesterday, saw that somehow, I missed the release of an actual honest-to-goodness BSC book, and not just one of the re-releases.

So I read it one sitting. Just like I used to. Except, as I pointed out to a friend, this time I did not lock myself in the bathroom the way I used to have to in order to keep out my older brothers...more Honestly, there wasn't even time for me to put this on "to read" and/or to list progress on it. I was walking through the new children's library when I went to renew my card yesterday, saw that somehow, I missed the release of an actual honest-to-goodness BSC book, and not just one of the re-releases.

So I read it one sitting. Just like I used to. Except, as I pointed out to a friend, this time I did not lock myself in the bathroom the way I used to have to in order to keep out my older brothers while I read. I'm a grownup with a whole apartment to myself nowadays, so I read it sprawled on the couch.

And what is there to say other than that it was fun. I appreciated how true it stayed to the originals--I think it's easy, after so long (and so many ghostwriters!) to lose sight of the characters as they were, and doubly hard to evoke them again in a reader who is now more than three times as old as she was the first time she met them. The only character who struck me as a little off was Claudia, and while she had a fabulous little lesson-learning story arc that was exactly the kind of arc that made this series fun back in the day, she was less compassionately portrayed than I think she often came off in the books.

But as for the other three, it was spot-on. The same sort of sappy sweet friendship and heartache over growing up too slowly, over friendships changing. Even the writing style was exactly the same--as silly as some of the narration strikes me as a writer these days, the explanation of who all the characters are and where they came from and why they are where they are, which got so repetitive after fifty books, felt like putting on a comfortable pair of favorite shoes here.

One thing I noticed and stopped to marvel at was how the lack of technology didn't take a thing away from this story. Of course, if the story were truly set in 2010, the girls would have access to computers, and chat, and probably even their own cellphones for texting and phone calls. Back in 1988, that Claudia had her own phone line was really, REALLY cool. Yet, the amazing thing was that 12 years later, with all that's come in-between, the book didn't feel that it was missing anything for the lack of those gadgets. Makes you think, a bit.

Honestly, this is probably a 4, maybe even 3.5-star book. There definitely were places where the plots fell short or felt a little on the preachy side, and of course, BSC books by their very nature are very "tell"-y. But somehow as I read this, I was transported back to being the second grader reading it in a locked bathroom to escape her big brothers. So I'm giving it an extra star for sheer magic. (less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 05, 2011 Jodi rated it 2 of 5 stars

OK, I was someone who grew up with the Baby-Sitters Club. I was obsessed with the series through elementary school and even now, many years later, I can't bear to donate the books that are stored in bins. I was so excited when I found out Ann M. Martin was going to be revisiting these characters to give a little insight as to what they were like before the BSC. (Yes, I did just use that abbreviation). Sadly, I knew from the first few pages, that this book was just not going to do it for me. I r...more

like · see review

Jun 29, 2011 Jodi Papazian rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-books

OK, I was someone who grew up with the Baby-Sitters Club. I was obsessed with the series through elementary school and even now, many years later, I can't bear to donate the books that are stored in bins. I was so excited when I found out Ann M. Martin was going to be revisiting these characters to give a little insight as to what they were like before the BSC. (Yes, I did just use that abbreviation). Sadly, I knew from the first few pages, that this book was just not going to do it for me. I r...more

like · see review

Apr 30, 2011 Amy Flink rated it 5 of 5 stars

I grew up with the BSC back in the late 1980s. I was thrilled to see this new book as I was sad when Martin decided to retire the series about 10 years ago, even though I had sorta outgrown the series. I really love early BSC about the first books in the series. I feel like the first few books were the best. So good to see a new book. My fave character is Stacey, I have always felt like she was my alter-ego! However I feel her story in the book was ended too abruptly. I wish she had beat the liv...more

like · see review

Dec 01, 2010 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-100-book-challenge, arcs-i-own, mundie-kids-reviews, mundie-moms-reviews

Being a huge fan of the original Baby Sitters Club, I gave this book 5 stars, as Ann did a wonderful job at keeping the integrity of the characters and being true to their voices. I feel that author sometimes tend to forget their true characters when they add a book to their popular series, but this wasn't the case at all. Ann did an excellent job with this upcoming release. I think this book is a must have addition to the ever popular series. It brought back some feelings I had when I first rea...more

like · see review

Oct 08, 2010 Arianna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed

My sister gave me this to read, because we were huge BSC fans when we were little. It was...cute. Very nostalgiac, and very much like every other Baby-Sitters Club book ever, but I enjoyed being transported back to my youth & revisiting some "old friends". And I noted often how timeless these books are, because while the girls don't ever mention cell phones or computers or any sort of technology (which I guess was a good - if not conscious, in 1980-whatever - move by Ann M. Martin, because i...more

like · see review

Sep 16, 2010 Jay rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, ya, kids

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Jul 08, 2010 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is a never-before released prequel to The Baby-Sitters Club. My daughter was really excited about this. The book is written from the first-person POV of all four girls. It does this by dedicating alternating chapters to each girl, allowing the reader to get to know each character’s story as related by them. My daughter pointed out that she liked this.

The book gives the reader more background information about each of the four girls, building up to when they all start school and eventua...more

like · see review

Jun 03, 2010 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you were a fan of the original Baby-Sitters Club then you definitely want to pick this book up. If you are not familiar with this series it’s a perfect read for the tween set. The Baby-Sitters Club starts off with four friends who love to babysit and follows their adventures in babysitting, friendships and more. I was a huge fan of this series growing up and eagerly awaited every new book in the series.

This prequel follows Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia and Stacey the summer before the start of t...more

like · see review

May 26, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Is there any way to objectively evaluate this book? I spent my childhood reading literally HUNDREDS of Baby-Sitters Club books, so reading this newly-released prequel was like watching a home movie -- full of so much nostalgia and warmth that it doesn't matter how awkward it is in retrospect.

I really love how easily Ann M. Martin was able to slip back into these characters, and each girl in the story has a very clear narrative arc. It's not great art, and the writing style is as weird as ever (w...more

1 like · like · see review

May 09, 2010 Shea rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was very excited to here that a new Babysitters Club book was coming out and I checked it out from the library right away. I will admit this isn't the greatest book you'll ever read, but if you were a fan of the series growing up you should definitely check it out. It was really cool to see the girls before the BSC was formed; it's interesting the dynamics between the girls this summer, and the fact that no one even knew Stacey yet! I didn't think the writing was too childish, it was an easy r...more

like · see review

May 03, 2010 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, middle-grade

4.5 stars. Apparently the old Babysitters Club books are beginning to be rereleased. In anticipation, the author wrote this book about the four original characters the summer before the club started. Kristy's mom is dating Watson, who will eventually become her stepdad, and Kristy is hoping that her dad will return to their family; Mary Anne is learning more about her mom and trying to gain some independence; Claudia has a crush on an older guy and blows off her friends to hang out with him; and...more

like · see review

Apr 09, 2010 Marian rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: any BSC fan

Shelves: bsc, readit, 2010

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I give the extra star not because the book necessarily deserves it as a whole, but because nostalgia works in funny ways.

It's been 20 some-odd years since I started reading the BSC books and I'm glad AMM resisted the urge to do a book about life after the Club. That said, a lot of the special BSC books already delved back into life prior to the club forming, so some of this book feels like a retread. The rest throws some interesting new trivia our way.

The book is split four ways, with each chapt...more

like · see review

Nov 14, 2012 Sarescent rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books

This was an interesting look back on how the four original members of the BSC (Claudia, Kristy, Mary Anne, and Stacey) spent the summer before seventh grade. It ends with retelling of the first chapter of Kristy's Big Day, with some lines taken verbatim from that text. (That was the chapter in which Kristy came up with the idea for the club while eating pizza.) I'm torn between enjoying the book and seeing it as a money-making ploy on Ann M's part. I'm obsessed with the BSC so I'm going to read...more This was an interesting look back on how the four original members of the BSC (Claudia, Kristy, Mary Anne, and Stacey) spent the summer before seventh grade. It ends with retelling of the first chapter of Kristy's Big Day, with some lines taken verbatim from that text. (That was the chapter in which Kristy came up with the idea for the club while eating pizza.) I'm torn between enjoying the book and seeing it as a money-making ploy on Ann M's part. I'm obsessed with the BSC so I'm going to read it regardless but I don't think it would get new readers interested in the series.

The book opens and closes with Kristy narrating, and alternating chapters are from the POV of the three other sitters. I didn't count, but I think Stacey had the fewest chapters which made sense because she didn't meet the other sitters until the first day of school (her last chapter in the book covers this). I was slightly disappointed by this because Stacey was always my favorite sitter. Her storyline could have been compelling but was overall the weakest. Ann M. continues the inexplicable ret-conning of Laine Cummings's character! This really irks me. There were several books in the series, including Welcome Back, Stacey! and New York, New York (the Superspecial), in which Laine is depicted as friendly, understanding, and well-liked by Stacey and the other sitters. (I realize Laine and Stacey did have a huge fight before she moved to Stoneybrook the first time, but when they made up, it was implied that Laine did that out of fear and peer pressure, rather than maliciousness toward Stacey, as it is depicted here.) In New York, New York, FOUR of the club members live in her apartment for TWO WEEKS! After reading The Summer Before, does that Laine Cummings seem like the kind of character that would do this? It's like she had an personality transplant-- and the only reason I can come up with is that Ann M. felt Stacey needed more conflict in her story. That's ridiculous, considering the issues Stacey already had to deal with. Also, in the aforementioned last chapter in which Stacey meets the other sitters at school for the first time, Ann M. also rewrites Stacey and Claudia's first meeting. As loyal readers remember, they met in the hallway when one of them stepped on the other one's notebook, and they were both wearing off-the-shoulder shirts (or sweatshirts, I don't remember which). In this book, they are introduced by Emily Bernstein at a cafeteria table. WHY?! The original way was so much more unique and creative. This meeting is boring and predictable.

Claudia and Mary Anne's storylines, on the other hand, were very well-done. Claudia is struggling with being more mature than Kristy and Mary Anne. She also has a huge crush on an incoming ninth-grader, Frankie. When he seems to reciprocate her feelings, it leads to problems with her socially-stunted sister, Janine. I thought Claudia's issues were realistic and I enjoyed the way Ann M. dealt with them. (I loved seeing Mimi again!)

Mary Anne is trying to gain independence from her father while struggling with her own self-doubt as she begins baby-sitting. I loved that Ann M. wrote their relationship as strained and uncomfortable, rather than rewriting Richard Spier to be father of the year as she did in Mary Anne's Story. I always found their relationship hilarious in its awkwardness. You know Mary Anne was in for a lifetime of therapy after growing up with that tight-ass. I found it a little odd that Mary Anne mentioned going through the attic and looking for her mother's things in this book-- it is something I can see Mary Anne doing, but she discovered her grandparents' existence through photograph albums in their attic about halfway through the series. Wouldn't she have found those earlier if she was already looking up there? (Of course, I thought it was ridiculous that she didn't already know about them, but whatever.) I liked that Mary Anne was nervous about baby-sitting at first, because that was never really addressed in the series and totally fits her character.

Kristy's storyline dealt with her struggle to accept Watson and her secret hope that her father would come back for her birthday. Kristy's father was sort of an unplumbed depth in the regular series (I think she actually meets him again in a later Super Special and then again in a Friends Forever book) and I can understand why Ann M. wanted to introduce this topic in this book. It makes sense that she would be hesitant about Watson filling the void her father left in her life and Ann M. dealt with this in a mature and realistic way. However, after Kristy is disappointed by her father, Mary Anne throws her a parade (yes, a literal PARADE with the Pike kids and Jenny Prezzioso) for something called Kristy Thomas Day. WHAT THE CREEPY-FLYING-MONKEYS HELL?! I would be so monumentally freaked if someone made a day for me and had a parade arrive on my doorstep. Mary Anne and Kristy should just start dating and get it over with.

I would recommend this for BSC fans who want to revisit their childhood, but I don't think new readers will get as much out of it.(less)

like · see review

Apr 05, 2012 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

What book series did you read as a kid? Sweet Valley? Narnia? Cleary? Baby-Sitter's Club? I was a total BSC fan. I think my mom even got a little worried when I was still reading them through 9th grade. But at least I was reading! Better then my sister who picked up maybe one book a year and rarely finished it. I don't know what they were so worried about. Anyway, thank you internet for keeping me up-to-date on all things current BSC and know that I am not the only weirdo out there! And as alway...more

like · see review

May 07, 2010 Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, ya

I loved the BSC books when I was a kid, and actually continued reading the series even when I was far too old to be doing so. They're obviously not great literature, problems are generally mild and solved by then end of each book (like a sitcom), but I still sort of love them, mostly for the nostalgia factor. It's kind of weird that AMM decided to write a prequel now, but I've read that they are going to start republishing the old BSC books again and try to market them to kids today...

This was a...more

like · see review

May 06, 2010 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I can't bring myself to utter one negative word about a novel by the author who inspired me to become a writer and move to New York City. I bought this prequel both out of nostalgia and and a desire to support Ann M. Martin no matter what she does. I was a little disappointed by the lack of desciption of fashionable outfits (no matter how horribly '80s); the book seemed to have a serious (maybe even depressing?) psychological undercurrent that ran deeper than the books in the original series. Th...more

1 like · like · see review

May 31, 2010 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: childhood

First, you must understand that the Babysitters Club is a MAJOR blast from my past - of all the crappy YA series in the world, this is the one I collected and read the most from oh, maybe 1989-1992ish. I still have my old books (and then some) and once in a while break one out when I need a security blanket.

But this. I have never felt any need to go beyond the BSC of my youth, whether the later series like California Diaries and Friends Forever or new additions like this. Once I got past the "AW...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 24, 2010 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-i-own, books-i-own, 2010-100-book-challenge, mundie-kids-book-reviews

Being a huge fan of the original Baby Sitters Club, I gave this book 5 stars, as Ann did a wonderful job at keeping the integrity of the characters and being true to their voices. I feel that author sometimes tend to forget their true characters when they add a book to their popular series, but this wasn't the case at all. Ann did an excellent job with this upcoming release. I think this book is a must have addition to the ever popular series. It brought back some feelings I had when I first rea...more

like · see review

Mar 21, 2011 Gretchen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, tweens-middle-readers

I didn't even know this book existed until 2 weeks ago. My older brother loves to make fun of the Baby-Sitters Club, although I would like to point out that he read some of them too! Anyway, he is the one who gave me this book for my birthday. I just finished a pretty heavy, mind-bending book, so I needed something a little less intense. The Summer Before was the perfect fit.

I was skeptical about this book. For one thing, I haven't read a BSC book in probably about 17 years. And I was sure that...more

like · see review

Apr 27, 2010 NCPL Teenzone rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-childrens

Back in the late 1980s through the 90s, the Baby-Sitters Club was a hugely popular series about a group of friends from Stoneybrook, CT who babysit. It all started with four girls: Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, and Stacy McGill. This book looks back at the summer between 6th & 7th grade, right before the Baby-Sitters Club was born. It's about being a girl, the bonds of friendship, and how life changes.

Why I picked the book up: As a preteen my friends and I LOVED the Baby-Si...more

like · see review

Apr 11, 2010 Nikki Boisture rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-books

I'm probably too big a BSC fangirl to fairly review this. I mean, I'm a member of the fandom. Yes, that means I dissect BSC books on the internet. *shrugs* Whatever. There's more of us than you'd think. In fact, the book is probably actually shit. But God! A new BSC book!

Called The Summer Before, the book follows (duh) the summer before Kristy Thomas thunk up the idea for the Baby-sitters club. (I know, Janine... that elusive apostrophe!) Told from four different points of view, each baby sitte...more I'm probably too big a BSC fangirl to fairly review this. I mean, I'm a member of the fandom. Yes, that means I dissect BSC books on the internet. *shrugs* Whatever. There's more of us than you'd think. In fact, the book is probably actually shit. But God! A new BSC book!

Called The Summer Before, the book follows (duh) the summer before Kristy Thomas thunk up the idea for the Baby-sitters club. (I know, Janine... that elusive apostrophe!) Told from four different points of view, each baby sitter gets her own story.

Kristy - Her mom has recently begun dating Watson Brewer, which leads Kristy to miss her real dad, while recognizing he's a deadbeat loser. She gets it into her head that he's going to come back to Stoneybrook for her 12th birthday in August, which doesn't happen.

Mary Anne- Tries to convince her strict father that she's old enough to babysit. She does. Also worries about her friendship with Claudia unraveling because OMG, Claudia likes boys! Also, is worried about Kristy's obsession with her father.

Claudia - develops a crush on the same boy that Janine has a crush on. And she can't believe that Mary Anne and Kristy are sooo immature.

Stacey- this is basically a rehash of back story we'd gotten before. Stacey is friendless in NYC since her whole class hates her since she wet the bed at a slumber party before finding out she has the diabeetus. So she can't wait when her parents tell her that they're moving to Stoneybrook, CT at the end of summer. The only people Stacey has are her parents and the kids she sits for.

I'm glad Ann M. Martin chose to write this one herself, rather than rely on her team of ghostwriters. (Though I'd love to see what Lerangis would do with Claudia's crush on an older boy!) It's obvious between reading Ann M.'s first work (Bummer Summer) and The Summer Before that her writing has surprisingly matured. Kristy's story line is the most effective, and you can tell the love that Ann M. feels for the character of Kristy. (She's always been open about K being her favorite babysitter). As always, I dig Mary Anne's storylines, especially when we see her interact with her father - one of the most realistic portrayals of a preteen and her parent in the entire series. Also, I might have a little crush on Richie Spier.

This book is a must read for any woman who grew up reading BSC. For any woman who sees an autistic kid and is reminded of Susan Felder. For any woman who sees the Duggar family and thinks "and I thought the Pikes had a lot of kids!" For any woman who sees a funkily dressed Asian girl and immediately thinks of Claudia Kishi. I know you're out there, so if you haven't already, go. Pick up The Summer Before and lose yourself in nostalgia. (less)

like · see review

Jul 15, 2010 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

This made me feel like a kid again.

BSC was my book series in elementary school. In middle school a friend and I even tried to form our own baby-sitting club (it last about twelve seconds). These girls were definitely part of my life - I even dressed like Claudia on "favorite book character" day in elementary school.

But after 6th grade or so, I don't think I ever picked the books up again. I'd moved on to bigger and better things. So I was surprised when I picked this up just how much I remembere...more This made me feel like a kid again.

BSC was my book series in elementary school. In middle school a friend and I even tried to form our own baby-sitting club (it last about twelve seconds). These girls were definitely part of my life - I even dressed like Claudia on "favorite book character" day in elementary school.

But after 6th grade or so, I don't think I ever picked the books up again. I'd moved on to bigger and better things. So I was surprised when I picked this up just how much I remembered. I immediately remembered Kristy's little brother and her soon-to-be step siblings. Mary Anne's dad's crazy rules, including forcing his pre-teen daughter to always wear her hair in braids. I even remembered Jamie and his trademark "Hi-hi" greeting. What a blast from the past!

What I loved about this book, and often loved about the series in retrospect, is how much these girls genuinely like each other. Not that they always march in perfect step, but the fact that these girls were always essentially best friends with each other was a much better reflection of my friendships growing up than the stories where girls were stabbing each other in the back and arguing over boys (speaking of - one thing I definitely didn't remember was Claudia being the sort of girl who would essentially ditch her friends over a boy. Was there any precedent for that in the original books?).

The writing doesn't seem to have changed in the last twenty+ years. Sometimes the girls sound way wiser than they should (I always imagined they were much older than twelve, even though I knew they were middle schoolers), but their hopes and fears are classic for twelve year old girls.

Why doesn't this get five stars? Needs more fashion! Only two Claudia outfits get described, another one or two for Kristy and Mary Anne, and I don't think a single one of Stacey's city chic outfits was mentioned! Claudia even compliments Stacey's earrings near the end, but they're never described! And the lack of fashion was emblematic of the overall lack of description - the story is very bare-bones, with the bulk of the words devoted to describing the interpersonal conflicts that pepper the plot. Also, Stacey got the short end of the stick, since the summer before the Baby-Sitters Club started she was a lonely girl in New York City, thus had the smallest part in the story. Also, a lot of her story, such as the falling out with her former best-friend, had already been described in detail in the series. I think the best audience for this book are people who already have read BSC - I don't think it's the greatest introduction to the series, but is perfect for those of us who already know and love these girls.(less)

like · see review

Mar 10, 2013 Denette rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bsc-books

I am sure that I read at least 60 of these books as a tween. Every time I received a Scholastic book order, I would quickly tear through the pages in search for the newest installment of the series.

Fast forward to a month ago... I was at work when someone dropped by my office (I work n an elementary school) and donated around 50 BSC books. From the moment I opened the sack and looked down at the covers with their ever so recognizable toy block titles, I was immediately transported back to sixth...more

like · see review

title link	preview: The Summer Before
avg rating	preview: The Summer Before Goodreads rating: 3.61 (1518 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6817038-the-summer-before?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328837362l/6817038.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6817038-the-summer-before?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin[/url]

The Summer Before (The Baby-Sitters Club 0.5)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (4)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Ann M. Martin

Books by Ann M. Martin

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Summer Before