Karen's Bully

Baby-Sitters Little Sister #31

by Ann M. Martin, Susan Tang (Illustrator)

When class bully Bobby Gianelli, who picks on Karen and makes her recess a living hell, moves to her neighborhood, Karen decides to fight back. Original.

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade, Juvenile

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It bothered me when seven year-old Bobby picked on four year-old Andrew. Bobby should know better, particularly since he had a sister who was Andrew's age. I was glad to see Karen take her role as Andrew's big sister seriously as she listened to his concerns and tried to protect him from Bobby the bully. However, I wished the children had involved trusted adults instead of trying to solve the problems all on their own.

It was insightful that Karen drew a parallel between how her friends, Amanda and Melody, felt about moving with how Bobby probably felt about leaving his old house behind. "I guessed that moving is not easy. I also guessed that Bobby teased me about my two houses because he really was jealous. Bobby wished he could live in his new house and his old house. That way, he would not have to leave his old house for good."

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't remember if we saw Amanda Delaney again, so this book was a nice surprise. I just looked at the BSC Wiki and it doesn't look like she ever makes another appearance, which is kind of a bummer. But I always want callbacks to old friends in the BSC series.

Also Bobby sucks the end.

[Em's Adventures · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, half the time Karen seems to be more annoying then Bobby! Plus, the bullying wasn't that bad, at least her classmates stood up to him, my friends all used to sit around and watch me being bullied because they were too scared to say anything. I wouldn't have minded so much if I had had great supportive friends next to me like Karen has.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen...and more importantly, Andrew! Stand up to bully Bobby.

Nice to see Karen's protective and caring older sister side. Like when she gives Andrew ice cream coz their mommy is away, and that's what mommy would've done.

[JH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how Bobby was slowly built as a bully throughout the series, and it all comes to a head here. Karen has a lot of empathy for a 7-year-old, and I like how she drew a parallel between Bobby’s unhappiness and the unhappiness she saw in a close friend for the same reason.

[Annora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, Karen doesn’t treat Hannie well.

[Christina Mages · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book teaches how bullying can hurt people's feelings. Great book.

[Christina Matheis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book teaches kids how bullying can hurt people’s feelings. Great book.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like how Martin showed that there's often an underlying reason to people lashing out and how she humanises and shows the vulnerable side of her "villains".

[Sayo -bibliotequeish- · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

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

[Shanjida begum · Rating 5 out of 5]

no bully zone

[Ajim · Rating 5 out of 5]

never bully

[Karen Whiteandnerdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute.