The Truth About Stacey (Baby-Sitters Club) (School & Library Binding)

by Ann M. Martin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 5–7—Stacey is the new girl in town. She has made three good friends in a babysitters club but her memories of her old friends still haunt her. Many of them, including her best friend, Laine, ditched her after she was diagnosed with diabetes. Her parents aren't much help; they keep dragging her from doctor to doctor looking for a miracle cure. All Stacey wants to do is manage her condition on her own terms. An impending trip back to New York and a rival babysitting club has Stacey confused and nervous. Will she be able to reconcile with Laine? Will this new group, complete with sitters who can stay up late, end the club for good? The graphic adaptation of the hugely popular series has as much heart as the original. The girls' dedication to the kids they care for and to their friendship never comes off as hokey. The black-and-white cartoons capture each character's personality; the facial expressions say a lot. Each girl has her own style. The outfits have been updated but the skirts haven't gotten shorter. A solid purchase for both school and public libraries.—Sadie Mattox, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
Poor Stacey. She's moved to a new town. She's still coming to terms with her diabetes. She's facing baby-sitting problems left and right. And her parents are no help. Luckily, Stacey has three new, true friends -- Kristy, Claudia, and Mary Anne. Together they're the BSC -- and they will deal with whatever's thrown their way... even if it's a rival baby-sitting club! --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• School & Library Binding
• Publisher: Topeka Bindery (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0808585002
• ISBN-13: 978-0808585008
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,900,443 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My all-time favirote title in this series, October 26, 2004

By	Robin Orlowski "political activist" (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Truth About Stacey, Collector's Edition (Baby-Sitters Club, No. 3) (Paperback)

I don't know if series author Ann M. Martin either personally has disabilities herself, and/or knows the real-life struggles of people who do, but this is an unflinchingly realistic account of what it is like to be a teenager with a disability in America. Years after reading it in a fourth grade English class, I remain impressed at the storyline candor.

Sure, there are laws on the books then protecting Stacey's access to education...etc but her real challenges come from insensitive peers. A friend had liked Stacey until she found out that Stacey had diabetes during a sleepover, and then ended their friendship abruptly. Having endured identical torturous experience for my own disability, I appreciate the unflinchingly honest (and even descriptively blunt) account of what this reality is like.

Likewise, the issue of well-meaning but over protective parents are brought up. Stacey's minor status is compounded by the fact that she is also a person with a disability. Rushing to 'help' her with something they do not personally themselves have, parental actions frustrate Stacey. She loves them dearly, but wants her life to be much more than hospitals and doctors---Stacey only wants to be a 'normal' kid.

Yes, this subject area might go beyond standard children's fare, but taking note of the human effects of discrimination and 'difference' are important. Even if they do not have disabilities themselves, young adults should read this book to realize that teasing other people because of their disability does hurt everybody.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Competition is in Town!, August 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Truth About Stacey, Collector's Edition (Baby-Sitters Club, No. 3) (Paperback)

I've read the book, The Truth About Stacey, and I love it! There are two problems. The BSC are competing with another groups of babysitters who are older and can stay out later. (However, their not the best babysitters around.) And two: Stacey's parents are too overprotective about Stacey's diabeties and they practically drag her to every doctor in America, in hope of finding a cure. Stacey's got to prove two things. One: The BSC give better service than the other club, and two: she can take care of herself very well, and is already getting plenty of help. The ending? Read and find out!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars AMM didn't do her research, May 9, 2006

By	DancingBookWorm (Chicago, IL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Truth About Stacey, Collector's Edition (Baby-Sitters Club, No. 3) (Paperback)

Although I enjoy all of the books in the BSC series for their entertainment value, as someone who was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes (like Stacey) at the age of 7, I have to say that Ann M Martin's portrayl of/research on the subject of diabetes leaves a lot to be desired. I was living with the disease at the same time as this book was written and even then the information she presents was outdated, over-generalized and in some cases just blatantly wrong. Read the book because its fun, don't base your knowledge of diabetes on it.