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The Baby-Sitters Club was a series of books, written by Ann Martin, published by Scholastic between 1986 and 2000. The series was adapted into a film in 1995.
The series featured a group of baby-sitters living in the fictional Stoneybrook, Connecticut. Initially, the club consisted of four members and eventually expanded to nine. The baby-sitters began the club in seventh grade (fifth for Mallory and Jessi) and then moved into eighth grade. After that, the characters became static in their ages. In the final book, the older baby-sitters finally entered high school.
The success of the original series spawned several additional series:
Series
- The Baby-Sitters Club
- The Baby-Sitters Club Super Specials
- The Baby-Sitters Club Friends Forever
- The Baby-Sitters Club Friends Forever Super Specials
- The Baby-Sitters Club Mysteries
- The Baby-Sitters Club Super Mysteries
- Baby-Sitters Little Sister (focuses on Karen Brewer, Kristy's seven-year old stepsister)
- Baby-Sitters Little Sister Specials
The following series, while not officially connected to the club itself, feature characters and settings mentioned in The Baby-Sitters Club books:
- The Kids in Mrs. Coleman's Class (focuses on Karen Brewer's second grade class)
- California Diaries (focuses on Dawn Schafer and her friends after her return to California)
Members
- Kristy Thomas (president and founder of the club). Kristy's passions are sports, and her large family, which expanded when her mother married Watson Brewer, a millionaire, and includes her older brothers Charlie and Sam, her younger brother David Michael, her adopted sister Emily Michelle, and her step-siblings Karen and Andrew. Kristy is known for her ease in conceiving ideas and for organising plans to make them work.
- Claudia Kishi (vice president) Claudia's main focus is art. Schoolwork comes second. At one point she is told that she must repeat the seventh grade. This is especially hard for her because her older sister is a genius, and while she loves her conservative, scholarly family, she often feels that she does not belong with them, especially after her grandmother, Mimi, dies. Claudia's house is the official meeting place for the club.
- Mary Anne Spier (secretary) Mary Anne is known for her extreme sensitivity. She is the best friend of Kristy, and lived next door to her until the summer before eighth grade, when Kristy moved across town to Watson's mansion. Mary Anne's mother died when she was a baby, and her father raised her very strictly, treating her like a small girl until she finds herself forced to confront him. Mary Anne is the first of the Baby-Sitters Club members to have a steady boyfriend.
- Stacey McGill (treasurer) Stacey hails from New York City and is the best friend of Claudia Kishi, whom she met when she moved to Stoneybrook in the seventh grade. She and Claudia share a love for fashion. Stacey enjoys her job as treasurer because of her love and talent for math. Stacey has diabetes, which is a concern for her in some books in the series.
- Dawn Schafer (alternate officer) Dawn moves from California to Stoneybrook during the seventh grade. She first meets Mary Anne, then the rest of the club. She becomes another best friend to Mary Anne, and later the two discover that their parents dated in high school, and work to get them to rekindle their affections.
- Mallory Pike (junior sitter) When the club forms, Mallory is only in the fifth grade and is too young to join. Nevertheless, her large family are frequent clients of the club and at eleven, she is asked to join. Mallory is often insecure about her appearance, and has plans to become a writer. During the later books, Mallory faces intense social problems.
- Jessi Ramsey (junior sitter) Jessi makes her debut as Mallory is trying to join the club, and the two quickly become best friends. Jessi then joins the club when Mallory does. Jessi moved from New Jersey during her sixth grade year and is a talented ballet dancer.
- Abby Stevenson (replaced Dawn as alternate officer) Abby arrives from Long Island, New York with her mother and twin sister Anna in Stoneybrook soon after Dawn moves back to California to live with her father. Abby's father died when she was nine. Abby's love for sports and bold personality often put her at odds with Kristy. She and Shannon Kilbourne are the only other Baby-Sitters Club members who live in Kristy's neighborhood.
- Logan Bruno (associate member). Logan moved from Kentucky before eighth grade. He participates in many sports, including track. He is Mary Anne's boyfriend in addition to being an associate member of the club (a member who does not come to meetings but takes jobs when no regular member is available). Logan lives with his parents, sister, and brother.
- Shannon Kilbourne (associate member) Shannon is an over-achiever and is always involved in extra-curricular activities. Shannon is the only member of the club who does not attend Stoneybrook Middle School. She has two sisters, and is Kristy's first friend in her new neighborhood, although the two do not initially get along. Kristy's dog, Shannon, is named for Shannon Kilbourne.
External links
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