Reviews

Baby-Sitters on Board! by Ann M. Martin

carrie123's review against another edition

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4.0

This was fun to read! I looked forward to reading each chapter by a different person, even the kids. There was so much going on but I especially liked the detailed descriptions of what it was like on a cruise ship.

hcgambrell's review against another edition

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3.0

I read this book over and over again when I was young. The BSC super specials were some of my favorites of the series. They had so many adventures! I'm on a quest to own every BSC book published, and I'm also occasionally re-reading them, too, and this one is a little disappointing now that I'm an adult. Claudia's Secret Admirer plot just seemed creepy. Kristy is more annoying than usual (seriously...throwing chip bags on the floor just to annoy Dawn?). And Mary Ann and her new friend Alex...just WEIRD.

I was delighted that Kristy's old man friend reads Thomas Hardy, though, even if that's a bit of a depressing choice for a vacation.

yevheniya's review against another edition

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5.0

2nd grade comfort read never misses 🫶🏻🫶🏻 

rsnuggs21's review against another edition

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3.0

So the problem with rereading this as an adult is you definitely have more questions that come with being an adult and parent. Like did the Pike's not spend any time with their kids this trip, especially at Disney World. I don't know how old Mallory is in this, but she is certainly not old enough to be wandering around spying on people alone at Disney World. Does Watson ever get firm with Karen, ever? Other than what seems like 2 hours every so often, were these two teenagers (Stacy and MaryAnne, maybe 14) responsible for the kids the entire time!? Why was Kristy allowed to bring not one but two friends while nobody else did? How did that conversation go? What kind of job does Watson have where he can go, "oh this family of strangers that I only know because my step daughter baby sits for them just won an all expense paid cruise and trip to Disney world for their entire family. I should take my family too. Plus two of my step daughter's friends. But no one else!" Most importantly, how much money does Watson make exactly!!?

sarahcoller's review against another edition

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3.0

I wanted to finish one more book before December 1st and I've just finished this one with 50 minutes to spare!

I didn't like it very much---and remember not really liking it as a kid, either. Disneyland has never interested me and these girls are wayyyy to young to be hooking up as much as they do. Ugh.

megs_s's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

jazzyjan94's review against another edition

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4.0

Confession...I'm a huge Disney fan and when I saw that part of this book takes place at Disney World I knew I had to pick it up and I'm glad I did!

Baby-sitters On Board! follows the Baby-sitters as they set sail on another adventure. This time Mary Anne and Stacey have been chosen to go on a cruise and a trip to Disney World as mother's helpers for the Pike family. However, they are joined by the rest of the club and Kristy's family when Watson decides to take them on the trip too.

Shenanigans ensue when there seems to be a stowaway on board; Mary Anne meets a mysterious and glamorous orphan; Kristy meets a grumpy old man; and Mallory Pike decides that she wants to try and spy on people on the trip. To add to the shenanigans, Kristy and Dawn are acting passive aggressive towards each other and poor Claudia is caught in the middle. Stacey meets a young boy, wh has a heart defect and is able to bond with him over both of their chronic illnesses. And Claudia has a secret admirer. But everyone still has a fun trip, especially when they spend three days at Disney World.

I enjoyed this special edition, especially since we get to see the Baby-Sitters Club go on vacation - even though Mary Anne and Stacey have to work, they also get to have some fun on the trip. I also liked how Kristy befriends the old man, and it was so pure and we definitely get to see a new side of Kristy that doesn't always come through in the other books - she is compassionate and empathetic nd strive to make sure everyone is having a fun time.

I also liked that we got chapters told from some of the kids' perspective - we get Nicky, David-Michael, Karen and Mallory's points-of view. Usually the books are only told from one of the baby-sitters perspective, but we are told the story from all five of them.

Overall, this was enjoyable - in fact, I think I enjoy the Super Specials a lot more than the original series because they are longer; the action doesn't seem as rushed; and we get multiple points-of-view. I'm looking forward to reading more of these in the future. 4/5 Stars.

This review appears on my blog: https://confessionsofabookwormweb.wordpress.com/2020/12/28/book-review-baby-sitters-on-board-the-baby-sitters-club-super-special-1-by-ann-m-martin/

bibliotequeish's review against another edition

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As 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.

hannahfyed's review

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3.0

Likes: nostalgic and wholesome, wide range of viewpoints including the kids, how the viewpoints seamlessly progress the plot
Dislikes: of course reading this book now (~15 years since I first read it), it is pretty shallow and I wish there were more details

hannahandrea's review against another edition

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this was my fav bsc super special when i was a kid and i just got the strongest urge to read it. i love u babysitters