I am using the first Baby-Sitter's Club to represent the approximately, I don't know, 100 plus BSC novels I not only read, but owned, in my late elementary / early middle school years. I was in love with these novels and even belonged to the BSC Book Club, where two novels (in sequential order) were mailed to me every month (or bimonthly, I don't really remember). I was gifted the BSC board game, which was terrible, but amusing. My sisters and I even used these novels as "textbooks" when we played dorm room (I know, what weird, nerdy kids we were). Looking back, I realize that these novels were terribly written. However, they illustrated to a young and somewhat impressionable child that it was okay to be any type of girl one wanted to be (sporty, into fashion, about saving the earth, etc.) and the members of the BSC entertained me for hours on end.

**Note: The BSC novels are ranked five stars simply to emphasize the many hours of reading bliss and entertainment they provided, and should not be misinterpreted as a reflection of their literary value.

So, I just finished reading this for the second time. I changed my rating from 1 to 2 stars, but I still have mixed feelings. I don't like the novel. But, considering the only reason I reread the novel is because I have to teach it to 10th graders, I do think that it has good themes, as well as illustrates issues and perspectives students should be aware of. So, I guess that makes it okay...

I am assuming I will be rereading it again along with the students, for a third time, in about two months. I wonder if the third reading will change my rating again...