The Baby-Sitters Club Books in Order
Books by Ann M. MartinOverview of the The Baby-Sitters Club Book Series
The Baby-Sitters Club series has sold over 176 million copies worldwide.
Back in 1985, author Ann Martin first got the idea for The Baby-Sitters Club books that would later end up defining her entire career. For Martin, who was very inspired by the women in her life, it made sense to write about powerful young girls who were taking on responsibilities and working together to achieve a common goal. After all, Martin herself had been a powerful young girl. Growing up in New Jersey, she started writing stories as a very young child. She then went on to attend Smith College. After college, Martin became a teacher. Working with students who faced learning challenges, Martin's commitment to helping kids completely solidified. Eventually, she began to get the pull to do this through the art of publishing. As an editor, Martin learned all of the tricks of the trade. When she released her first novel, it wasn't a surprise that it won awards.
The BSC: A Series That Met Young Girls Where They Were
One of the reasons the series became so wildly popular was because it addressed real issues that girls were going through at the time. Specifically, such as the storyline with the Dawn Schaefer character, the topic of moving was addressed. While moving to a different city and having to make new friends is a huge stressor for kids, very few books at the time addressed this issue. Similarly, Kristy — who is arguably the lead character of the entire series — is portrayed as being part of a family that was abandoned by the biological dad when she was only two years old. Along the way, she acquires a stepfather and adopted sister. Many young readers who were "tomboys" could relate to Kristy; the character cares little for fashion or "girly" things and prefers to hang out with her pets and friends. Kristy is often referred to as "bossy" in the books, which is a descriptor that would later become controversial in society when used against young girls.
The character of Mary Anne appeals to kids who have been affected by cancer. The character's back story is that her mother passed away when she was just a baby, leaving her father to be a single day. At first, her dad is very overprotective as a result of the family tragedy. Eventually, however, he loosens up when he meets the woman who will become Mary Anne's new stepmom. Since the character of Mary Anne is quite shy, many kids who love the series can also relate to that personality trait.
Meanwhile, Claudia — the VP of the club — is Japanese-American and very trendy. Nancy Drew mysteries are her favorite books to read, and she is also extremely creative. Readers who loved creating artwork could identify with Claudia. Also, the fact that Claudia has her own phone appeals to the independent streak in readers. It's also a plot convention that allows the character to take emergency calls for the club after-hours.
Dawn Schaefer, who is a vegetarian from California, is perhaps the character who is most different when compared to the other characters. At one point in the series, Dawn’s closeness with Mary Anne makes Kristy jealous. However, before it’s too late, Kristy realizes the error of her ways and admits that she is wrong.
Stacey McGill is another main member of the BSC. Her battle with diabetes has landed her in the hospital a few times, which is a traumatic detail that she reveals to the other members once she begins to trust them. Her passion for math is what makes her take the treasurer position in the BSC. At one point in the series, Stacey ditches the club to spend more time with her boyfriend, but she quickly realizes the error of her ways.
A Series That Promotes Reaching for the Stars and Resolving Conflicts
There are many reasons why this series has reigned supreme for so long. Ann Martin’s extraordinary skill for creating loveably imperfect characters is the hallmark of her work. Through these books, kids learn that change and conflict are impossible to avoid. However, it is the way kids deal with their problems that ultimately defines them.
The Baby-Sitters Club series has sold over 176 million copies worldwide.
Back in 1985, author Ann Martin first got the idea for The Baby-Sitters Club books that would later end up defining her entire career. For Martin, who was very inspired by the women in her life, it made sense to write about powerful young girls who were taking on responsibilities and working together to achieve a common goal. After all, Martin herself had been a powerful young girl. Growing up in New Jersey, she started writing stories as a very young child. She then went on to attend Smith College. After college, Martin became a teacher. Working with students who faced learning challenges, Martin's commitment to helping kids completely solidified. Eventually, she began to get the pull to do this through the art of publishing. As an editor, Martin learned all of the tricks of the trade. When she released her first novel, it wasn't a surprise that it won awards.
The BSC: A Series That Met Young Girls Where They Were
One of the reasons the series became so wildly popular was because it addressed real issues that girls were going through at the time. Specifically, such as the storyline with the Dawn Schaefer character, the topic of moving was addressed. While moving to a different city and having to make new friends is a huge stressor for kids, very few books at the time addressed this issue. Similarly, Kristy — who is arguably the lead character of the entire series — is portrayed as being part of a family that was abandoned by the biological dad when she was only two years old. Along the way, she acquires a stepfather and adopted sister. Many young readers who were "tomboys" could relate to Kristy; the character cares little for fashion or "girly" things and prefers to hang out with her pets and friends. Kristy is often referred to as "bossy" in the books, which is a descriptor that would later become controversial in society when used against young girls.
The character of Mary Anne appeals to kids who have been affected by cancer. The character's back story is that her mother passed away when she was just a baby, leaving her father to be a single day. At first, her dad is very overprotective as a result of the family tragedy. Eventually, however, he loosens up when he meets the woman who will become Mary Anne's new stepmom. Since the character of Mary Anne is quite shy, many kids who love the series can also relate to that personality trait.
Meanwhile, Claudia — the VP of the club — is Japanese-American and very trendy. Nancy Drew mysteries are her favorite books to read, and she is also extremely creative. Readers who loved creating artwork could identify with Claudia. Also, the fact that Claudia has her own phone appeals to the independent streak in readers. It's also a plot convention that allows the character to take emergency calls for the club after-hours.
Dawn Schaefer, who is a vegetarian from California, is perhaps the character who is most different when compared to the other characters. At one point in the series, Dawn’s closeness with Mary Anne makes Kristy jealous. However, before it’s too late, Kristy realizes the error of her ways and admits that she is wrong.
Stacey McGill is another main member of the BSC. Her battle with diabetes has landed her in the hospital a few times, which is a traumatic detail that she reveals to the other members once she begins to trust them. Her passion for math is what makes her take the treasurer position in the BSC. At one point in the series, Stacey ditches the club to spend more time with her boyfriend, but she quickly realizes the error of her ways.
A Series That Promotes Reaching for the Stars and Resolving Conflicts
There are many reasons why this series has reigned supreme for so long. Ann Martin’s extraordinary skill for creating loveably imperfect characters is the hallmark of her work. Through these books, kids learn that change and conflict are impossible to avoid. However, it is the way kids deal with their problems that ultimately defines them.