did it bug anyone else how it was such a HUGE DEAL that jessi was black? - The Baby-Sitters Club (1995) Discussion

[–] gossip_gurl_89 18 years ago

now that you mention it yes. in all the books it always said that when jessi's family came to stoneybrook they encountered a lot of prejudice because they were black, and the BSC were the only people it didn't bother. And yet they always made a point of mentioning it. and yes I also noticed how they would point out that mallory and jessi were so different, because mal is white and jessi is black. it also bugged me a bit how i think it was stacey, was making a list of the qualities an ideal friend would have, and she put down ''a fabulous dresser''. Stacey and Claudia always seemed to be commenting on what good dress sense they had, and how the other baby sitters didnt dress as nicely as they did.
it sometimes seemed that they were a little too focused on superfical things like that.

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[–] lisaa_16 17 years ago

Well I noticed that and it doesn't really annoy me. I mean - in every single book the introductions are repeated and it is annoying, but it is necessary for readers that are just beginning to read the BSC. It's annoying for us because we already know so much about it, but that's because every book talks about it. That's how we know and therefore we can be annoyed.
I did get annoyed with how Claudia and Stacey always talked about how cool they dressed. The descriptions of their outfits were a lot of times tacky. I mean, everyone made a big deal just because they wore bracelets and different earrings. What's the big deal? People wear all this stuff all the time and if that is considered something big then wow. They need to get out more.

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[–] x-x-tahlz_jordz-x-x 17 years ago

it doesnt bother me but it was annoying that they kept on repeating it in every book

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[–] blaque108 16 years ago

I agree I hated that about the BSC books they always had to repeat the characters description. I didn't think nothing of it back then about how they explained Jessi, I was just a kid then. I'm an african american female and it still doesn't bother me I don't think they being racist by describing Jessi. I also think they just do that description in every book for the new readers that comes along and so they can get to know the characters.

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[–] makm76 11 years ago

In one book (Jessi's Secret Language, maybe?), Jessi says something like, "I'm black. If I were white, I wouldn't have to say that, because you'd just assume..." And that really struck me, because it's true (especially if the person reading it is white, probably less so otherwise), cover image notwithstanding. And I think that's the problem. Since you can't know that everyone will read the whole series, or even the first book (and Jessi isn't introduced until later), you have to let them know who the characters are in case they're reading their first one. Unfortunately, for those of us who WERE reading all or most of them, it comes across as harping on it.

Then again, Claudia's last name is Kishi. I think even for kids that should make her ethnicity fairly obvious. Though, to be honest, I was more bothered by the one book saying that Mary Anne's last name was pronounced spear, not spy-er ("rhymes with 'cheer,' not 'crier,' though both would fit" hardy har har). I had been pronouncing it wrong for so long.

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[–] Kelea7 11 years ago

Good point about Jessi. You said everything I was thinking. White is usually the default. Sadly that's the case even for some poc kids because we're just so used to it. I hate to bring it up but just look at the Hunger games Rue issue. And even sometimes when race is explicitly stated the book covers somehow end up with white models on them. Which is partly why I appreciated the books; everyone was portrayed accurately and had an entire book dedicated to them each go round.

Oftentimes people of color where ignored, particularly in the older books I read. I was the type of kid that if the description/illustration was vague enough, I could make them whatever race I wanted. Or sometimes that's just how I would see the characters in my mind.

On the note about Mary Ann...are you me? I was so adamant about it that I just continued calling her "Spear" instead of reading it the correct way.

Rest in Peace Chris Kelly

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[–] starlett2010 17 years ago

Yeah that was annoying. I was also bothered that there was no racially mixed people or Mexican/Latino people in the book. I was glad when Ann Martin put Amalia in California Diaries! :)

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[–] mikala_the_human_ 17 years ago

I think it was because atthe tim wen she was first writing the series, people were more rascist.

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[–] Guigano 17 years ago

Yes it was annoying and I agree with everyone else about how Stacey and Claudia swore up and down that they dressed soooo cool and sophisticated. God if you're so cool, you dont need to say it.

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[–] drug_user39 17 years ago

Once Claudia dressed in gold stretch pants and pink socks. WTF is she thinking? That's not stylish, hell even drab old Kirsty could dress better than that. I mean gold stretch pants... seriously... it's not the 80s ladies.

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[–] plazbo 17 years ago

WEll it was when the books first started being written and characters never became older than 13....even though the books were written over 14 years.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] azn_flamez 14 years ago

Oh god, thank you so much for pointing it out, it was bothering me that people were bugged about that. The series was created in 1986 and if they were perpetually stuck in the 8th grade, that would make it perpetually 80s. *shudders* But I actually grew up loving Claudia a lot because she was so weird and kooky with her clothes. Kinda reflects how I am now. Hahhaha!

That's a whole island, isn't it? Wow. My parents are leaving me their lawn mower.

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[–] makm76 11 years ago

But it WAS the '80s. I mean, yeah, her clothes were ridiculous regardless, but it was definitely the '80s.

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[–] ladylaughinglizard 9 years ago

I seriously think gold stretch pants and pink socks would look freaking awesome together. You got to push the envelope, and people who don't get that, don't get fashion.

Anyone can wear jeans and a "Krusher's" tee-shirt. To pull off gold and pink you need that extra something.

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[–] super-staff 11 years ago

Well, to be fair, that does sound like what a typical 13 year old girl would think of herself.

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[–] cosmic_quest 17 years ago

It was a part of the book that really didn't paint a very nice picture of modern day America to non-Americans. I started reading the books when I was about nine and I used to wonder if Americans were racist because of the way such a big deal was made of Jessi being black, even by adults. Maybe if the books were written in the Sixties, it would have been more understandable but for a book set in the late Eighties to Nineties then there wasn't a need for so much focus to be on the kids' ethnicities.

"I always pretend to root for Gryffindors but, secretly, I love my Slytherin boys."~ Karen, W&G

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[–] NickiDrea 17 years ago

It might not have painted a "nice" view of America, but it certainly pained a honest view.

From your post I can only assume that you are not African-American. I grew up similarly to "Jessi," except that the racism against me was worse. I grew up in the 80's (I was born in '82) in a very well-to-do Virginia community and I faced a great deal of racism growing up, including being called the "n" word and being called "tarbaby"- by other kids my own age! This happened almost daily from the ages of 5-12. I was only friends with about three other kids on my block (we were the only black family in the neighborhood) because the other kids' (white) parents wouldn't let their children play with a black child. In fact, my parents had to move because they felt that while the schools were good and the neighborhood was nice, they were worried that I would end up scarred from living there. Unfortunately it was too late and I really only have negative memories of my childhood (other than spending time with my family).

America is still racist, maybe as not overtly racist as it was in the 50's-60's- but it certainly was racist when I was a little girl. I doubt things have changed much.

As for the books mentioning Jessi being black all the time- I noticed it and it irritated me too, especially because I am black. I was a ballerina from the ages of 2-18, and I didn't really have any black friends growing up because none lived in our neighborhood, so when I was a kid I really identified with Jessi. It annoyed me that there was sooooo much focus on her race (and Claudia's, actually). The way Ms. Martin wrote always gave me the impression that we were supposed to be *shocked* that a white girl and a black girl could REALLY BE best friends.

But I still loved the series, I used to be able to name every single book in order, and if you asked me, what was #4 (for example), I could answer- in fact, at 25 I still can- Mary Anne Saves the Day!

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[–] DrTerriGeniusMDPhDNobelPrize 12 years ago

Why did your family live there for so long? Did you tell them about the problems you were experiencing as a child? Were there no black middle class neighborhoods where you lived in your time?

I'm young, so I'm so asking so that I can understand your experiences. As a teen (I'm 22), I lived in a black, middle class neighborhood in Atlanta, so racism was not something I experienced as a teen.

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[–] angsty_otaku 17 years ago

While I definitely believe that there was and still is a lot of racism and prejudice going on in the US, and there probably would be a bit more in a small town than in larger more metropolitan areas, I agree that Martin over emphasized it just a bit.

All the introductions of the girls was always the same, and Jessi would always be black and had a lot of problems when she first arrived and Claudia would always be Japanese but seemingly no problems until "Keep out Claudia" and when she visited Pearl Harbor in "Aloha BSC". In fact, it seems as though Claudia had no problems because she was so unused to being prejudiced against. Yes, the Kishi's have lived in Stoneybrook for awhile, but being Chinese-American myself, I've realized that most of the people who have problems with people who are of different race and problems with all people of different races. I'm surprised that so many people gave Jessi's family problems, while accepting the Kishi's with no problem at all.

And getting on the topic of such things (things that bug me), how come Dawn is always seen as such an "individualist", but yet is considered to be and written to be the most stereotypical Californian girl ever?

Claudia and Stacey were always so "cool" and "trendy" and "fashionable" and yet everything they're described to be wearing sounds horrendous. I mean honestly, I found Mary Anne's sense of fashion to be the best...but that's just me. And a lot of the guys they hung out with in 7th grade seemed really obnoxious and rude...not cool at all.

When Stacey found out that "jocks" and cheerleaders were seen as God's in the school, how come Logan never found this out? Or Abby (later on)? I mean, they are both written as insane jocks on sports teams, but they never got caught up in it. Speaking of which, how come Kristy, oh softball master and self-proclaimed jock, only had one book where she was on a sports team (or was it more...)?

Why did Claudia have to go back to 7th grade. No school, would EVER, no matter how many problems they were having with school, send a student back a grade. They'd either just keep them in the 7th grade (which wouldn't make sense considering how many times she's started 8th grade) or give special tutoring. Clearly, this school didn't really care about her education to put in the extra effort. And come on, I'm sure with all the reading Janine does, she's heard of Gardeners theory of multiple intelligence. People excel at different things, and sometimes people are better at some things than other things. Clearly Claudia was exceptionally gifted at art but just so-so at other things. Why didn't they encourage her more to be an artist instead of ragging her on her studies. I mean granted, academics are important and she tried her hardest a lot. But I'm sure Claudia had serious potential in being a great artist and I really think that they should have encouraged her more.

And the most pressing question ever. How come no one ever noticed that after they finished a school year, had their summer break, they would all go back to the same grade all over again (and apparently all stay the same age). I mean come on, why send Claudia back to 7th grade? She's going to be repeating 8th grade all over again anyways.

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[–] Claumaur 17 years ago

I never got the whole Claudia gets sent back to the seventh grade thing. I mean it makes noooo sense at all.

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[–] cosmic_quest 17 years ago

I think the most presssing question for me is, who in their right mind would honestly hire children of eleven and thirteen to babysit other children? I would be wanting babysitters for the eleven- and thirteen-year-olds themselves let alone trusting them to care for younger kids!

"I always pretend to root for Gryffindors but, secretly, I love my Slytherin boys."~ Karen, W&G

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[–] auds008 17 years ago

to "cosmic quest" - i started babysitting at around 12 or 13 years old. i do think in the book series it's a little bit much, but often the girls in it who are 11 or 12, babysit WITH a girl who's 13 or 14.

anyways, answering the original post: the book series is at least 20 years old or more, so many of the descriptions were just a normal thing based on the time. the woman who wrote the series was born in 1955 and grew up in a time of prejudices, you have to recognize when it was written.

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[–] kibblesthepig 16 years ago

I don't think they made the race thing out to be a huge deal. I agree most often they were just describing the characters for new readers. I mean you usually have to point it out. Have you ever talked to someone where they're trying to describe someone but are trying VERY hard not to say the race?
" You know she's the babysitter with brown hair"
"MaryAnne?"
"No...she has ummm brown eyes"
" Kristy??"
"No, no she is umm cough african american-cough"

Now granted I haven't read all the books, and haven't re-read any in years but I just remember a few instances of racism. And yeah that happens all the time. I'm mixed black and white and you wouldn't believe some of the stupid things people will say to me..

PS: People need to stop hating on Claudia and Stacey's clothes. Most of these books were written in the early 90's...why not flip through your old photo albums girls? Colorful scrunchy socks, neon shoelaces, leggings in the brightest colors imaginable....

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[–] deaddest 17 years ago

It only annoyed me because of the repetition, but no more than having to hear that Stacy had diabeties, or that kristy's dad left them {or later that watson was her step dad} etc etc etc... But being a grown up now, and being able to look back on it, it made sense. While yes, it was a book SERIES with continuity, there were plenty of girls who picked the books up mid-series, or only read a few sporadic books from the series.

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[–] cdon 17 years ago

The repetion got on my nerves too-so after a while I would just skip the second chapter of the BSC books

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[–] jara0779 17 years ago

I just responded to the comment about Hello, Mallory being over the top in showing the racism in Stoneybrook. I disagreed with that statement, but I'm going to agree with your point. It did get annoying how much race was pointed out in the books, like it was part of the character's personality. I think Ann did that for all of the newbie readers who didn't know that Claudia is Japanese-American, Jessi is black and so forth. Most series books do this. So and so is a redhead, so and so is a blonde. How many times did we have to read the same ol' description of the Wakefield twins in the Sweet Valley series? Blond, blue-eyed, perfect size 6, drove a red Fiat, Elizabeth's the studious one, Jessica is the flirt, etc. I think it's more lazy & unimaginative writing, rather than an author's attempts at focusing on race.

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[–] lisaa_16 16 years ago

Yeah I now skip over the repetition chapters.

And Yes! I also noticed how they would have summer breaks...but then they would start the school year in the same grade. I didn't mind the whole being frozen in 8th grade for all the years the series was written, but at least make it make sense.

And Claudia did dress tacky. Gold stretch pants with pink socks. lol. She would wear purple, red, black...green...all in the same outfit. Now that's a walking disaster!

* <3 *

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[–] afrodite_y2k 16 years ago

I think that the books reflect the times. Face it, they were in a little bitty town and there probably WEREN'T many black people there. I think the repetition comes (like everyone else said) from them having to do the description chapter all the time. To be honest, I think it was cool that Martin did try to have a diverse group of characters. One black girl, one Asian girl, a "big city" girl, a Californian, small-towners, diabetes...also I think it was interesting that she tried to go against the stereotype with Claudia's learning disabilities.

Looking at it today, of course it's all cheesy and what-have-you, but at least an attempt was made. :)

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[–] Coryraisa 12 years ago

Me also...actually, Stoneybrook really wasn't that tiny; it was a sort of medium New England town...I think it was predominantly Jewish, so yes, it was sort of unusual for a while to see non-Jews in Stoneybrook and it's hinted that the Ramseys and the Kishis are non-Jewish.

The books did improve on the deal with people's races as the series went on; it became a more accurate portrayal of many large/medium New England towns.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Coryraisa 12 years ago

True, there weren't many practicing Jews, but there are lots of non-practicing Jews in Stoneybrook; the books hint that. And Spier is a very Jewish name; I think Schafer is also and there is a hint that Sharon's parents are Jewish and I think ate only kosher foods.

Notice lots of the other characters have Jewish-sounding names and throughout the books, esp. the later ones, there are references to popular films and plays with Jewish themes.

E.G...Mary Anne refers to Dawn and herself as "double Yentes" in Mary Anne and the Little Princess when she's recalling how their parents re-united and in Keep Out Claudia (here the BSC is truly shocked at the Lowells' racist and creedist attitudes, which shows that Stoneybrook is NOT some sheltered, narrow-minded, conservative small town after all), a group of the BSC's charges put on a skit about Fiddler on the Roof.

I'm not saying "everyone" in Stoneybrook is Jewish; I know there are Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim characters in Stoneybrook also, but I usually got the feel of a subtle Jewish presence in Stoneybrook, sort of like a culture faded some, but still in the background.

Remember also that Stoneybrook is in New England and very close to New York City, each of which have sizable Jewish populations. The Jewish immigrants of the late 1800's/early 1900's mostly came in thru New York City's Ellis Island...many lived in NYC and many have stayed, but also many moved deeper into New England as their lives and their children's lives improved.

I am just about certain that Stacey's, Mary Anne's, possibly Kristy's, and probably Sharon's ancestors as well as Abby and Anna's (most likely) came thru Ellis Island and worked in NYC to make better lives for their children and grandchildren.

The books did improve about Jessi and the other non-white characters; in the later books, Jessi's race was not mentioned as much and wasn't considered a huge deal. It's the early books that goofed on that count.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Coryraisa 12 years ago

I sure did. True, Shafer does have German roots, but it can also be Jewish. Yiddish is actually a form of German, you realize.

Spier is not Scottish, but true that McGill is. You might have been thinking of the anglicized version of Spier, which is Spear. Actually, there are a fair number of Scottish Jews since Scotland has historically been one a country were anti-Semitism was not too prevalant.

If any of you are familiar with Star Trek the Next Generation, you might remember that there is a character on there, a Doctor Beverly Howard Crusher, who is a Scottish Jew. Ethnically, she is Scottish; in fact, she comes from a very Scottish planet of Caldos while her family has Jewish traditions and roots, although Beverly herself (and neither is her now-grown son, Wesley) is not religious and doesn't openly practice the faith on the show.

Jews can be almost any nationality; they are not a single ethnic group any more than Catholics are. There are Scottish Jews, German Jews, Hispanic Jews, British Jews, Polish Jews, Scandinavian Jews (during the Holocaust, Denmark helped over 90 percent of its Jewish population temporarily relocate to Sweden to avoid being killed by the evil Nazis), Italian Jews, and even black Jews.

And in addition since so many Americans (definitely most of Stoneybrook) came in thru Ellis Island around the late 1800 to early 1900's, many immigrants, including Jewish people had their names "anglicized," so I would not assume that because somebody has an English-sounding name, they "can't" be Jewish.

But true, most of Stoneybrook's ancestors were central or Eastern European coming thru Ellis Island. Remember how easy it is to get from New York City to Stoneybrook, so I am sure many of the immigrants traveled to Stoneybrook and settled there.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Coryraisa 12 years ago

Re: did it...Stoneybrook's sizeable Jewish population...

Are you from some Jewish promotion site or something?

No…and not from any Christian or Muslim promotion sites either.

You kind of sound like those obnoxious people who try and convince you that everyone is originally their ethnicity/religion/nationality.

Naaap, I’m not.

I dunno if your whole post is sarcastic because you are talking about a Star Trek character.

Naap, it isn’t. Beverly Crusher truly is a Star Trek the Next Generation character who is a Scottish Jew. Look her up on google or yahoo; there are plenty of websites on her. Did you ever see any episodes of Star Trek the Next Generation? Excellent show…and I am very selective about what telly shows I watch.

In lots of ways, some of the characters of STTNG are similar to the BSC members. Mary Anne Spier reminds me of Beverly Crusher in many ways…quiet, intelligent, sensitive, soft-spoken.

You're a very strange person.

Sure am. Strange people are more creative anyway. Thanks for the compliment.

Also being from the UK myself I have to say that sadly the history of anti-Semitism in Scotland against Ashkenazi Jews was brutal and often undocumented.

True…I’m not claiming that Scotland has no history of anti-Semitism…it’s just that in recent centuries anti-Semitism is not as prevalent as it was in many other countries. How do you explain that during the Holocaust of the 1940’s, so many Jews fled to the U.K., including Scotland and Ireland?

Also Scotland and Ireland have been known recently for their staunch criticism of Israeli politics (which by no means makes them anti-Semitic and it's perfectly reasonable to criticise Israel's actions but it does suggest the absence of a bias allegiance).

And the point of this statement is…………….?

I also find it incredibly patronizing when you say that Jews can be almost any nationality as if this is news to most of us. DUH! Just like many other religions and all the Abrahamic ones! Way to state the obvious 10/10.

Oh, I know it’s obvious…but there are a few ignorant people who insist that Jews are this single group and can be categorized easily. It’s also to clarify to some people who insist that somebody “can’t” be Jewish because they have blond or red hair or because they have straight hair or because they’re from X town or because they don’t have certain features.

Also, it gets tiresome when some uneducated people speak as if being Scottish or British or Hispanic or Italian and being Jewish were mutually exclusive (ie, saying something to the effect of She's half Italian half Jewish or what "part" of him is Jewish and what "part" is Scottish, etc).

There were a few misinformed people, both on fan fiction sites and here who was claiming that Stoneybrook “can’t” possibly be Jewish and insisting that the Stevensons were the “only” Jews in Stoneybrook and that “everyone” else in Stoneybrook was Protestant.

Those were the people I was setting the record straight with.

Jews were kicked out of most European countries so it wouldn't be surprising for someone to have Jewish roots.

No, it wouldn’t be…so I kind of laughed when somebody responded here, implying that there were virtually no Jews in Stoneybrook…esp. with names like Spier and Bernstein so prevalent. And who knows how many other Stoneybrookers had their names changed at Ellis Island? That would be interesting to see.

Also what's with your intensity in claiming Yiddish or Hebrew heritage to FICTIONAL character in a FICTIONAL town.

No “intensity” there. Just stating what I’d read. I also wondered what was the intensity of some people insisting so emphatically that Stoneybrook “couldn’t” be Jewish.

Did you ever read the book Becky’s Horse by Winifred Madison? Wonderful book…it’s set in 1938 in a Connecticut town very much like Stoneybrook…the town is also predominantly Jewish, only then they are actually practicing Jews who observed Sabbath Friday nights and all.

In addition, since the book was set during the Holocaust era, most of the characters there were worried about relatives in Europe.

I read the book when I was in middle school and when I read the BSC series, I was reminded of that book…Becky’s Horse didn’t name the town, but implied that it was somewhere near Hartford. Stoneybrook of the 1930’s was most likely like the town in Becky’s Horse.

Very wonderful book; look it up on Amazon.com if you want to find out more about it.

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[–] makm76 11 years ago

It can't be THAT big. It always seemed like there was only one set of public schools. That was one of the things that bugged me, because they make a big deal out of Kristy and her brothers continuing to go to the same school after they move (and Abby going there, later on), but they say everyone else on that side of town goes to private school (but...there are two private schools?). There HAS to be a public school for them to attend, by law. Either it's SMS/SHS/SES, in which case of course they'd still go there, or there's another one that...no one goes to for some reason...?

That aside, having only one high school is okay (in terms of the size of the town) but for there to only be one elementary and middle school, it has to be relatively small. And the map in the Complete Guide, it LOOKS quite small.

And it certainly wasn't predominantly Jewish. They make too big of a deal out of Abby being Jewish for that. And they all celebrated Christmas (except Abby)--Stacey's Emergency, for example, and also the one where Mary Anne gets a job as a mall elf, and one of the super mysteries involves Mallory's family winning a Christmas thing. I can't remember if any of the kids they sat for were Jewish other than Karen's friend Nancy. That's not to say the town didn't have other Jewish people (no one seemed SHOCKED that Abby was Jewish, and they had a synagogue to go to, so I assume they weren't the only ones), but none of the main characters were.

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[–] Coryraisa 11 years ago

It can't be THAT big. It always seemed like there was only one set of public schools. That was one of the things that bugged me, because they make a big deal out of Kristy and her brothers continuing to go to the same school after they move (and Abby going there, later on), but they say everyone else on that side of town goes to private school (but...there are two private schools?). There HAS to be a public school for them to attend, by law. Either it's SMS/SHS/SES, in which case of course they'd still go there, or there's another one that...no one goes to for some reason...?

That aside, having only one high school is okay (in terms of the size of the town) but for there to only be one elementary and middle school, it has to be relatively small

Seemed is the key word here. True, Stoneybrook is not a big metropolis, but it’s not a tiny one-horse-everyone-knows-everyone kind of town either.

The reason only one set of public schools and one private school is named in the series is because since all the BSC live near each other in virtually the same neighborhood (Kristy and the Stevensons are only a few minutes’ drive from the other BSC members and the fact that Mary Anne, Stacey, Mallory, and most of the others can walk to Claudia’s house is also telling…so there was no need to name other school systems outside of their neighborhood.

And also not “everyone” from the Stevenson/Thomases’ part of town attends the private school; only Shannon and her sisters and Karen and her friends did.

The BSC’s neighborhood is just one small part of Stoneybrook, not the entire town. The much is indicated whenever any of them go to a mall, hospital, or some other place still around Stoneybrook…most of the people there don’t know them.

One example is that in The Secret Life of Mary Anne Spier…Mary Anne never would have been able to work there without someone recognizing her; she had never met Ms. Cerasi or Angie or any of the other workers there and none of them had ever met each other.

They also recognized only a few of the kids who came to see Santa. Sure, Mary Anne recognized some of their BSC charges, but not many of the other kids who came. And all of these people mostly lived in Stoneybrook; they were not all from out of town.

So, no not all Stoneybrookers know one another and it’s NOT this tiny little hick town.

And the map in the Complete Guide, it LOOKS quite small.

Another key operative word here…looks quite small. The map only captures part of Stoneybrook, the part that the BSC live in, not the entire town. And also since younger kids (around 9 or so) also read the BSC series, the map would of course be simplified, so the younger audience can understand it easily; even in the BSC’s area, not every single house, building, street, or store is captured in this map.

And it certainly wasn't predominantly Jewish. They make too big of a deal out of Abby being Jewish for that.

No, most of the Stoneybrook Jews were not as orthodox as the Stevensons, but I don’t think anyone really made a huge deal out of the Stevensons being orthodox; it was just commented upon and that was that.

And Abby and Anna’s Bat Mitzvah was just another event of the BSC just like any of the weddings, graduations, other holidays, etc. The BSC seemed mostly familiar and completely at ease in the synagogue; there is no mention of any of them feeling as if they were in any “alien” place.

And they all celebrated Christmas (except Abby)--Stacey's Emergency, for example, and also the one where Mary Anne gets a job as a mall elf, and one of the super mysteries involves Mallory's family winning a Christmas thing.

Lots of Jews celebrate Christmas; being a Jew does not prevent someone from observing Christmas. And I know lots of Jews work as elves and even Santas during the holidays.

That’s a common myth that Jews completely shun Christmas. Even the orthodox Stevensons often joined the Christmas festivities (I think in one holiday book, they joined the others in baking Christmas cookies and treats).

And although the BSC celebrated Christmas, the only ones that really celebrated the religious aspect of Christmas were the Pikes (I think the Pikes were Lutheran and belonged to a Lutheran church); none of the others ever attended Christian church services or really observed the Nativity aspect of Christmas.

The time in the Christmas Chiller book that the BSC did go to a church over Christmas (and Abby joined them also; she did not stay away) was to see Mallory and her siblings perform in the Nativity play and lend moral support.

Now I’m not claiming that every Stoneybrookite or even all the BSC were Jewish; I know there are plenty of Gentiles there as well, but there were hints throughout the series of a strong Jewish presence there.

And also during the Christmas Chiller and I think in The Secret Life of Mary Anne Spier, all of the BSC have latkes and play Spin the Dreidl and most of them seem familiar with it; I think only one of them asks what the characters on the dreidl sides indicate.

I can't remember if any of the kids they sat for were Jewish other than Karen's friend Nancy.

Lots of the BSC charges were…but most of them non-orthodox.

That's not to say the town didn't have other Jewish people (no one seemed SHOCKED that Abby was Jewish, and they had a synagogue to go to, so I assume they weren't the only ones), but none of the main characters were.

I suspect several (I’m not saying all) of the main characters were…they were just non-orthodox.

Look beneath the surface appearances and beyond stereotypes, especially the myth that all Jewish people shun Christmas…I myself am part Jewish and have lots of Jewish family members and several Jewish friends (I live in a large city) and most of them celebrate Christmas right along with Hanukkah; several of them even had Christmas trees in their homes.

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[–] Ditto-head 8 years ago

In the 6th book, another middle school is mentioned when one of Kristy's brothers is telling her that their mom and Watson have to pay a fee in order for her to continue attending SMS instead of Kelsey Middle School. I'm not sure, but he may have also said that the same had to be done for David Michael. He did go on to say that there was only one high school, which seems appropriate, as you said.

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[–] makm76 11 years ago

I agree, except the main character was ALWAYS pictured on the cover, and the later editions had everyone's picture on the side. They all looked accurate to the description, so they could easily have just done the portrait thing they had in the later editions, with labels so you'd know who was who.

But yeah, the majority of the first and/or second chapter was pretty much the same in every book. I always just skimmed through it until I found the part where they described their outfits (which didn't always happen), then again to where the action started again.

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[–] branenj001 11 years ago

I remember always thinking enough already with the " almond shaped eyes" geez! We get it

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[–] 11 years ago

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