Part of The Baby-Sitters Club, book 14
First published 1996
Mallory Pike dreams of joining the prestigious Baby-sitters Club. The older girls seem sophisticated and fun, everything Mallory wants to be. When they finally invite her to a meeting, she thinks her moment has arrived. But the club members put her through trials that feel impossible. Claudia treats her like a child during her first real babysitting assignment. The written examination contains questions no one could reasonably answer. Mallory starts questioning whether she actually wants membership in this group. She finds an ally in Jessi, another girl facing similar treatment. Together they consider forming their own organization. Mallory must decide whether to keep trying to prove herself to the established club or forge a new path with her friend. The story explores the tension between wanting acceptance and maintaining self-respect.
Genres: family-life, friendship, contemporary, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, underdog
136 pages · Library Binding · Apple