Part of The Baby-Sitters Club, book 75
First published 1994
Jessi thinks Mr. Trout makes an easy target. The timid teacher shuffles around school in his obvious toupee, and his awkward manner invites ridicule from students. When Jessi decides to compose and perform a mocking song about him, she believes it will be harmless fun. But her cruel prank cuts deeper than she expected. Mr. Trout's reaction forces Jessi to confront what she has done. She must face the real pain her words have caused and grapple with her own capacity for meanness. The aftermath of her thoughtless act teaches Jessi that some jokes aren't funny at all, especially when they target someone who is already vulnerable. She discovers that taking back hurtful words proves much harder than speaking them in the first place.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, adolescence, school
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: consequences, redemption
136 pages · Paperback · Apple
Content warnings: emotional-abuse