ISBN 0590435124 - As always, Martin's BSC book #4 lives up to the rest of the series. One of the things that make this series so good has been the timelessness of the situations and for the first time, I found a date-indicating mention in a BSC book! When Dawn mentions that she's got a VCR, as if that was a big deal, it was the first and only such clue I've found so far.

The BSC falls apart, leaving timid Mary Anne in an awkward situation. She wants to make up, but the others don't even want to speak to one another. Worse, she's being mature and responsible and her single father still treats her like a baby! Both of those problems leave her needing to stand up for herself - a big change for her. When new girl in town, Dawn, comes along, Mary Anne takes the first step, making a friend on her own. And when Jenny Prezzioso has to be rushed to the hospital and Mary Anne can't reach an adult for help, her take-charge solution earns her father's respect. Can feeling confident about herself help Mary Anne save the BSC before it's too late?

For fans who will read anything Martin writes, the mention of Mrs. Porter, aka Morbidda Destiny from Karen's Baby-Sitters Little Sister #1 is a cute wink. Read this series, in order or not - they're worth every minute.

- AnnaLovesBooks

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mary anne has never been a leader of the bsc. shes left that up to kristy or claudia or stacey.. but now theres a big fight among the 4 friends and mary anne doesnt have them to depend on anymore

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....it's bad enough when Mary Anne's left alone at the lunch table at school. But when she has to baby-sit a sick child without any help from the club members because there's a big fight between the 4 girls then Mary Anne knows it's time to take charge.

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Mary Anne shows her father that she is growing up when she takes care of a sick little girl. A great book from the popular Baby-Sitters Club series.

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