This book was really hard for me to get through, and even more annoying to write about. Claudia is SUCH A B WORD.
The book takes place right after Kristy's mothers wedding (so like mid June) and seems to wrap up at the end of July. Claudia is at home with her super genius sister, Janine, and her grandmother, Mimi. They are playing games and drinking Mimi's special Japanese tea. Everything is awesome until Janine kicks their ass at some trivia game and Claudia loses her shit, and then Mimi gets annoyed and Claudia yells at her, too. Mimi goes to her room and promptly has a stroke,
Mimi is in the hospital for like a week, and her stroke really takes a toll on her. She has to relearn everything, from words for simple every day objects, to using her hands for daily tasks.
Meanwhile, in the Baby-sitters Club world, they have decided they don't enjoy summer vacation and instead choose to have a playgroup for kids in the mornings. Claudia, however, has to drop out because when Mimi gets out of the hospital she needs constant supervision. Claudia volunteers to sit at her house with Mimi and help her get better.
Claudia and Janine fight through the whole book, but it's mostly just Claudia being extremely rude. Then they have a little coming to Jesus meeting and seem to make up.
That's really about it. I don't really know what this book has "mean Janine" in the title, because Janine is not mean in it. Claudia is mean. Janine is just ignored and misunderstood.
When Mimi had her stroke and went into the hospital, I LEGIT started crying.
I can't stress enough how rude Claudia is in this book. Like when her parents are trying to figure out who will take care of Mimi in the mornings, Janine starts to talk, and Claudia just butts in and interrupts that she will do it. But then Claudia gets mad that she is the one who has to give up her mornings and Janine doesn't do anything.
When the baby-sitters are at the playgroup (which is at Stacey's house), they decide to give Kristy's dog Louie a bath. For some unexplained reason, Stacey's family has a huge tub in their garage that they fill with water and then dump the dog in. Why the fuck do they have this huge tub? They came from New York - I highly doubt they had it there. They don't have animals. I need to know why they had this thing in their garage.
Also I would be so pissed if I sent my kid to a playgroup and he/she came home soaking wet, smelling like a gross old dog.
Best character -
MaryAnne wins this category. There is this little girl, Jenny, at the playgroup and all of the teenage babysitters decide she is a pain in the ass and try to stay away from her, and MaryAnne is the only one mature enough and nice enough to deal with her. Also, MaryAnne offers to babysit Mimi one morning when Claudia can't, and Mimi is pretty terrible to deal with. MaryAnne sees that maybe everyone needs to back the fuck off of Mimi for a hot minute, and let's her watch Wheel of Fortune for awhile instead of going through flashcards.
Worst character -
It's probably pretty obvious I am choosing Claudia for this one. Janine is not that bad, bitch. Back off.
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