The Baby-Sitters Club: The Truth About Stacey a Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier from the book by Ann M. Martin
Summary - In The Truth About Stacey, the Baby-sitters Club faces the reality of health problems for the first time, has a show down with a rival babysitting group, and learns how friendships can change over time and distance. The classic Ann M. Martin children's series has been updated for modern audiences in a series of graphic novels that allow young audiences today to identify with characters experiencing classic childhood dilemmas who were created for a very different era. This book follows Stacey, the baby-sitter who has recently moved to Stoneybrook from New York City as she navigates her diagnosis with Diabetes, a trip back to New York to settle things with old friends, and competition from a group of girls who threaten the very existence of the Baby-Sitters Club.
Impressions - The Baby-Sitters Club (BSC) books had an enormous audience when they were first released in 1986 and continued to grow with their audience in spinoffs of the original series until 2000. By updating the first few books that originally started the series, Raina Telgemeier is able to bring a whole new audience to these classic stories which early teenaged girls will identify with and enjoy. The simplicity of the original text, and its clearly defined character types are brought to life in the graphic novel in a much more modern sense that will bring more readers in than the original, somewhat outdated, chapter books.
Reviews - In her review on Young Adult Books Central.com(1), the reviewer known as 'Young Willow" raves about the renewal of the BSC, "the beloved books", in graphic novel form as bringing these "squeaky-clean" books to a modern audience. Telgemeier's artwork is called "adorable" and the series is "highly" recommended as classic and age appropriate. Giving readers an overview of the text, while placing this graphic novel in context in the larger BSC universe, this review is a good insight for parents and children and may bring in readers who would not have found this series on their own.
Use - This graphic novel is a great starting point for young teen girls who are looking for a simple, yet entertaining, series to get "hooked on" but who may not be as comfortable with books in general. As a lead in to the newly updated chapter book series, these graphic novels with their clear drawings and basis in text vice art, are wonderful examples of what this genre can accomplish if done from a literary perspective, vice when they are created with more illustrations than text and only to entertain.
(1) Willow, Little. (Unk). Treasured truth. http://www.yabookscentral.com/cfusion/index.cfm?fuseAction=books.review&review_id=14928.
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