Module 13 - The Baby-Sitter's Club: The Truth About Stacy, A Graphic Novel

Book
The Baby Sitter's Club: The Truth About Stacy, A Graphic Novel
Adapted by Raina Telgemeier
Written by Ann M. Martin


Citation
Telgemeier, R. (2006). The Baby Sitter's Club: The truth about Stacy, a graphic novel. New York: Graphix.



Summary
Based on the series novel, The Truth About Stacy takes on graphic novel form to find out the mystery surrounding Stacy McGill. Stacy was inducted as treasurer of The Baby Sitter's Club but has been keeping her secret from her friends. However, her secret - that she deals with the challenges of having the disease Diabetes - has started to cause trouble, making her miss many meetings of The Baby Sitter's Club. The other members of the club, her friends Mary Ann, Claudia, Kristy, and Dawn get tired of covering for her and take her absences from meetings as signs that she doesn't want to be in the club or friends, for that matter, anymore. Stacy has to make the decision to fess up to her secret or continue on as it with the possibility that her friends let her go.

Reviews
Horn Book (Spring 2007): While the club runs into a larger babysitting agency (run by older students more interested in money than in children) that threatens to put Kristy et al. out of business, club member Stacey comes to terms with overprotective parents, lost friendships, and her diabetes. No-frills dialogue and dynamic black-and-white panel illustrations skillfully convey sympathetic characters and an array of well-realized conflicts.

School Library Journal (March 1, 2007): Gr 5-7-Stacey is the new girl in town. She has made three good friends in a babysitters club but her memories of her old friends still haunt her. Many of them, including her best friend, Laine, ditched her after she was diagnosed with diabetes. Her parents aren't much help; they keep dragging her from doctor to doctor looking for a miracle cure. All Stacey wants to do is manage her condition on her own terms. An impending trip back to New York and a rival babysitting club has Stacey confused and nervous. Will she be able to reconcile with Laine? Will this new group, complete with sitters who can stay up late, end the club for good? The graphic adaptation of the hugely popular series has as much heart as the original. The girls' dedication to the kids they care for and to their friendship never comes off as hokey. The black-and-white cartoons capture each character's personality; the facial expressions say a lot. Each girl has her own style. The outfits have been updated but the skirts haven't gotten shorter. A solid purchase for both school and public libraries.

Suggested Use
Using the graphic novel concept, students can use cartoon boxes to express something they find hard to admit or share, like Stacy did with the disease she struggles with. Teachers can provide a cartoon template or allow students to create their own. Give students a chance to share out their graphic expression at the end of the creative time.

Impression
I adored The Baby Sitter's Club series when I was a child. Having the series adapted into graphic novel form meets the unique needs of today's young readers. I appreciate the attention to detail to show character expression throughout the book. I think upper elementary and middle school-aged students will get a kick out of the series because of its new and improved format.