The Return of Our 90's Childhood!!

Interesting developments on the book front: They are re-releasing one of my favorite book series: The Babysitters Club!!

Gosh, when I was growing up, I read every single one of those books, some of them over and over. My faves were the books about Claudia and Dawn. I didn't care for Mary Anne much (too goody-goody) and Kristy was pretty bossy and too into sports (which I'm most definitely NOT). But I loved the books anyway, and was always trying to start new "clubs" of my own, though not babysitting clubs.

The Washington Post put out an interesting article about the re-release, showing here. Apparently, the new books are updated to include more modern societal references and technological advances- read: no more Walkmans or VCRs. While I understand that the publishers felt it was necessary to modernize the BSC to suit their more modern audience, the question remains: will these still be the same BSC girls we know and love?

The answer, in my opinion, will be a resounding "yes"! Here's why:

• we are living in a material world and I am a material girl. No joke, it might be awkward to read about Stacy and Claudia listening to a "boom box" or riding to school with their "Walkman". References to iPods or Claudia's new Uggs/Sketchers/insert-popular-shoe-brand-here will make us more comfortable, and won't be a jog back into reality- our current reality will be in-text.
• Updating some content will be refreshing because girls today are MUCH different than girls were in the late 80's and 90's when these books had their (first) heyday.
• In order for a story to be believeable, you have to believe that the story could actually happen- thus the genre "realistic fiction". Keep the books the same as before and you have "historical fiction". Publishers are looking to SELL books, not have old readers experience nostalgia. That's not why they are re-releasing the books.
• The girls are the same girls we love: Kristy, Claudia, Dawn, Stacy, and Mary Anne. They're still the Baby-Sitters Club, and they are still the same. Just had some work done, that's all.

Bottom line?

I'll buy the whole set when it comes out, prequel and all. I loved the books then, and I know I'll love them now. And as a teacher, I know that my students will enjoy the stories because they are easy to read and easy to relate to. And as my students head into middle school, reading something that touts middle school as a fun experience, not a traumatic one that society seems to paint, will ease their minds and give them something to look forward to.

Granted, middle school in America these days is a nightmare. But why scare the kids so early?

Nostalgically yours,

Nay