It’s back to Sea City! For the whole BSC! But… not until 122 pages in. Also, there’s a Hurricane. We discuss preparing kids for disaster, whether or not Logan is actually… evolving? And why Ann M. Martin keeps referencing the same 6 texts. Also, the climax of the book comes on page 3: what is superior, Heath or Skor? Listen to find out!!

It’s been three years since we took an idle conversational joke and turned it into a podcast! Join us a we play some games (and successfully stump each other), reflect on what the BSC and the podcast have meant to us, and finally answer whether Ted Lasso is really a Kristy or not. Thank you, listeners! We love you!!!

GONE FISHIN'. (Well, not really FISHING, but you know what we mean.)

Kristy goes from mansion to mansion as the Krashers get stranded in a big storm that washes out BOTH THE BRIDGES to the old Sawyer place. We discuss whether the daring Dorothy Sawyer really may have had other options, play some get to know you games to make our team stronger, and sing the praises of Charlie’s big brotherness. Two pizzas isn’t enough, y’all.

Stacey falls in LUV with one Mr. Wesley Ellenburg, the Tom Cruisiest student teacher to ever grace SMS. Charlotte crushes on Bruce Cominsky and then gives him the brushoff but also? There’s a baby goat. And in case you’re unclear, she is CUTE. Esme discusses the psych literature on crushes (and says “fondle” too many times for anyone’s liking) and Anne and Emily have a surfeit of delicious pop culture and feminist nuggets (but none as delicious as “all-natural crispy rancho-style veggie rice nuggets with nacho substitute cheese-food flavor”).

We are on the road with the Spier-Schafers! Sharon and Richard are not equipped and Esme tells us why. Emily wonders what this book (with clear Boston Tourism spon con) would be like if it was written now with, um, ANY acknowledgement of non-white people. And Anne had a whole pack of nuggets! It’s a 20 piece! Listen in and say a prayer for Marshall Gaines, family photographer.

Is this book is about crime? It is not. It’s about NYC glamour! It’s about dancing! It’s about the Palm Court and Zabar’s! Emily and Anne have lots of nuggets, and Esme makes them take a Dating Questionnaire for their eleven year old selves. Also, are any actors good? Emily is suspicious. Tune in and find out!

Emily’s mom (and Esme’s sister) is in town just in time for the publication of this banger by the mysterious Margot Becker R. We discuss Dayna’s boomer childhood compared to Ann’s boomer childhood, plus what we think was left out of the story when Scholastic pushed this to market in 1993 (and why Dayna’s current students that love the BSC wouldn’t love this book). Hard work gets you everywhere, people! Plus lots of nuggets including the original Pikes (and Emily MISSED IT).

Have we mentioned lately that we think Claudia has ADHD? In this book we learn that she doesn’t have dyslexia, but Shea Rodowsky does. Of course, this is an opportunity for Esme to talk about validation and dialectics, Emily to talk about fictional and proposed “fashion czars/tsars,” and Anne to have a nugget fest, from Whoopee cushions to Jordan Catalano! Join us, won’t you?

This book is not kind to kids in the foster system! But is it on purpose, to help us relate? Or is it just crap? We discuss Lou McNally’s genderqueer presentation and the dangers of equating that with her trauma. Also, a riveting BSC Big 5!!!