The Baby-sitters Club Fan Edition: Baby-sitter Summer

An all-star author lineup, including Ann M. Martin, creates the first ever Fan Edition Baby-sitters Club novel!

It's a summer to remember for The Baby-sitters Club, with Mary Anne and Stacey staying in Stoneybrook while Kristy, Claudia, Dawn, Jessi, and Mallory head on adventures all across the map.

Ann M. Martin is the bestselling author of the momentous series The Baby-sitters Club, as well as the Main Street series. Her other acclaimed novels include “A Dog’s Life,” “Belle Teal,” “Here Today,” and the Newbery Honor Book “A Corner of the Universe.” She lives in upstate New York. For more information, visit www.scholastic.com/bsc.

The Baby-sitters Club Fan Edition: Baby-sitter Summer by Ann M. Martin and Becky Albertalli is a warm, nostalgic, and feel-good return to the world of the Baby-sitters Club, designed especially for fans who already love Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, Stacey, Dawn, Mallory, and Jessi. Instead of being a typical numbered series book, this fan edition feels like a special summer-themed celebration of the characters and everything that makes the BSC charming: friendship, responsibility, everyday drama, and the small but meaningful adventures that come with babysitting and growing up. The story centers on a summer in Stoneybrook when the girls are juggling babysitting jobs, personal changes, and their own plans, making the season feel busy, exciting, and full of possibility. It captures the simple pleasures of summer—long days, outdoor fun, camp vibes, and a slightly slower pace—while still giving readers a mix of humor, heart, and the familiar rhythm of the club’s meetings and calls.

The summer setting gives the book its tone and structure. With school out, the girls have more time for babysitting, but they also have time to think about who they are and what they want. The Baby-sitters Club still meets in Claudia’s room, still organizes their schedules in a careful, efficient way, and still takes their job seriously. However, summer brings different kinds of jobs: more daytime sitting, outdoor play, trips to the park, backyard games, and sometimes longer stretches with certain families. The kids of Stoneybrook are out of school, full of energy, and often in need of activities and supervision, which means the sitters are busy. Through these jobs, the book shows the girls creating crafts, planning games, managing minor disasters, and helping kids handle their own summer feelings, whether that’s boredom, excitement, or a bit of anxiety about camps or changes. Each babysitting experience adds small stories that show the sitters’ creativity and care.

At the same time, “Baby-sitter Summer” focuses strongly on the friendships within the club. The girls’ personalities remain distinct and true to the original series: Kristy is still bossy and driven, always coming up with ideas and schemes to improve the club or organize group plans. Mary Anne is thoughtful, sensitive, and very tuned in to the emotions of the children and her friends. Claudia is artistic and stylish, with a playful approach to life and her own sense of individuality. Stacey blends New York sophistication with genuine loyalty, often being practical and observant. Dawn brings in her nature-loving, laid-back perspective, thinking about the environment and fairness. Mallory and Jessi are the younger members, eager to prove themselves and step into more responsibility. The summer allows the book to highlight how these different personalities mesh when they plan group activities, deal with conflicts, or talk about their worries. Small disagreements and misunderstandings arise, as they always do in close friendships, but the story emphasizes communication, empathy, and the way the girls always find their way back to each other.

Because this is a fan edition, there’s a strong sense of looking at the Baby-sitters Club through a slightly more reflective lens. The book invites readers to notice how much the girls have grown, how their relationships have developed, and how babysitting has given them confidence and independence. The summer also becomes a space where some of them question what comes next—how they’ll balance future responsibilities, changing interests, and growing up. There may be crushes, family tensions, and personal insecurities simmering under the surface, but the tone stays gentle and age-appropriate, focusing more on relatable feelings than on heavy drama. Becky Albertalli’s involvement adds a fresh, contemporary warmth to the emotional beats, while still respecting Ann M. Martin’s original voice and the cozy atmosphere of Stoneybrook.

The babysitting itself, as always, is at the heart of the story’s action. We see the sitters deal with a variety of kids and situations: siblings who bicker on hot days, children who are nervous about sleepovers or camps, kids who are restless and need something new to do, and those who are simply thrilled to have more free time. The sitters respond with classic BSC creativity—planning themed afternoons, putting together simple games or crafts, organizing mini “events” like backyard carnivals or reading clubs. Through these episodes, the book subtly shows how caring for children requires patience, flexibility, and understanding. The girls are not perfect; sometimes things go wrong, kids misbehave, or plans flop. But the emphasis is on learning from these moments, adjusting, and trying again. This makes their work feel both admirable and realistically messy.

Family life also plays a background role in shaping the summer. Each girl’s home situation adds color to the story: Kristy’s large blended family, Mary Anne’s relationship with her father and her changing routine, Claudia’s supportive yet sometimes strict parents, Stacey’s split life between New York and Stoneybrook, and the Weasley-like energy of big families around them—lots of siblings, different rules, and varying expectations. Summer can intensify family dynamics, since everyone is home more often and routines shift. The book touches on these dynamics in a gentle way, showing moments of friction but mainly highlighting love and support. Parents trust the Baby-sitters Club with their children, and that trust is portrayed as something the girls deeply value.

Because this is a fan-focused edition, there is also a sense of celebration and nostalgia. The book gives nods to familiar elements: the sign-up sheet systems, little details about Claudia’s snacks and outfits, Kristy’s big ideas, Mary Anne’s neatness, and Stacey’s health-conscious habits. It feels like a chance for longtime readers to revisit what they loved about the series—the comfort of returning to known characters, the charm of the babysitting jobs, and the way everyday life can be turned into small adventures. At the same time, the story remains accessible enough that newer readers can jump in and understand the dynamics easily, getting a taste of summer in Stoneybrook without needing every bit of series history.

Emotionally, “Baby-sitter Summer” leans on gentle themes: responsibility, growing up, friendship, and the importance of being there for others. The girls have to balance fun and work, explore what they want out of their summer, and support each other through small personal challenges. There are likely moments where one girl feels left out, overwhelmed, or uncertain about her role in the club or within her friend group. The story addresses these feelings by showing conversations, quiet support, and plenty of chances to fix mistakes. It reinforces the idea that friendships aren’t perfect, but they are worth the effort it takes to keep them strong.

By the end of the book, the feeling is that the summer, while not epic in a dramatic sense, has been deeply meaningful. The Baby-sitters Club has taken on a busy season, made memories with the children they care for, and strengthened their bond as a group. They’ve grown a little more confident, a little more aware of themselves, and a little more prepared for whatever comes after the summer ends. For readers, “The Baby-sitters Club Fan Edition: Baby-sitter Summer” works as a cozy, satisfying story that blends the comfort of familiar characters with fresh, summery energy. It reminds us why the Baby-sitters Club has remained beloved for so many years: it captures the everyday heroism of kids who show up, take responsibility, care for others, and build lasting friendships in the process.