Review - Kristy's Great Idea

Kristy's Great Idea (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #1)
by Raina Telgemeier
based on the novel by Ann M. Martin
Date: 2006
Publisher: Graphix
Reading level: MG
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 192
Format: e-book
Source: library

In this new graphic novel edition of the very first Baby-Sitters Club book, Raina Telgemeier captures all the drama of the original in warm, spunky illustrations. Witness Kristy's eureka moment, when she gets the idea for a "baby-sitters club" and enlists her best friends, shy Mary Anne and artistic Claudia, in an exciting new venture. But the baby-sitting business isn't the only thing absorbing their attention: Kristy is having a hard time accepting her stepdad-to-be, and the newest member of the gang, Stacey, seems to be hiding a secret.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I've known about these graphic novels for a while, and always wanted to try reading one. But it wasn't until recently that I spotted the first one at the library. I was a huge BSC fan when I was a tween, so I just had to give this series a try.

Aside from a few little nitpicky things (like why Claudia was allowed to dye a magenta streak in her hair when she wasn't even allowed to wear makeup), this is actually much like I remember the books being. The characters are developed well and incorporate the quirks from the original novels. Some things have not aged well (like a grown man saying that whoever drops their bread in the fondue has to kiss the person on their left, knowing full well that he's potentially going to get a kiss from a 12-year-old girl), and I still don't like Kristy (I never really did), but overall, this was a fun, nostalgic trip.

I'd definitely recommend this to fans of the original series. To be honest, I'm not sure how this would play to a modern audience. They'll have to view it as historical fiction, in any case. (There's not a smartphone in sight!)

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustration: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 ladybugs