Tuesday, August 20, 2013

“All those plant things look the same to me.” BSC Mystery #19: Kristy and the Missing Fortune (1995)

Guess what, BSC fans! I’m once again sitting in an airport. This time, I got bumped from one flight to another. But it means that you get another BSC book, so there you are! I know I am ridiculously behind, and I apologize. I’m going to see how quickly I can catch up, but we’re in the midst of bridezilla-rama right now, so be patient.

This one is totally full of ludicrousity. (I’m aware that’s not a word, and I don’t care!)

There are two mysteries that combine into one at the end. First, Kristy discovers that a girl with almost her same name, Christina Thomas, disappeared in 1863 and took a fortune with her. Kristy decides they must be related because their names are so similar. Meanwhile, the BSC is helping to fix up the arboretum, which is at threat of closing unless some wealthy lady decides to buy it. It turns out the arboretum is on the grounds of Christina’s old family estate, and Kristy and company don’t find the treasure, but they do find the deed to the house with a note leaving it to the city, so the arboretum is saved.

Interesting tidbits

Emily Michelle is mini-Claudia. Not only are her academic skills on par with Claudia’s (ouch!), but she’s also Asian and a baby fashionista. Her new favorite word is ‘tylis,’ which means stylish.

Kristy makes fun of the fact that Andrew has a goldfish named Goldfishie. A) I totally remember reading the Little Sister book when Karen and Andrew got goldfish and B) I had two goldfish when I was much older than Andrew, and they were named Chris the Fish and Fisher. She has no place to make fun.

If Kristy knows that Boo-boo bites, why does she even bother petting him?

Heh. Kristy feels the need to explain that it’s okay to act like a kid, you shouldn’t throw tantrums. Good sitting advice?

Karen drops EM on the ground (hard, on purpose) and only gets a time out that lasts about a minute. I’m not for corporal punishment, but I’ll make an exception for Karen.

Kristy gets mad because she suggests 1000 activities for her sibs to keep them busy and they automatically veto all of them. Then Karen gets a lame-o idea and all the kids decide to do exactly what she suggests. Shut up, Kristy. At least they’re quiet and found something to do that doesn’t involve killing each other. Plus, it helps you find a mystery!

I love how Charlotte skipped a grade, yet she’s the same age as Becca and they’re in the same grade. (The same is true of Karen, but at least in her case, we got to see her have an extra birthday, so it makes a little bit more sense.)

Ew. Kristy chews pencils when she’s agitated. When MA points it out, Kristy says she sounds just like her third grade teachers.

Claudia lies to her mom about the nature of why she, Kristy and MA are researching things at the library.

I’m always amused by the names they use for old-timey characters in these series. Christina’s brothers are Edward (which works) and Devon (which is a little odd.) Even funnier is the fact that Devon had a single son, Devon II, who had a single son, Devon III, who had a single son, Devon IV. Meanwhile, Edward had a son named Scott. In the 1870s, not the 1970s.

Poor Watson. Kristy takes Karen and DM to the arboretum, and Watson has to go back home and watch Barney. I bet he would have loved to change places with Kristy.

How has Mrs. Abbott, Christina’s great-grandniece, heard of the BSC? Forget that, why would she invite a complete stranger to her house, even a thirteen year old girl? For all she knows, Kristy might have been planning to rob and murder her.

Kristy gets a letter from Mrs. Abbott that was the last communication Christina ever made. It basically just says, “If I never see you again, look in our special place” but MA actually cries because she thinks it’s so romantic.

When Cokie first shows up in the story, Kristy says Cokie tried to steal Logan from MA. But that’s not true. When Cokie made a play for Logan, he and MA werebroken up. It was Grace who wanted Logan while he was dating Mary Anne.

When the girls all discuss what they’d do with the fortune if it were theirs, Dawn says she’d buy a private jet. Sounds like a stupid choice for someone who complains about how bad RVs are for the environment.

Claudia spelling: statchew.

The BSC decide the treasure must be in the rose garden, and they completely “f” it up in the name of finding the treasure. And get into trouble with the arboretum’s curator.

Kristy gets into 1863 gossip about why the baker’s wife left him.

They discover that the circle drawn on Christina’s letter means the full moon, which conveniently, is two days away and on a Friday. Any time the BSC needs to sneak out of the house or hang out at night, it’s a weekend.

Add to that, why is Charlie always so cool with dropping the BSC members in the middle of nowhere late at night?

Kristy: “This is a stakeout, not a fashion show.”

While the BSC is on their “stakeout” waiting for the full moon, someone sneezes. MA blesses them before she realizes it’s not one of her friends.

Cokie has been following the BSC around for like six chapters before the BSC finds out that she’s Mildred Abbott’s granddaughter.

When the BSC and Cokie finally find the “treasure,” it’s a letter to Christina’s fiancé, Henry, a locket and the deed to the house.

Ahh, Cokie is the voice of reason for once: she suggests that a lawyer will need to look over the documents to make sure they’re legitimate.

Apparently, Mal and Jessi like being hired help.

For some reason, Mrs. Abbott gives the locket to Kristy, rather than Cokie.

Outfits (there are tons of outfits in this one! sweet!)

Claudia: blue and green tight stretchy shirt; huge overalls, green floppy hat. (Sounds exactly like what I was wearing back then. Well, minus the hat); black jeans, black cowboy boots, black suede jacket with fringe (She’s wearing the jacket on the cover, only with a pair of wellie boots that make her look like a pirate.); tuxedo


Stacey: baby doll dress, with really high cork soled platforms (She’s straight out of Clueless); black leggings, black high tops, dark green sweater and matching hat; black dress

Jessi: black leotard, jeans, red leg warmers

Mal: jeans, purple sweater, button that says “I read banned books”

Kristy: white button down shirt, blue sweater, panty hose, green corduroy skirt, brown loafers; black velvet dress with high neckline

Dawn: green, “floaty” dress

MA: flowered dress with lacy collar (yes, but is it a Laura Ashley?)

I hope to have another book done by the end of Friday but we’ll see how that works out. The next book is #53, Kristy for President.

No comments:

Post a Comment