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A review by daybreak1012
Stacey and the Mystery of Stoneybrook by Ann M. Martin
3.0
Before I get to my actual review, a quick disclaimer: Ever since I learned that Netflix was reimagining one of my favorite childhood book series, I had decided that I would be embarking on a re-read of this series, reliving a series of books that helped to shape me into a voracious reader. I am so excited to embark on this travel back in time. I don't expect to be mentally stimulated -- I mean, I'm not exactly a pre-teen middle-schooler these days -- but I make no apology for choosing to enjoy this series from the perspective of adulthood. Don't expect me to have any sort of psychoanalyst or feminist sermonizing on the appropriateness of the situations or the effects on a young girl reading these books; there's plenty of that to go around already. I'm here for the nostalgia and the meander down memory lane.
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Going into this one, I only remembered bits and pieces of the story. As I read, I was able to recall most of it, but the fact that it was something of a mystery has always been a big deal for me -- ever since my first Nancy Drew, I have loved a good mystery. What I really couldn't remember, though, was the outcome or how I felt about Stacey in this book.
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Going into this one, I only remembered bits and pieces of the story. As I read, I was able to recall most of it, but the fact that it was something of a mystery has always been a big deal for me -- ever since my first Nancy Drew, I have loved a good mystery. What I really couldn't remember, though, was the outcome or how I felt about Stacey in this book.
What I liked about Stacey and the Mystery of Stoneybrook:
The Stacey/Charlotte angle - We didn't get a ton of Stacey being bratty in this one (sometimes she and Dawn can both be pretty obnoxious in that regard) because she was involved in a unique sitting arrangement with her favorite charge. I loved their dynamic together, especially when Charlotte wasn't feeling well.
The stormy night at the Thomas-Brewer house - That whole scene played out in such a relatable way and when Kristy was searching books in the library and Sam and Charlie scared the wits out of her, I laughed right out loud, because I for certain would have reacted the same way she did, even as an adult.
What I didn't care for:
The actual mystery - The set-up and the premise were decent but the resolution was partially odd and partially unsatisfying. The explanations that were given felt like a stretch, and we kinda just dropped the whole burial ground/map in the book aspects.
More inconsistencies - This check-in is becoming an ongoing theme with my reviews lately. We're back and forth on the "has Dawn ever filled in for Kristy at a BSC meeting" pendulum. How hard is it to keep track of basic details? I mean, I sure seem to be able to from one book to the next.
What left me conflicted:
Stacey and Charlotte at the doctor's office - I just found it rather odd that a doctor wouldn't blink an eye at an 8th grader showing up at the pediatrician with a sick child and no adult.
My vague recollection of this book made me rate this one three stars, and I'm sticking with that assessment. This one was entertaining in some ways but none that really had anything to do with the main plotline.