Dawn and the Impossible Three

July 15, 2017
In the fifth installment of the graphic adaptation of the beloved series, one of the members of the Baby-Sitters Club copes with a family that's struggling through an acrimonious divorce.Dawn Schafer, white and a recent transplant from California, is the newest member of the club. Her mother is dating fellow member Mary Anne's father, and Kristy, their club president, is jealous of Mary Anne and Dawn's new bond. When Dawn begins to sit for a new family--the Barretts--she is immediately struck by their household's general disorder and rambunctious kids. She learns that the Barretts are in the midst of a tempestuous separation, and their growing rancor soon has serious implications for the entire family and Dawn. After a harrowing event, Dawn must confront Mrs. Barrett and voice her concerns despite her apprehension at broaching such a difficult topic with an adult. Slightly more serious than its predecessors, this offering tackles the weighty issues of divorce and kidnapping but manages to resolve things tidily in the comfortably episodic manner that fans of the series expect. This volume introduces new artist Galligan, who replaces veteran Raina Telgemeier. Although Galligan's style is subtly different than Telgemeier's, fans should not be alienated by the smooth transition. In her full-color panels, the principal characters appear to be white, save Asian club member Claudia. A worthy addition to the series, albeit a bit more somber than its forerunners. (Graphic adaptation. 7-12)

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July 1, 2017

Gr 3-5-Galligan translates the fifth volume in this long-running series, which focuses on a group of teens who run a babysitting business, into a graphic novel. Dawn, the newest member of the Baby-sitters Club, has just moved from California to Connecticut with her recently divorced mother and her brother and has more than enough on her plate. She's become close with her fellow club member Mary Anne, but Mary Anne's best friend, Kristy, feels threatened by the girls' bond. Plus, the club's new clients, the Barretts, are keeping Dawn busy: there are mountains of chores to do, the kids (the "Impossible Three") are still reeling after their parents' divorce, and frazzled Mrs. Barrett is too distracted to be much help. Relying on a bright palette and close-ups of the expressive, large-eyed characters, Galligan easily shifts between giggles with friends and more emotional scenes, always retaining the upbeat, earnest tone of the original. Judiciously used first-person narration, interspersed among the speech bubbles, injects a poignant touch into this light, breezy read. The winsome illustrations are reminiscent of the artwork of Raina Telgemeier, who adapted the first four installments in the series into graphic novels, but with a charm of their own. VERDICT While this title is bound to attract fans of the series, newcomers will eagerly dive right in. Recommended for readers seeking friendship tales in the vein of Telgemeier's books.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
Color by Braden Lamb. Galligan takes over this series of graphic-novel adaptations with the tale of new member Dawn's difficulties with a sitting client's family situation--and with BSC president Kristy's resentments. Though Galligan's drawing style, with its wide-eyed depictions of Martin's sympathetic characters, is distinct from that of previous illustrator Raina Telgemeier, she maintains the series' accessibility.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)