The one in which Kristy has a Lifetime movie style stalker. Ok, cover artist rant time. We see David Michael, Kristy, and Shannon Kilbourne on the cover. Kristy is consistently described as being the shortest person in the entire 8th grade (I'm always thinking, like, 4'11", or maybe 5 feet at most). But here, she is basically the same height as Shannon. Plus, Shannon is always described as having super curly hair, not that shampoo-commercial straight hair she is rocking there. Of course, they always draw Stacey, the queen of the perm, with straight hair as well, maybe they just can't perfect curls.
(I can only hear that in Don's voice from Singing in the Rain)
After the dance, the BSC has a sleepover at Kristy's house, where they give Shannon all the details of the dance and write their own prank note for Cokie. All is right with the world again.
So, we open at a Krushers vs Bashers game (the softball teams started by Kristy and Bart Taylor, respectively). After the game, Bart offers to walk Kristy home, and we find out that Kristy has a massive crush on Bart. After some very generic 13 year old flirting, Kristy makes it home with little hearts in her eyes. The next day, after school, Kristy gets a call from Shannon, and she tells Special K that she had an envelope in her mailbox with Kristy's name on it. She brings it over, and Kristy sees that it has heart and flower stickers all over it. They rush upstairs to Kristy's room, where they read the enclosed note:
"Dear Kristy, I think you are the nicest girl I know. I would like to go steady with you. I wish I could tell you this in person. Love, your Mystery Admirer"
Special K immediately thinks it is a prank note from her brother, Sam, but Shannon doesn't think so, since it was in her mailbox, and thinks that the note is from Bart. Kristy doesn't think Bart is the type to write notes, though. The next morning, there is another note sitting on her front doorstep.
"Dearest Kristy, I can't stop thinking about you. Maybe I'm in love with you. I don't know. I've never been in love before. You are as beautiful as a snow-covered mountain. Love, your Mystery Admirer"
That day, Kristy brings the two notes to lunch to show the rest of the BSC. While Kristy still thinks this is a prank from Sam, everyone else agrees that it must be Bart. Kristy decides to call Bart that night, to see if he drops any hints, but he says nothing that even hints at the notes. The next afternoon, another one appears in her mailbox.
"Dear Kristy, I love you, I love you, I love you. Love (get the picture?), your Mystery Admirer"
In the midst of all of this, Kristy and Bart decide to have a World Series for their teams. Like, this is kind of ridiculous to me, because these two teams only play each other, and they literally decide to have a World Series. Where they only play each other. Again. Plus, their "World Series" is just one game, instead of, you know, an actual series of games. After the details of the championship game have been decided, Kristy decides to grab the bull by the horns and ask Bart to SMS's upcoming Halloween Hop (not that one. Or that other Halloween). After Bart says yes, Kristy immediately calls Stacey to tell her the good news (this was just weird to me, Kristy and Stacey always seemed like the least close friends of the BSC, why wouldn't Kristy call Mary Anne first, or even Shannon?).
The next day, when Kristy is sharing the news about Bart and the dance with the rest of the BSC at lunch, they notice Cokie Mason, our favorite BSC nemesis, sitting at the next table with her friends, and it is evident that she has been eavesdropping on their conversation. Kristy lowers her voice and they start talking about how Cokie pranked them last Halloween (this happens in Mary Anne's Bad Luck Mystery, which I haven't reviewed yet. Sorry if I just spoiled that one for you). Of course, this again highlights the mysterious Stoneybrook time paradox, because that Halloween also took place in 8th grade, when Stacey was back living in New York, before her parents divorced. Based on the chronology of the books, this may only be the 2nd Halloween of 8th grade. Anyway, I'm sure Cokie's mention here is her only appearance in the book, there is no way she could possibly have anything relative plot points after this...
Anyway, a couple of days later, another note appears on Kristy's front porch.
"I love you, I love you, I love you, but beware. Love is fickle. So are friends. Watch out for your Mystery Admirer."
Kristy immediately calls Shannon, who rushes over to discuss this new development. Shannon no longer thinks Bart is the note writer, since this seems out of character for him (Bart attends the same private school as Shannon). Kristy is no longer sure, and is starting to worry that Bart may be a psycho.
"Violets are blue, blood is red. I'll remember you when you are dead."
"I want to be with you forever - eternal togetherness. So I am coming to get you."
After getting a couple more notes in quick succession, Kristy starts seriously worrying that there is a true psychopath after her. She spaces out at the next BSC meeting and forgets to call it to order at 5:30 (grounds for impeachment? Dereliction of duty?). Kristy tells the BSC about the notes, and tells them that she wants to uninvite Bart to the Hop. They all talk her out of it, because they believe that Bart is innocent and that it would not be fair to him. Later that night, she is discussing her current theory with Shannon, that someone may be trying to kidnap her to get a ransom out of Daddy Watsonbucks. And, Shannon, bless her, immediately points out that a real kidnapper would go after Watson's real kids instead.
Shannon is back to thinking that Bart is writing the notes, but that he is doing so to psyche Kristy out for the upcoming World Series. Which, I mean. Is just one game. That means nothing. Like, no trophies or anything.
The next day, another note on her front porch.
"Beware. I'm coming sooner than you think. And once I find you, this is all that will be left of Kristen Amanda Thomas."
This note includes fingernail clippings in the envelope. Now, Kristy starts to completely panic, and refuses to walk home with Bart anymore, and won't accept his calls. Finally, Bart gets pissed, and shows up at Kristy's house for an explanation. She shows him the notes, and blushing, he admits to writing the first three, non-stalkery notes. He admits that he likes Kristy, and they make up. Kristy thanks him for the notes (she can't bring herself to call them love letters) and tells him that is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for her. However, the mystery of the later notes still remains.
The day of the World Series arrives, and Kristy notices Cokie and her friends in the bleachers. Cokie approaches Kristy, and Special K starts to brag about her boyfriend, that he's coming to the dance, and how they will be spending their lives together (nope, not a joke, Kristy actually says these things, not Stacey or Mary Anne). Cokie then uses the phrase "eternal togetherness", and Kristy immediately realizes that Cokie is behind the prank notes. She confronts Cokie, who admits it and says that she wanted revenge for "last Halloween," when the BSC humiliated her in front of Logan (I can't wait to read that book again). Kristy says that she is going to tell the whole school what Cokie did, and the mean girls flee in panic. I mean, honestly, I think that story would make Cokie look cooler than Kristy, pulling a prank over on the BSC, I can't see this ruining Cokie's reputation at all. But, this is Stoneybrook, where mean girls always get their due. Plus, I'm sad that we didn't get Cokie falling out of a tree at the game, like the BSC movie.
The day of the dance approaches, and Shannon is trying to help Kristy figure out what to wear. Kristy apparently only owns two dresses, one of which is her bridesmaid's dress, and the other one that she wore to Mary Anne and Dawn's parents' wedding. However, Bart calls at that moment, and says that he found a couple of lobster costumes of his parents in the attic, and asks Kristy if she wants to wear them for the Hop. She immediately agrees, and they end up winning Most Unusual Costume at the dance. Bart kisses Kristy on the cheek in the middle of the dance floor.
After the dance, the BSC has a sleepover at Kristy's house, where they give Shannon all the details of the dance and write their own prank note for Cokie. All is right with the world again.
Halloween Hop:
Kristy with Bart Taylor, dressed as lobsters.
Some Love Actually Nativity play lobsters for you.
Mary Anne with Logan, dressed as a witch and Frankenstein.
Stacey with Kelsey Bauman (yes, that's a guy), just dressed nice.
Claudia with Woody Jefferson, no outfit descriptions.
Mallory with Ben Hobart, Mallory dressed as a clown.
Jessi, no date.
Dawn, no date, dressed as Alice in Wonderland.
Fashion!!!
What Claudia Wore: "Claudia is the most interesting dresser I know. She is always wearing things like Day-Glo high-top sneakers, cut-up jeans, off the shoulder sweatshirts (sometimes torn), and friendship bracelets."
It appears that Brittany Pierce is a fan of the Claudia style, too.
What Claudia Wore: "Claudia is the most interesting dresser I know. She is always wearing things like Day-Glo high-top sneakers, cut-up jeans, off the shoulder sweatshirts (sometimes torn), and friendship bracelets."
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