- This article is about the original novel. For the graphic novel, see Dawn and the Impossible Three (Graphic Novel). For the Netflix episode, see Dawn and the Impossible Three (episode).
Dawn and the Impossible Three is the fifth book in The Baby-Sitters Club series.
Back Cover
Dawn's the newest member of the Baby-sitter's Club and everybody's glad — except Kristy. Kristy thinks things were better without Dawn around. That's why Dawn's eager to take on a big baby-sitting job: It's her chance to show Kristy what she's made of.
What a mistake! Taking care of the three Barrett kids is too much for any baby-sitter. The house is in chaos, the kids are impossible, and Mrs. Barrett never does any of the things she promises. Dawn's got more trouble than she bargained for. But she's not going to give up until all four Barretts are under control and she's friends with Kristy.
Main Plot
Dawn starts sitting for the three Barrett children, but their mother, Mrs. Barrett, is a complete scatterbrain! She starts off by leaving Dawn the wrong phone number, which Dawn doesn't find out until Suzi Barrett needs her mother. The Barretts really like Dawn, and Dawn ends up missing club meetings. But what will she do when Buddy Barrett is missing? Dawn is afraid that Buddy has been kidnapped! Things go wrong when the parent comes home!
Subplot
Characters
Dawn's Family
Extended Family
BSC Members
Kids
- Mallory, Jordan, Adam, Byron, Vanessa, Nicky, Margo, and Claire Pike
- Buddy, Suzi, and Marnie Barrett
- Jenny Prezzioso
- Jamie Newton (mentioned)
- Karen and Andrew Brewer
- Hannie Papadakis
- David Michael Thomas
- Sandy - student in Jordan's piano class
Teenagers
- Shillaber Twins (mentioned)
Adults
- Madeleine Prezzioso (mentioned)
- Mrs. Newton (mentioned)
- Watson Brewer
- Mr. Papadakis (mentioned)
- Tabitha Porter (Morbidda Destiny)
- Natalie DeWitt
- Mr. Murphy - neighbor of the Barretts (mentioned)
- Nick Prezzioso (mentioned)
- Mrs. Katz - Jordan's carpool driver to piano practice (mentioned)
- Hamilton Barrett
Locations
- Schafer House
- Kishi House
- Stoneybrook Middle School
- Pike House
- Barrett House
- Thomas House
Pop Culture and Real-Life References
- Puff the magic dragon
- Sesame street
- Disney
- Mary Poppins
- The sound of music
- Duncan Hines Brownie Mix
- The Brady Bunch
- The Phil Donahue Show
Continuity and Inconsistencies
Continuity
- The beginning of chapter 4 recalls how Mary Anne and Dawn met.
Inconsistencies
- Marnie found some M&M's and started eating them on page 49. Later on page 85, Mallory says she was allergic to chocolate.
Differences in the Reprints
Ann M. Martin's Dear Reader letter
Dear Reader,
In Dawn and the Impossible Three, Dawn winds up in a sticky baby-sitting situation. Her client, Mrs. Barrett, is very nice but completely disorganized. Dawn finds herself doing more than just baby-sitting — and not getting paid for it. Plus, Mrs. Barrett doesn’t give Dawn helpful instructions or leave her important phone numbers.
If you’re a baby-sitter, here are some things you can do to avoid getting into a situation like Dawn’s. Before you take on any job, find out what will be involved. If you’re going to be doing the job of a mother’s helper, make sure you’ll be paid for it. Although leaving the number where the client can be reached and other important numbers might seem to be the client’s responsibility, it’s your responsibility to ask for the numbers if the client hasn’t supplied them. Numbers you might need in addition to emergency numbers are those of the family pediatrician, a neighbor, or a nearby relative.
Trivia
- A Spanish edition of the book was released June 30, 2021. [1]
- Dawn is telling Kristy how her mom doesn't like her and Jeff to go in the barn too much. Apparently Sharon's afraid it'll come crashing down sometime because it's so old. Eventually the barn becomes the locations of festivals, camps, and other events the BSC hosts.
- This is the first mention of Sunny Winslow.
- On the dedication page it says "For Aunt Dot."
- Dawn says that she and Mary Anne are going to explore the house looking for a secret passage.
- Dawn's maternal grandparents would take Sharon to the Bahamas at Christmastime.
- Sharon and Richard go on a spur of the minute date.
- Mary Anne now wears contacts instead of her reading glasses along with Richard.
- Mary Anne wears jeans for the first time in chapter 2.
- Janine answers the door when Mary Anne and Dawn comes over. Later in the series, the girls just let themselves in.
- Dawn plans on putting avocado paste on her hair. Stacey already uses lemon juice and Claudia uses an egg rinse.
- Weekly dues in this book is 50 cents.
- There was a poster of London at night in the kitchen at Dawn's old house in California.
- Jobs lined up that we don't see: Kristy sitting for Jamie, Mary Anne sitting for Charlotte,
- In this book Karen is said to have skipped kindergarten into first grade. In later books it says that Karen skipped first grade and into second.
- Dawn officially becomes alternate officer in chapter 7.
- Mallory gave Byron the bizzer sign.
- In chapter 9, Claudia's handwriting is different then her later handwriting.
- On page 87 Dawn says that she missed a BSC meeting.
- Claudia has an aunt and uncle visiting Atlantic City that gave her salt water taffy.
- Dawn has thought of Mallory joining the BSC, which she did eventually in Hello, Mallory.
- Dawn eats taffy and gummy worms in this book.
- Dawn just barely stops Sharon from leaving for her date with Richard with the price tag still on her skirt, a rubber band around her wrist, and wearing only one earring.