Don't Give Up, Mallory! is the 108th book in The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin.
Back Cover Summary[]
Mal's thrilled with the subject of the new Short Takes class: Children's Literature, her favorite! But when the course begins, she couldn't be more disappointed. It's all discussion and no writing, which she hates. When she does raise her hand, the teacher, Mr. Cobb, ignores her.
It doesn't seem possible, but before long, Mal is certain: Mr. Cobb is favoring the boys. Mal knows that's wrong. It's not fair to her or any of the other girls. But is Mal brave enough to stand up for her rights?
Main Plot[]
"Mallory is delighted when the subject of the new Short Takes class turns out to be children's literature, but she is bitterly disappointed by the new young teacher, Mr. Cobb, who unintentionally favors the boys in the class, until Mallory decides to stand up for her rights."
Subplot[]
Mallory and the rest of the sixth grade class representatives have a spirit week to raise money for a class gift to the school. Mallory realizes one sixth grade class was supposed to get a student lounge but the money went to repairing the school. They donate the money to get the student lounge.
Characters[]
Mallory's Family
- John Pike
- Dee Pike
- Mallory Pike
- Pike Triplets:Jordan, Adam, Byron
- Vanessa Pike
- Nicky Pike
- Margo Pike
- Claire Pike
BSC Members
Kids
- Buddy, Suzi, and Marnie Barrett/Lindsay, Taylor, Ryan, and Madeleine DeWitt
- Jenny Prezzioso (mentioned)
- Sara and Norman Hill
- Linny, Hannie, and Sari Papadakis
- Squirt and Becca Ramsey
- Charlotte Johanssen
- Hunter Bruno
- Arnold Twins (mentioned)
- Jamie Newton (mentioned)
- James, Johnny, and Mathew Hobart (mentioned)
- Haley Braddock (mentioned)
Pre-Teens
- Benny Ott, Maria Fazio, Jimmy Bouloukos, Megan Armstrong, Glen Johnson, Liz Cohen, Randy Rademacher, Craig Avazian, Jen Corn, Robbie Mara, Chris Brooks, Bobby Gustavson, Noah Fein, Helen Gallway, Jamie Sperling, Laura Aronson, Renee Johnson, Fiona McRae - students in Mallory's class
- Rachel Robinson
- Justin Price
- Elise Coates
- Sandra Hart
- Lisa Mannheim
- Wendy Loesser (mentioned)
Teenagers
- Anna Stevenson
- Logan Bruno
- Alan Gray
- Woody Jefferson
- Trevor Sandbourne
- Cokie Mason (mentioned)
- Grace Blume (mentioned)
Adults
- Mrs. Frederickson - Mallory's teacher
- Mr. Williams
- Howard Kingbridge (mentioned)
- Ms. Garcia (mentioned)
- Mrs. Simon (mentioned)
- Damien Cobb
- Franklin DeWitt
- Mrs. Downey - School secretary
- Mr. Counts - School librarian
- Mr. Benjamin Taylor
- Mrs. Papadakis (mentioned)
- Dr. Johanssen (mentioned)
- Mrs. Gonzalez
- Madeleine Prezzioso
Locations[]
- Kishi House
- Pike House
- Stoneybrook Middle School
- Barrett/DeWitt
- Zuzu's Petals (mentioned)
- Pizza Express (mentioned)
- Rosebud Café (mentioned)
Pop Culture and Real-Life References[]
- Marguerite Henry
- Princeton
- Charlotte's Web, Where the Wild Things Are, The Polar Express, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, Make Way for Ducklings, The Wreck of the Zephyr, Goodnight Moon, Animalia (books)
- Dinosaurs
- Jurassic Park
- John Philip Sousa and the Stars and Stripes Forever
- Raffi
- Elvira
- Frankenstein
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Continuity and Inconsistencies[]
Continuity
- Mallory is still the sixth grade secretary which first happened back in Kristy for President.
- Mallory recalls when she got mono, won best overall fiction, and got her ears pierced on page 4.
- Kristy recalls All the Children of the World from Keep Out, Claudia! on page 23.
- Amelia Freeman's death and the memory garden is remembered on page 51.
- Mrs. Pike still has to wake Vanessa twenty minutes before the other kids so Vanessa will be on time for school.
Inconsistencies
- In chapter 6, Mal says she's going to Short Takes as her last class of the day, but then they go to lunch.
Ann M. Martin's Dear Reader Letter[]
Dear Reader,
In Don’t Give Up, Mallory, Mallory gets to take a class in children’s literature, and she is very excited about it at first. I can see why. I have always loved children’s books. I loved my own when I was a child, and even now I am always discovering new favorites. I like to browse in bookstores and libraries, and find interesting new books as well as stories I enjoyed when I was little.
On my shelves are lots of the books I had when I was a child. They are well loved, and well read. I’m looking at the bookshelves in my office now and I can see my copies of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang, Misty of Chincoteague, Blueberries for Sal, Pippi Longstocking, Beady Bear, and lots of others.
One of the exciting things for me about being an author is getting to meet other authors. Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to meet Judy Blume, Madeleine L’Engle, and R.L. Stine, among others. And one of my closest friends is Paula Danziger. In fact, we’re writing a book together now. Books and reading have always been an important part of my life — just as they are for Mallory.
Trivia[]
- Lindsey DeWitt is part of the girl scouts.
- Mallory got straight As in school.
- Buddy Barrett thought of the idea of creating a band to march in the parade.
- Previous sixth grade classes raised money for trees and shrubbery, chalk for classrooms, and library books.
- Mallory says that the triplets can take care of themselves.
- The BSC's sixth grade class raised money to get a trampoline for the gym.
- There was a harsh winter five years ago. Most of the BSC members would’ve been 8 at the time; Mallory and Jessi (even though she was still in Oakley) would’ve been 6.
- Benny Ott has a sister.
- The assistant principal gets on the dunk tank.
- Woody Jefferson and Trevor Sandbourne are friends.
- Next year Kristy just plans on watching the Memorial Day Parade.
- Mallory gets her first B+.
- All of the books mentioned in this books also has their authors mentioned.