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Jessi and the Awful Secret is the 61st book in The Baby-Sitters Club series.

Back Cover Summary[]

When Jessi's dance teacher asks for volunteers to help out in a ballet class for children, Jessi gladly signs up. She loves kids, and this will give Jessi a chance to get to know some of the girls in her own class better.

Soon, Jessi wishes she didn't know them so well. Because Jessi discovers a secret about Mary Bramstedt. One that could hurt Mary. Jessi knows she has to tell someone. But will telling the secret mean losing a friend?

Summary[]

Subplot[]

Shannon has a free schedule but Kristy has been busy so she gets the BSC to spend some time with her. Kristy then becomes jealous when all her friends are spending time with Shannon.

Characters[]

Jessi's Family

BSC Members

Kids

Preteens

Teenagers

  • Carrie Steinfeld - student in Jessi's ballet class
  • Lisa Jones - student in Jessi's ballet class
  • Mindy Howard - student in Jessi's ballet class
  • Raul, Darcy, Cherisse, and Sue - student teacher volunteers

Adults

Locations[]

Pop Culture and Real-Life References[]

  • George Ballanchine (ballet choreographer)
  • Fantasia, An American in Paris, It's a Wonderful Life - movies
  • Rolls Royce
  • Burger King
  • Charlie Chaplin, Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison - dancers
  • Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake (ballets)
  • America’s Funniest Home Videos
  • X-men
  • Pete's Dragon
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
  • Raggedy Ann
  • Winnie the Pooh
  • Julliard
  • The Nutcracker Suite - dance of the sugar plum fairies

Continuity and Inconsistencies[]

Continuity

  • All of the students in Jessi's dance class are the same as before.
  • Stacey remembers when the BSC thought that she was anorexic before she told them about her diabetes.
  • Tiffany is eleven in the book, which is the same age she was introduced as.
  • Jessi remembers being a swan maiden in Swan Lake from Jessi and the Superbrat.

Inconsistencies

  • On page 76 Kristy's mom is Mrs. Brewer. On Page 77 she's Mrs. Thomas.

Ann M. Martin's Dear Reader Letter[]

Dear Reader,

I’ve received many letters from kids who are concerned about their weight. Most of them were concerned that they were overweight and wanted to know about dieting or about eating more healthfully. Others were already dieting and wanted to know if they were going about it properly. Still others were concerned about friends who seemed to be taking their diets to an extreme. They wanted to know how they could help their friends. Dieting can be a complicated issue for anybody. It’s true that many Americans are overweight, which is not healthy. Being overweight can lead to heart disease and other serious problems. On the other hand, it is equally unhealthy to be underweight. A severe eating disorder is anorexia, which is what Jessi’s friend Mary Bramstedt develops.

One of the most important things to remember when you start a diet is to start a healthy one. The first thing you should do is talk to your parents and then, with your parents, talk to your doctor. Your doctor can help you find a diet that is just right for you, your exercise level, and your lifestyle. If you are concerned about a friend who seems to be taking a diet to an extreme, talk to an adult immediately. A parent, the school nurse or guidance counselor, a teacher, anyone you think can help — because your friend does need help.

Happy reading — and be healthy!

Trivia[]

  • Aunt Cecelia is now described as fat.
  • Mal and Jessi hate horror stories.
  • Shannon is said to have "short curly blonde hair."
  • Watson's accountant is named Stewart.
  • Dawn would consider eating fast food inhuman torture.
  • Hannie always plays Mrs. Noswimple during "Let's All Come In."
  • Janine is studying psychology in school and lends the BSC her books.
  • Kristy was going to a basketball game at Bart’s school one night
  • Shannon is good at imitations.
  • Charlie is very punctual.
  • David Michael is a few months older then Karen and Hannie and Nancy are almost a year older then her.
  • Jessi gets letters from Quint Walter, and it was his idea to consider the scholarship.
  • Jessi doesn't agree with Madame Dupree's teaching methods at first.
  • Kristy goes to a planning meeting at school for the spring dance.
  • Jessi goes to Aunt Cecelia for advice.
  • Claudia stress eats
  • Jessi sometimes feels intimated by Madame Noelle
  • Watson never makes a financial move without talking to his accountant first. He and Elizabeth set up a scholarship fund which gets name after them.
  • Shannon starts to attend BSC meetings regularly

Gallery[]

Baby-Sitters Club Books
The Summer Before | #1 Kristy's Great Idea | #2 Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls | #3 The Truth About Stacey | #4 Mary Anne Saves the Day | #5 Dawn and the Impossible Three | #6 Kristy's Big Day | #7 Claudia and Mean Janine | #8 Boy-Crazy Stacey | #9 The Ghost at Dawn's House | #10 Logan Likes Mary Anne! | #11 Kristy and the Snobs | #12 Claudia and the New Girl | #13 Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye | #14 Hello, Mallory | #15 Little Miss Stoneybrook... and Dawn | #16 Jessi's Secret Language | #17 Mary Anne's Bad-Luck Mystery | #18 Stacey's Mistake | #19 Claudia and the Bad Joke | #20 Kristy and the Walking Disaster | #21 Mallory and the Trouble with Twins | #22 Jessi Ramsey, Pet-sitter | #23 Dawn on the Coast | #24 Kristy and the Mother's Day Surprise | #25 Mary Anne and the Search for Tigger | #26 Claudia and the Sad Good-bye | #27 Jessi and the Superbrat | #28 Welcome Back, Stacey! | #29 Mallory and the Mystery Diary | #30 Mary Anne and the Great Romance | #31 Dawn's Wicked Stepsister | #32 Kristy and the Secret of Susan | #33 Claudia and the Great Search | #34 Mary Anne and Too Many Boys | #35 Stacey and the Mystery of Stoneybrook | #36 Jessi's Baby-Sitter | #37 Dawn and the Older Boy | #38 Kristy's Mystery Admirer | #39 Poor Mallory! | #40 Claudia and the Middle School Mystery | #41 Mary Anne vs. Logan | #42 Jessi and the Dance School Phantom | #43 Stacey's Emergency | #44 Dawn and the Big Sleepover | #45 Kristy and the Baby Parade | #46 Mary Anne Misses Logan | #47 Mallory on Strike | #48 Jessi's Wish | #49 Claudia and the Genius of Elm Street | #50 Dawn's Big Date | #51 Stacey's Ex-Best Friend | #52 Mary Anne + 2 Many Babies | #53 Kristy for President | #54 Mallory and the Dream Horse | #55 Jessi's Gold Medal | #56 Keep Out, Claudia! | #57 Dawn Saves the Planet | #58 Stacey's Choice | #59 Mallory Hates Boys (and Gym) | #60 Mary Anne's Makeover | #61 Jessi and the Awful Secret | #62 Kristy and the Worst Kid Ever | #63 Claudia's Freind Friend | #64 Dawn's Family Feud | #65 Stacey's Big Crush | #66 Maid Mary Anne | #67 Dawn's Big Move | #68 Jessi and the Bad Baby-sitter | #69 Get Well Soon, Mallory! | #70 Stacey and the Cheerleaders | #71 Claudia and the Perfect Boy | #72 Dawn and the We Love Kids Club | #73 Mary Anne and Miss Priss | #74 Kristy and the Copycat | #75 Jessi's Horrible Prank | #76 Stacey's Lie | #77 Dawn and Whitney, Friends Forever | #78 Claudia and Crazy Peaches | #79 Mary Anne Breaks the Rules | #80 Mallory Pike, No. 1 Fan | #81 Kristy and Mr. Mom | #82 Jessi and the Troublemaker | #83 Stacey vs. the BSC | #84 Dawn and the School Spirit War | #85 Claudia Kishi, Live From WSTO! | #86 Mary Anne and Camp BSC | #87 Stacey and the Bad Girls | #88 Farewell, Dawn | #89 Kristy and the Dirty Diapers | #90 Welcome to the BSC, Abby! | #91 Claudia and the First Thanksgiving | #92 Mallory's Christmas Wish | #93 Mary Anne and the Memory Garden | #94 Stacey McGill, Super Sitter | #95 Kristy + Bart = ? | #96 Abby's Lucky Thirteen | #97 Claudia and the World's Cutest Baby | #98 Dawn and Too Many Sitters | #99 Stacey's Broken Heart | #100 Kristy's Worst Idea | #101 Claudia Kishi, Middle School Dropout | #102 Mary Anne and the Little Princess | #103 Happy Holidays, Jessi | #104 Abby's Twin | #105 Stacey the Math Whiz | #106 Claudia, Queen of the Seventh Grade | #107 Mind Your Own Business, Kristy! | #108 Don't Give Up, Mallory! | #109 Mary Anne to the Rescue | #110 Abby the Bad Sport | #111 Stacey's Secret Friend | #112 Kristy and the Sister War | #113 Claudia Makes Up Her Mind | #114 The Secret Life of Mary Anne Spier | #115 Jessi's Big Break | #116 Abby and the Best Kid Ever | #117 Claudia and the Terrible Truth | #118 Kristy Thomas, Dog Trainer | #119 Stacey's Ex-Boyfriend | #120 Mary Anne and the Playground Fight | #121 Abby in Wonderland | #122 Kristy in Charge | #123 Claudia's Big Party | #124 Stacey McGill... Matchmaker? | #125 Mary Anne in the Middle | #126 The All-New Mallory Pike | #127 Abby's Un-Valentine | #128 Claudia and the Little Liar | #129 Kristy at Bat | #130 Stacey's Movie | #131 The Fire at Mary Anne's House
Super Specials
#1 Baby-sitters on Board! | #2 Baby-sitters' Summer Vacation | #3 Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation | #4 Baby-sitters' Island Adventure | #5 California Girls! | #6 New York, New York! | #7 Snowbound | #8 Baby-sitters at Shadow Lake | #9 Starring the Baby-sitters Club #10 Sea City, Here We Come! | #11 The Baby-sitters Remember | #12 Here Come the Bridesmaids! | #13 Aloha, Baby-sitters! | #14 BSC in the USA | #15 Baby-sitters' European Vacation
Portrait Collection
Stacey's Book | Claudia's Book | Dawn's Book | Mary Anne's Book | Kristy's Book | Abby's Book
Other
The Baby-Sitters Club Notebook (1987) | The Baby-Sitters Club Postcard Book (1991) | Trivia & Puzzle Fun Book (1992) | Ann M. Martin: The Story of the author of the Baby-sitters Club (1993) | The Baby-Sitters Club Guide to Babysitting (1993) | The Baby-Sitters Club Chain Letter (1993) | The Baby-Sitters Club Secret Santa (1994) | Audio Books on Cassette Tape (1994-5) | BSC Movie Novelization (1995) | The Complete Guide to the Baby-Sitters Club (1996) | Autograph Book (1998) | BSC Graphic Novels (2006-present) | We Are the Baby-Sitters Club: Essays and Artwork from Grown-Up Readers (2021) | Welcome to Stoneybrook: A Guided Journal (2021) | The Official Coloring Book (2023)
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