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Kristy and the Sister War is the 112th book in The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin.

Back Cover Summary[]

When Kristy gets a regular sitting job at the Kilbourne house, she has to wonder: Doesn't Shannon Kilbourne, associate member of the BSC, have time to take care of her own sisters? The answer, unfortunately, is "no." Shannon is too busy to deal with her sisters. But they will not be ignored.

First, Tiffany and Maria try to help Shannon — by "cleaning" her room and "correcting" her algebra homework. When this doesn't work, Tiffany and Maria decide to make Shannon's life harder. Can Kristy manage to forge a truce — or will the Sister War rage out of control?

Main Plot[]

Kristy finds herself in the middle of trouble between her friend and fellow baby-sitter, Shannon, and Shannon's two younger sisters, Tiffany and Maria. Kristy wants to help the sisters smooth out their problems so that everyone will be happy.

Subplot[]

Characters[]

Kristy's Family

BSC Members

Kids

Pre-Teens

  • Steve - seventh grader that Mark sets up with Kristy and double dates with Claudia
  • Mark Jaffe

Teenagers

Adults

Locations[]

Pop Culture and Real-Life References[]

  • Ritz Crackers
  • Betty Crocker
  • I Love Lucy
  • Bewitched
  • Macy's
  • Star Trek
  • NFL, AL, and NBA
  • Mickey Mantle
  • Barney
  • The Beatles
  • Grateful Dead

Continuity and Inconsistencies[]

Continuity

Inconsistencies

Ann M. Martin's Dear Reader Letter[]

Dear Reader,

The idea for Kristy and the Sister War came first as a title — we liked the title so much that we decided to write a story to match! Kids often ask me where I get the ideas for my books and the answer is that they come from many different sources. Sometimes an idea is sparked by watching the news or reading the paper or a magazine. I read lots of magazines, everything from The New Yorker to People. The idea for BSC #84, Dawn and the School Spirit War, came from an article I read in a magazine.

Kids frequently send me plot ideas in their letters. I don’t use those specific ideas, but the letters are still helpful, because by reading them, I find out what issues are of concern to kids, or simply what they would like to read about in future BSC books. This was how the idea for BSC #93, Mary Anne and the Memory Garden, came about. Lots of books have been based on things that actually happened to me or to people I know. Some baby-sitting episodes are about things that happened to me when I was a sitter. My own baby-sitting memories gave me the idea for BSC #2, Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls. For me, the best story ideas come from real life. This is why when kids ask for writing tips, I always recommend that they keep a journal — not so much for writing practice, but as a source of ideas.

Trivia[]

  • Kristy and Claudia go on a shopping trip and double date together. Kristy realizes that she and her date have nothing in common and Mark Jaffe doesn't treat Claudia well.
  • Kristy and Alan dance together.
  • This is the only book where the kids worry about getting a "date" to a dance.
  • There are two dances in this book—one at SMS and the other at the Stoneybrook Community Center.
  • Emily teaches Shannon how to sit.
  • Mrs. Kilbourne starts going for her teaching degree.
  • Maria Kilbourne is a better swimmer then Kristy.
  • Astrid barks at Noodle whenever she's walked past the Papadakis house.
  • Claudia tries to set up Kristy on a date.
  • Kristy wears a skirt on her date. Her outfit consists of a flowered skirt, a soft fleecy vest, and a silky cream colored blouse.
  • Adam Pike still thinks that girls have cooties.
  • Tiffany and Maria both had a crush on Jordan Pike before dancing with the other Pike triplets.
  • Kelsey Middle School donated centerpieces from their last dance to the one at the community center.
  • There's a fake band called Happy Dogs and their hit is I Feel Like Dancing.
  • Lindsey, one of Shannon's friends, hates the Grateful Dead.
  • Kristy hears Mr. Kilbourne say something that she shouldn't quote at the beginning of chapter thirteen.
  • Shannon has a notebook entry at the beginning of chapter fourteen.
  • Mr. Kilbourne quit the rotary club.
  • Shannon's date for the dance had the flu and she goes as friends with Kristy.
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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