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This article is about the original novel. For the graphic novel, see Mary Anne Saves the Day (Graphic Novel). For the Netflix episode, see Mary Anne Saves the Day (episode).

Mary Anne Saves the Day is the fourth book in The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin.

Back Cover Summary

Mary Anne has never been a leader of the Baby-sitters Club. She's left that up to Kristy... or Claudia... or Stacey. But now there's a big fight among the four friends, and Mary Anne doesn't have them to depend on anymore.

It's bad enough when she's left alone at the lunch table at school. But when she has to baby-sit a sick child without any help from her friends, Mary Anne knows it's time to take charge.

The Baby-sitters Club is going to fall apart unless somebody does something — fast. Maybe it's time for Mary Anne to step in and save the day!

Main Plot

During a meeting of the Babysitters Club, Mary Anne and Kristy are both available for a job baby-sitting Karen and Andrew. Mary Anne lets Kristy have the job. Mrs. Newton calls needing a sitter for Jamie and Lucy. Kristy takes the job without bothering to check who is available. Claudia then calls her a job hog. Stacey then points out to Claudia that she does it lots of times, and before you know it, all three are at each others' throats. Stacey reminds everyone that she's from New York and doesn't need shy little babies (Mary Anne), stuck-up job hogs (Claudia), and bossy know-it-alls (Kristy) as friends.

This causes Mary Anne to cry. Kristy then tells her to shut up and calls her a crybaby. Mary Anne then snaps and calls everyone mean names and runs home and cries. She then angrily prepares dinner for herself and her father. Her father then comes home and they ask God to watch over Alma (Mary Anne's deceased mother). Then she escapes to her room and decides not to tell her father about the fight. She thinks about calling Claudia, since Claudia didn't say anything mean directly to her. She is, however, not allowed on the phone after dinner. When she is ready for bed, she tries to apologize to Kristy using the flashlight code that they use. Kristy simply pulls her shade down. Then Mary Anne realized how angry Kristy was.

Subplot

After the BSC makes up, Mary Anne asks Dawn to join The Baby Sitters Club, and she accepts! Will Dawn be a good club member? Is she responsible enough? Nothing Dawn can't prove! Mary Anne and Dawn also discover that their parents knew each other in high school and they dated! Can Dawn and Mary Anne rekindle the love that they shared that ended tragically?

Characters

Spier Family

BSC Members

Kids

Pre-teens

Adults

Locations

Pop Culture and Real-Life References

  • A Wrinkle in Time, Blueberries for Sal, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, Pippi Longstocking, The Phantom Tollbooth (books)
  • Peter Rabbit
  • Humpty Dumpty
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Spiderman
  • Winnie-the-Pooh
  • TV guide
  • The Parent Trap
  • The Odd Couple
  • Chuck Norris
  • Connie Francis, Shelley Fabres, Brenda Lee, The Shirelles, the Marvelettes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas (singers)

Continuity and Inconsistencies

Continuity

Inconsistencies

  • Mary Anne tells Dawn that her mother grew up in Maryland. But in every other book where Mary Anne’s mother is talked about, it’s said that she grew up in Iowa.
  • Mary Anne says that Kristy was too upset to go to school the day after her parents announced that they were getting divorced. But in Kristy's Book, in the third section (On Our Own), it’s said Patrick left Elizabeth when he just didn’t come home from work one day. Elizabeth called his boss, who told her that Patrick quit his job and moved west.
  • When Mary Anne has the party at her house with the girls they make Stacey a hamburger since she "can't eat the processed cheese in pizza because of her diabetes" yet she still has pizza multiple times later in the series. However, this really reflects the changes in diabetes research and treatment over time.
  • In early editions of the book, Alma's name is Abigail instead.
  • In chapter 13 when Mary Anne asks Richard if he knew Sharon, he says he did. He says that after college she moved to California and they lost touch. But other books say that Sharon‘s parents sent her to college in California to get her away from Richard because the Porters didn’t approve of him.

Differences in the Reprints

  • Mr. Prezzioso initially pays Dawn and Mary Anne ten dollars each in the 1987 and 1995 novels. In the 2020 novel he pays them double what the BSC normally charges

Ann M. Martin's Dear Reader letter

Dear Reader,

In Mary Anne Saves the Day, the members of the Baby-sitters Club face their first real emergency. When Mary Anne realizes that Jenny is running a very high fever, she calls 911. If you’re a baby-sitter, or planning to be one, it’s important to find out whether you can call 911 for help in your community. If you can’t, you should find out what numbers to call to reach the police, or in case of a medical emergency, or fire. Remember, in any emergency, try to stay calm and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

When you’re baby-sitting, you’ll always feel better if you’re prepared. A great way to get prepared is to take a course in baby-sitting. Check in your town to see if any are offered by your hospital, YMCA, or Red Cross. Ask your school nurse or teacher for information. If you want to read about baby-sitting emergencies, look in your local bookstore or library for The Baby-Sitters Club Guide to Babysitting.

Trivia

  • While illustrator Joel Iskowitz created the final cover artwork of the original cover of the book, this artwork was based on a rejected illustration by Dale Dyer, so Dyer can be credited with the artwork's general format.
  • The graphic novel version of "Mary Anne Saves the Day", written by Raina Telgemeier, was the third BSC graphic novel published.
  • This is the first introduction of Dawn into the main series.
    • This is also the first time we see Dawn's house, which is described as smaller then it is later in the series.
  • In the 1987 edition, the book dedicated to "the real Claire and Margo, Claire DuBois Gordon and Margo Méndez-Peñate, Class of 2006" who were Ann's students. The 1995 edition says "This book is for Beth McKeever Perkins, my old baby-sitting buddy. With love (and years of memories)."
  • Kathy, the regular sitter for David Michael, finally quit since the first three books.
  • Jobs that Claudia has taken and not asked the others about includes: the Pikes, Charlotte, and the Marshalls.
  • Mary Anne's room hasn't changed since she was 2.
  • Mary Anne has walked to school without Kristy 4 times in her life and sometimes walks with Claudia.
  • Initially Mary Anne thought that Dawn "wasn't exactly pretty but pleasant looking."
  • Jobs lined up but not seen: Stacey for Charlotte, Claudia for David Michael, Claudia for the Marshalls, Kristy for the Newtons and Brewers.
  • Kristy doesn't show up to a BSC meeting (not calling ahead) to go to the Shillaber twins' house.
  • This is the first time the Prezziosos called the BSC, although the girls know who Jenny is because she's friendly with the Pikes.
  • Mr. Prezzioso calls Mary Anne Mary Lou by mistake.
  • This is the first time we see a sitting a job for all of the Pikes. In the first three books, Claire, Margo, and Mallory were seen.
  • Mary Anne considered calling Dawn for a sitting job when she and Kristy were fighting.
  • Mary Anne used to go through her parents yearbooks until she was 9.
  • Jamie celebrates a birthday in this book.
  • Sharon moved to California after college, so it's unclear which school she went to, but it wasn't the same as Richard’s.
  • This is the only BSC book with 16 chapters, usually the books last 15 chapters.
  • Richard and Sharon planned a date right after seeing each other for the first time since high school.
  • Dawn officially joins the BSC.

Gallery

US covers

Other Images

International Covers

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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