Mary Anne and the Music Box Secret is the 31st book in The Baby-Sitters Club Mystery series.
Back Cover Summary[]
While cleaning up Granny and Pop-Pop's house after a flood, Mary Anne finds a secret panel in the basement wall. Hidden behind it is a package marked with a threatening curse.
What's inside doesn't look sinister at all: it's a beautiful music box. But Granny swears it's not hers. And suddenly, a lot of odd things are happening at Granny and Pop-Pop's house.
Was the curse real? Who put the box there — and why? If Mary Anne and the BSC don't find some answers fast, they may wind up in serious trouble!
Summary[]
Subplot[]
The Barrett/DeWitt kids are getting a new addition on their house, and they build a playhouse before the grand opening.
Characters in this book[]
Mary Anne's Family
BSC Members
- Kristy Thomas
- Claudia Kishi
- Stacey McGill
- Jessi Ramsey
- Mallory Pike
- Abby Stevenson
- Shannon Kilbourne
- Logan Bruno
Kids
- Buddy, Suzi, and Marnie Barrett and Lindsey, Taylor, Madeleine, and Ryan DeWitt
- Jake, Laurel, and Patsy Kuhn
- Nicky, Margo, and Claire Pike
- Charlotte Johanssen (mentioned)
Adults
- Granny Porter
- Pop-Pop Porter
- Natalie DeWitt
- Franklin DeWitt
- Jim Prentice
- Dooley - Jim's assistant
- Eddie, Jake, Lori - contractors
- Hank and Esther - Granny and Pop-Pop's friends
- Mrs. Laura Stepkowski - desk attendant at Stoneybrook Town Hall
- Dr. Johanssen (mentioned)
- Caroline Kuhn
Places in this book[]
- Schafer/Spier House
- Hudson River docks
- Porter House
- Kishi House
- Barrett/DeWitt House
- Stoneybrook Town Hall
- Stoneybrook Public Library
Pop Culture and Real-Life References[]
- The song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
- National geographic
- Clue
- Star Trek (alluded)
- Guinness World Record book
Continuity and Inconsistencies[]
Continuity
- On page 7, there's a mention of the road trip from BSC in the USA.
- On page 11, Mary Anne recalls most of the BSC went on a cruise ship from Baby-sitters on Board!.
- On page 41, Mary Anne remembers when Dawn pegs the Barrett kids as the "impossible three" from Dawn and the Impossible Three.
- Claudia uses her photography skills from Claudia and the Clue in the Photograph in chapter 11 to examine a photo.
- Mary Anne recalled how she and Dawn found Sharon and Richard's old yearbooks from Mary Anne Saves the Day.
Inconsistencies
- Granny Porter's name is Grace in this book, but Rita in Dawn's Book.
- In Mary Anne Saves the Day, Sharon is said to move to California after college. Here it’s said that Sharon moved to California for college.
- In The Fire at Mary Anne's House, Sharon works at a small accounting business while in this book, Sharon is a realtor.
- In BSC in the USA, Dawn left two weeks early but it's still August in this book and it takes place right after.
Trivia[]
- The Barrett/DeWitts announced their remodel in Dawn and the School Spirit War about forty books prior between the super specials, mysteries, and regular books.
- This is the first time we see Granny and Pop-Pop without Dawn in the series.
- Mary Anne helps Sharon make a scrapbook for Granny and Pop-Pop.
- Mrs. Kuhn and Mrs. DeWitt are friendly with each other.
- There's a secret door in the DeWitt/Barrett girls' room.
- Mary Anne feels possessive of the mystery surrounding the box.
- Dawn calls in this book, but the conversation is only recounted.
- Mary Anne and Sharon end up bonding in this book.