Mary Anne and the Zoo Mystery is the twentieth book in The Baby-Sitters Club Mystery series.
Back Cover Summary[]
School at the zoo? Totally wild! The Baby-sitters can't wait to start on their animal observation projects for science class because they get to work at the Bedford Zoo!
But on their very first visit, Mary Anne and her friends smell trouble. Somebody's letting animals out of their cages.
So far, each one has been caught and returned without incident. But what if this monkey business turns serious? Can the Baby-sitters figure out who's behind it all, before somebody gets hurt?
Summary[]
Main Plot[]
Subplot[]
The BSC forms a community service project with their clients to free Babar, an elephant.
Characters in this book[]
Mary Anne's Family
BSC Members
Kids
- Jordan, Adam, Byron, Vanessa, Nicky, Margo, Claire Pike
- Matt and Haley Braddock
- Charlotte Johanssen
- Marilyn and Carolyn Arnold
- Becca and Squirt
- Corrie Addison
- Sara and Norman Hill
- Jenny Prezzioso
- Jamie Newton
- Nina Marshall
- Karen Brewer
- David Michael Thomas
Teenagers
- Alan Gray
- Howie Johnson
- Brent Jensen
- Todd Long
- Justin Forbes
- Erica Blumberg
- Stacey McGill
- Shawna Riverson
- Hannah Toce
- Emily Bernstein
- Alexander Kurtzman
Adults
- Mrs. Gonzalez
- Ms. Griswold
- Ms. Harris
- Mr. Blake
- Mr. Benjamin Taylor
- Mr. Kirkwood - shop teacher and bus driver
- Mrs. Braddock
- Mrs. Newton
- Rioko Kishi (mentioned)
- Curtis - Bedford Zoo worker
- Tim - Bedford Zoo vet
- Cecelia Parker
- Dr. Arden P Wordsworth - primate studies naturalist
- Mr. Chester
- Mrs. Wofsey - director of the Bedford Zoo
Places in this book[]
- Mary Anne and Dawn's House
- Bedford Zoo
- Claudia's House
- Stoneybrook Middle School
Pop Culture and Real-Life References[]
- Black Stallion, Black Beauty (books)
- Frankenstein monster
Continuity and Inconsistencies[]
Continuity
- Stacey is not part of the BSC since their fight in Stacey vs. the BSC.
Inconsistencies
- On page 39 that she schedules a sitting job for Kristy and Jessi at the Pikes on Thursday, but when they write about the Thursday sitting job a few chapters later, it's Kristy and Mallory sitting.
- Mary Anne says that Claudia’s parents were so concerned about her falling behind in school that they asked her to consider quitting the BSC. In other books, it’s said that her parents threatened to force Claudia to quit the club if her grades were too low.
Trivia[]
- This book’s working tile was Mary Anne and the Mystery at the Zoo[1].
- Logan is a natural at science.
- Alan loves seals.
- Mary Anne, Logan, Dawn, Claudia, Howie, and Alan have lifetime passes to the Bedford Zoo.
- Stacey still baby-sits Charlotte even though she's not part of the BSC.
- Kristy is dating Bart according to Mary Anne.
- The Gianellis, Papadakises, Hobarts, and Pikes all call the BSC in chapter 4.
- There's a YMCA in Stoneybrook.
- One set of Mallory's grandparents is mentioned to have given the kids a button maker.
- Mary Anne likes science even though she's not good at it.
- On page 70 Peaches Benedict is indirectly mentioned.
- Marilyn Arnold lost a tooth.
- The idea of replacing Stacey is briefly discussed.