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This article is about the original novel. For the graphic novel, see The Truth About Stacey (Graphic Novel). For the Netflix episode, see The Truth About Stacey (episode).

Back Cover Summary

The truth about Stacey is that she has diabetes. Nobody knows... except her friends in the Baby-sitters Club.

But even they don't know the real truth about Stacey. Stacey's problem is her parents. They won't admit she has the disease, and they drag her to practically every doctor in America!

Seeing so many doctors made Stacey lose one friend, and she won't let it happen again. Especially now - when the Baby-sitters Club needs her more than ever.

Main Plot

Stacey's parents have been looking for a cure for her diabetes, dragging her to doctor from doctor (including a holistic doctor) which makes Stacey unhappy.

Stacey talks to Dr. Johanssen (Charlotte Johanssen's mother) who helps her schedule an appointment with a sensible doctor who convinces her parents to lay off the search for a miracle.

In the end, Mr. and Mrs. McGill agree to include their daughter in any decisions about her health care.

Meanwhile, Stacey makes up with her best friend from New York, Laine Cummings, whom she had been fighting with since she was diagnosed with diabetes. Stacey is moving schools because people are judging her just because she has diabetes.

Subplots

The BSC faces competition from a rival babysitting service called the Baby Sitters Agency ran by a girl called Liz Lewis, which includes older girls. The club later loses clients to the new sitters, so they decided to recruit new members who turn out to be spies from the Baby Sitters Agency. They are eventually fired after failing to show up for their assigned sitting jobs.

The BSC later learns from the kids they sit for that their sitters are unreliable. Jamie Newton reveals that one of his sitters from the agency brought her boyfriend over and burned a hole in a chair with a cigarette while Charlotte Johanssen says that her sitters ignore her.

After the girls find Jamie outside in the cold weather without a hat or mittens, they tell Mrs. Newton who is upset & decides to call the other parents to let them know. In the end, the BSC settles the score with the agency who eventually end their babysitting service.

Other Subplots

Charlotte Johanssen struggles socially at school and the end, she skips to the third grade.

The Newtons welcome a new baby into their family named Lucy.

Characters

Stacey's Family

BSC Members

Kids

Pre-teens
  • Trevor Sandbourne
  • Pete Black
  • Laine Cummings
  • Allison Ritz (mentioned)
  • Bobby Reeder, Deirdre Dunlop, Lowell Johnston - students at Stacey's old school (mentioned)

Teenagers

Adults

Locations

Pop Culture and Real-Life References

  • Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Scrabble, Spill and Spell,
  • The Cricket in Times Square, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Pat the Bunny, Where the Wild Things Are, Tucker's Countryside, Harry Cat's Pet Puppy (books)
  • Colorforms
  • Sesame Street, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Gilligan's Island, The Cosby Show, (tv shows)
  • Cricket, Seventeen magazine
  • M&M’s
  • Diet Coke
  • Winston Churchill (Kristy pretends he is a high school Sophomore).

Continuity and Inconsistencies

Continuity

Inconsistencies

  • Stacey says there's only one middle school in Stoneybrook, however, in Kristy's Big Day Kelsey is first mentioned.
  • When Stacey and Kristy decide to have the Big Brother Party for Jamie Newton, Stacey calls Claudia and some other people about it. Then, in the next couple of sentences, after she goes in the kitchen to tell Kristy who's coming, Kristy says, "Claudia's bringing something from her room....Pretzels, I think." But Kristy wasn't the one who called Claudia.

Differences in the Reprints

Ann M. Martin's Dear Reader letter

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed reading The Truth About Stacey. Many kids have asked me why I created a character with diabetes. As you may know, when I started writing the Baby-sitters Club I wanted to create a group of characters who are very different from each other, but who work well together. Each of the members of the BSC faces her own set of difficulties. I thought it would be interesting if one character faced physical or medical problems. I chose diabetes because it affects many kids, and because I have two friends with diabetes. I also wanted to create a character who copes with her disability in a positive way. Stacey doesn’t ignore her illness — she deals with it responsibly, but she tries not to let it interfere with her life.

Not long after this first book about Stacey was published, I began to hear from kids who are diabetic themselves. Many of them have written to say that the books about Stacey have helped their friends understand the illness. In fact, recently my cat Mouse was diagnosed with diabetes. So the books have helped me, too!

Trivia

  • The book takes place roughly two months after Kristy's Great Idea.
  • The Kellys, Gianmarcos, and the Jaydells are never mentioned or seen again.
  • On the dedication page, Ann thanks Claudia Werner for her advice on this book.
  • When seeing how the agency is run Kristy says she's going on a date with Winston Churchill who goes to the high school.
  • Stacey just hit her growth spurt.
  • Stacey fainted three times at her old school.
  • Pete and Stacey are "sort of dating."
  • This is one of the few mentions of Stacey's extended family.
  • At the first special club meeting, instead of the directors chair, Kristy sits at Claudia's desk.
  • This is the first time kid kits are introduced.
  • The cover is from chapter 4.
  • Richard and Mary Anne have Thanksgiving with the Brewers and Thomas'.
  • Charlie takes David Michael to watch the cheerleaders at the high school when it's his day to watch him. David Michael comes back and shows every one the cheers.
  • The doctor Stacey's parents want her to see is just a fad doctor.
  • Mimi's been teaching Mary Anne how to knit.
  • This is the first time Stacey saw Kristy cry.
  • A small popcorn and Tab (a diet soda) in New York is $1.75.
  • Stacey gains some control of the treatment of her diabetes.
  • Jobs lined up but not seen include: jobs for Charlotte and the Marshall girls, and a new client.
  • Charlotte starts third grade after winter break.
  • Stacey cared so much about the club that she'd even take Kristy's terrible suggestions of lower rates and housework.
  • In later editions, Stacey uses an insulin pump; this is the only book where an insulin pump is mentioned.
  • This is the first time we see Mallory in the series as a 10-year old sitting charge. Starting in Logan Likes Mary Anne!, she becomes 11, in Hello, Mallory, she becomes a member.
  • The club members get into a discussion about what time they were born. Kristy was born at 4:00 a.m. "on the dot", Claudia at 4:36 a.m., Stacey at 2:26 a.m., and Mary Anne around 11:00 p.m.

Gallery

US

International

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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