Dawn's Wicked Stepsister (The Baby-sitters Club #31)
#31 of 131 in The Baby-Sitters Club Series
on Goodreads (3,087)
What’s inside...
Only a few weeks after Dawn Schafer’s mother and Mary Anne Spier’s father marry, the two eighth-grade baby-sitters discover that being stepsisters is much harder than they ever imagined. Arguments over bedrooms, shared chores, and even baby-sitting jobs turn into a full-scale turf war that threatens their friendship and the smooth running of the Baby-sitters Club. While the girls of Stoneybrook deal with their first holiday season as a blended family, Dawn and Mary Anne must figure out how to respect each other’s space, feelings, and privacy—or risk damaging the bond that once made them best friends and now makes them sisters.
Character compass
Dawn Schafer
Jeff Schafer
Richard Spier
Sharon Schafer
Mary Anne Spier
Kristy Thomas
Claudia Kishi
Stacey Mcgill
Discussion points
Why did Mary Anne feel tempted to read Dawn’s diary?
How could Dawn have expressed her need for space differently?
What rules would make your own household run more smoothly?
How do the Baby-sitters support each other when two members fight?
Tip: Role play these questions
Invite your child to design a ‘family pact’ inspired by the story.
Compare arguments in the book to real-life disagreements and brainstorm solutions.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Respect other people’s boundaries.
Explanation: Mary Anne’s diary incident shows how boundary violations hurt relationships.
Real-World Application: Always ask permission before borrowing or reading someone else’s belongings.
Example Lesson: Open communication prevents resentment.
Explanation: Dawn and Mary Anne learn to express feelings instead of bottling them up.
Real-World Application: Share feelings calmly when upset to find solutions faster.
Example Lesson: Compromise is essential in shared spaces.
Explanation: The sisters design household rules that meet both needs.
Real-World Application: Create chore charts or agreements to reduce arguments at home.