Missing Since Monday Read online




  Missing Since Monday

  Ann M. Martin

  This book is for the second generation of Kentucky cousins:

  LYMAN MARTIN CREASON

  WILLIAM SCOTT CREASON

  JOSHUA CALVIN MARCUS

  COURTENAY ROHERTSON MARTIN

  and

  ELEANOR HANCOCK MARTIN

  Contents

  1. Leigh

  2. On Our Own

  3. The Weekend

  4. Missing

  5. Questions

  6. Bleak Tuesday

  7. Secrets

  8. On the Air

  9. Wednesday

  10. Wednesday Night

  11. Search for the Children

  12. The Body in the Woods

  13. The Search Continues

  14. Going Nowhere Fast

  15. Caught!

  16. The Return of Jessica Ellis

  17. Mom

  18. Together Again

  19. Afterward

  A Personal History by Ann M. Martin

  1

  Leigh

  “HI, LEIGH! WE’RE HOME!” I called.

  “Hi, honey,” my stepmother answered. “I’m in my studio.”

  “Okay,” I called back. I turned to Courtenay. “Want to go see Mommy?” I asked, closing the front door behind us.

  Courtenay nodded and licked the last sticky remains of a piece of peppermint candy from her fingers. As far as she was concerned, the candy had been the high point of our late-afternoon outing. I’d taken her on a walk all the way to the elementary school playground to ride on the swings and the merry-go-round and the seesaw. Walking back, I’d given her the candy. Just one piece. It had made her day.

  “Come on, Miss Messy Face,” I said, smiling.

  “I am not a messy-face.”

  “Yes, you are. Stick out your tongue.”

  Courtie obliged.

  “It’s as red as a radish,” I informed her.

  She giggled. “I want to show Mommy!” she cried, and ran up the stairs to the second floor of our house and into the studio where Leigh does her illustrating.

  Leigh turned around as Courtie skipped in. “Hello, sweetheart! Did you have a g—What on earth?” she exclaimed.

  “What?” I said. I had followed Courtenay into the studio and couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. I glanced around in search of whatever it was Leigh saw, but she was looking at Courtenay.

  “What do you mean, ‘what’!” repeated Leigh. “Look at your sister.” (Courtenay is really my half sister, but we don’t make a big thing of it.)

  I glanced at her. She looked fine—just dirty enough to indicate she’d had a lot of fun that afternoon, which she had.

  “She’s filthy! Where did you take her?”

  “I took her to the dump, Leigh,” I said. “She had a fabulous time. She played in mountains of trash and rode around in a garbage truck, okay?”

  “There’s no need for sarcasm, Maggie. Just give me a straight answer. Is that possible?”

  “I give up. Is it?” I said.

  Leigh looked ready to strangle me. Courtie was glancing warily back and forth between her mother and me, trying to figure out what was going on. All she was sure of was that we were bickering again.

  But for heaven’s sake. Okay, so Courtie had some dirt on the knees of her pants, and a piece of grass in her hair and a little red around her mouth. She was four. What did Leigh expect? Four-year-olds get dirty. I’d be more worried if she were pristine every day. To me, dirt is a sign of fun. It’s normal.

  “And what’s she been eating?” Leigh went on. “What did you have to eat, baby?” she asked Courtenay, in case I still wouldn’t give her a straight answer.

  “Candy,” said Courtenay cautiously, glancing up at me.

  “Candy!” cried Leigh. “Oh, Maggie. She’s going to ruin her teeth before she gets to kindergarten.”

  “They’re her baby teeth. She’ll lose them even if they’re cavity-free.”

  Leigh was determined to find fault with what I’d done. “Well, it’s five o’clock. What about her dinner? Her appetite’s probably ruined.”

  “I doubt it,” I said. “She only ate one piece.”

  Leigh sighed heavily. She pulled Courtenay to her and gave her a hug. “Oh, baby.” She rocked her back and forth.

  Gag, gag.

  I really love Courtie. And I love Leigh, too, I guess. After all, she’d been my stepmother for five years then, ever since I was eleven, and she’d seen my older brother, Mike, and me through some hard times. But Leigh and I had always clashed, especially over Courtenay. See, Leigh didn’t quite trust me. We got off on the wrong foot and never seemed to get on the right one, at least not for long.

  We had very different opinions about young children. I believe in letting them play and have fun and eat junk food every now and then and go to bed late if there’s nothing important to get up for the next morning. But Leigh had overprotected Courtenay. She watched her like a hawk and practically fainted if so much as a granule of sugar went in her mouth or if she got in bed past eight o’clock. She was going to give the kid a complex.

  I may get one myself. I mean, Leigh really did overreact to things. Here’s how we got off on the wrong foot: I was ten years old the day we met, and after Leigh had given Mike and me each a present, she said brightly, “Well, why don’t we take a walk and get to know each other?”

  And I said, “No, thank you,” because I’d promised my new friend Jane we would make doll clothes later that afternoon. A walk sounded like it might take up just enough time so that it would cut into the clothes-making, and I have this thing about breaking promises. But before I had a chance to explain that, Leigh began to look all hurt and resentful and suspicious. Six years later, even though we got along pretty well most of the time, that hurt and resentment and suspicion were always there, running under the surface of our relationship like a polluted current.

  Furthermore, because Courtenay is Leigh’s only natural child, Leigh used to be super-super-protective of her. I had never done a thing that had put Courtenay in any kind of danger, and she’d never had an accident worse than a skinned knee while I was taking care of her, but Leigh didn’t trust me because of the candy and the grass stains and stuff. But really. What was Courtenay—a china doll or a child?

  In a few days, Dad and Leigh were going away on their long-overdue honeymoon. They were leaving Mike and me in charge of Courtenay, but Leigh had fought long and hard to get someone older to stay with us for that week. She just didn’t trust us. Luckily her mother, the unusual Mrs. Simon, was in Europe, because Mike and I would have died at the idea of having her stay with us. I mean, Mike would be in college in the fall, and I was a sophomore in high school.

  So, against Leigh’s better judgment, we won the right to take full care of Courtenay for a week. I was looking forward to it. I like dressing Courtenay and playing with her and taking her shopping. She’s a neat little kid.

  “Maggie?” Leigh’s voice snapped me from my thoughts.

  “Yeah?” I replied dully.

  “I’m sorry, honey. Let’s not argue. I’ll clean Courtie up and start dinner. Why don’t you do your homework?”

  “Okay.” I grinned at Courtie, who beamed back, and I gave Leigh a peck on the cheek, glad that all seemed forgiven. Then I went to my room, but not to do my homework. I could do it after dinner. I just wanted time to be alone with my thoughts.

  I closed the door softly and lay down on my bed, resting against the throw pillows Leigh had helped me to make, and thought about my family, about Leigh and my real mother.

  Mike and I have lived with Dad ever since my mom took off when I was seven. They got divorced a year later. I love my mom and I know she l
oves Mike and me. Of course, I haven’t seen her in ages, but that’s just because she’s such a creative person, and creative people need space. At least, some of them do. Well, Mom seems to. She’s too … too … I don’t know what. Actually, I don’t really remember her, which is interesting, considering she did live with us until I was seven. Anyway, she’s just one of those people who has so much energy she has to be moving and going all the time. So she travels around the country and drops Mike and me a postcard every now and then. I wish I had her energy.

  The last postcard she’d sent reached me a month ago. It was postmarked California and it said: “Dear Maggie, How are you? I’m fine. I have a job as a waitress now in Beeman’s Café.” That surprised me, because I’d thought my mother was in Michigan taking pottery classes. I’d been writing her there for the past three months. “Be good and do what Owen tells you. Love, Mom.” (Owen is Dad.)

  One ironic thing is that Mike and I are the spitting image of our mother (or so we’ve been told). I can’t tell much from the few fuzzy black-and-white photos we have here and there. At any rate, we look nothing like Courtenay and not much like Dad. Courtenay has a pixie face, brown eyes, and tawny hair. Mike and I look as Irish as shamrocks, with red hair, blue eyes, and fair complexions. And I’ve got enough freckles on my body to share with half the world. We look like misfits when the rest of the family is around.

  Anyway, Dad married Leigh five years ago after Leigh’s disastrous first marriage ended with a divorce, and one year later, Courtenay was born. The reason Dad and Leigh were going on their honeymoon five years late was that they hadn’t had a decent one after they’d been married—just a weekend at an inn in Vermont. They they’d rushed back to Mike and me and their jobs, and a year later, they’d had Courtenay.

  I love Dad’s and Leigh’s jobs, especially Leigh’s. Leigh illustrates children’s books. She’s pretty well known. She works right out of our house in Princeton, New Jersey. And she works hard. She even put Courtenay in a special school program so that she would have enough time each day to do her work.

  We have a big house, and the room on the second floor that used to be the sewing room is now Leigh’s studio. It has good light and enough space for her drawing boards and easels, her paints and inks, brushes and pens, boards and rulers.

  My dad is in publishing. He commutes to New York City on the train every day. He’s a big-time editor at a very successful company that publishes hardcover children’s books and adult books. Dad is the publisher of the children’s books. He knows Judy Blume and Maurice Sendak. Once he met Roald Dahl.

  I guess it’s because of Dad that Mike and I are such big readers. We always have been. Dad used to bring home bags full of children’s books from his office when we were little. We couldn’t get enough of them. Now he just brings them home for Courtenay, since Mike and I read adult books.

  My brother is very smart and very funny. I’ve always been drawn to a sense of humor in people. And he’s a good big brother. He let me follow him around when we were little. Now that we’re older, we’re just good pals. And we made a lot of the same friends after we moved from our old house on Herrontown Road when Mom and Dad split up. For instance, my boyfriend is David Jacobssen. He’s a year older than I am. His twin sister, Martha, is my best friend. And Mike’s best friend, Andrew de Christopher, is the older brother of Jane de Christopher, who is a good friend of Martha’s and mine. We all kind of hang around together.

  Knock, knock, knock.

  “Come in,” I called.

  The door opened and Courtie bounced into my room and flung herself on my bed. “Dinner’s ready, dinner’s ready!” she announced.

  “Already? Is Dad home?”

  “Yup.”

  I’d been daydreaming longer than I thought. Courtie climbed on my back, and I gave her a piggyback ride into the dining room.

  “Mommymommymommymommy!”

  Late that night, Courtenay’s wails shattered the silence, and I jerked awake. I hoped Leigh would get up soon. If she didn’t, I would.

  “Mommy! … Mommy?”

  I rolled out of bed and stumbled across my room to the door, not bothering to turn on a light. Courtenay was crying hard. She must have been either sick or hurt.

  I thrust open the door to her room and switched on the Three Little Kittens lamp on her dresser.

  “Courtie?” I asked softly.

  She lay on her bed in a wild mess of sheets and blankets. Her hair was drenched with sweat.

  I put my hand on her forehead. “Courtenay, what’s wrong? Are you sick?” She felt warm but not feverish.

  “It’s back,” she sobbed. “It’s under my bed right now. Pull your feet up, Maggie. Pull your feet up.”

  I obeyed. “What’s under the bed?”

  “The red mitten.”

  Oh, no. Not that old nightmare. “The red mitten that snores?” I asked.

  “Yes, yes!”

  I gathered Courtenay in my arms and held her. “That’s just a dream, a bad dream,” I reminded her. Courtie hadn’t dreamed about the red mitten that snores in months. We thought she’d finally outgrown it. “Remember what we said about bad dreams?”

  “They’re not real,” replied Courtenay automatically, brushing her tears from her damp face. “But the red mitten that snores is down there. It’s under my bed.”

  “No, it’s not. I’ll show you,” I replied.

  I was on my hands and knees with my head under Courtenay’s bed when Leigh finally came in.

  “Mommy!” cried Courtie. “It’s back.” Fresh tears started to fall.

  I withdrew my head and looked up at Leigh. “The red mitten that snores,” I said flatly.

  “Oh, baby,” murmured Leigh. She sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed and took Courtenay into her lap. She rocked her back and forth, back and forth. After a few moments, Leigh signaled me that Courtie was already falling asleep, so I tiptoed out of the room and back into my own bed.

  I looked at my watch. Two-thirty. I really should go back to sleep soon or I’d be a basket case at school tomorrow, I thought, but I was avoiding nightmares of my own. I had them pretty often, more often than Courtenay did. I knew they weren’t real, I knew they wouldn’t hurt me, but they still scared me to death. Sometimes, if I fought sleep until my eyes were heavy and my head was fuzzy, I would fall into such an exhausted sleep that I would be too tired for nightmares. That was just what I did on the red-mitten night.

  2

  On Our Own

  TWO MORNINGS LATER, DAD and Leigh left on their long-awaited honeymoon. They were spending it on the island of Saint Barthélemy in the Caribbean. To get there, they had to drive to Newark Airport, park their car, take a plane to Miami, Florida, and then to the island of Saint Martin, and finally take a boat to Saint Bart’s (as it’s called). It was going to be a long trip, and Leigh said she’d probably be airsick or seasick or both.

  Dad and Leigh left at six o’clock in the morning, so Mike and I were in charge of Courtenay from the time she woke up.

  “I’ll dress her this morning,” I said to Mike, “and you start breakfast. We can switch chores every day.”

  I looked in Courtenay’s closet and chose one of her new outfits—baggy lavender pants with cuffs at the ankles, and a pink-and-lavender striped sweatshirt.

  “What shall we do with your hair today?” I asked Courtenay.

  Courtenay has very pretty hair—thick and tawny, and just long enough for braids or ponytails.

  “One big braid!” said Courtenay.

  “Okay. Coming up.”

  Courtenay giggled. Then stopped. She tried to turn around and tried to look at me as I stood behind her, working on her hair.

  “Face forward, Courtie,” I told her. “Otherwise your braid will be crooked.”

  “But where’re Mommy and Daddy?” she wanted to know.

  “They’ve gone on a trip. Remember?”

  “Yeah,” said Courtenay uncertainly.

  “And Mike and I
are going to take care of you, right?”

  “Right!”

  By the time Courtenay and I came downstairs, Mike had breakfast ready. And what a breakfast! When he gets a chance to cook, he really goes to it. I hate to cook. My idea of cooking is opening a can of soup and defrosting frozen vegetables. Toast is about all I can manage for breakfast. But Mike had made pancakes and bacon, fresh orange juice, coffee for himself and me, and hot chocolate for Courtenay.

  “Oh, yum-yum-yum!” she exclaimed. I felt the same way.

  As we ate our breakfast, I began playing the Lost Game with Courtenay. “Okay, Courtie. Let’s pretend.”

  “Goody,” she said. “I’m lost, right?”

  “Right. What’s the first thing you do?”

  “Look for a policeman.”

  “Yay! One point! And if you can’t find a policeman, do you tell just any adult?”

  “No!”

  “Yay! Another point. What do you look for instead?”

  “A telephone!”

  “Yay! Another point. How many is that?” I asked Mike.

  “Three,” he replied. “Okay, now for the big one. What’s your phone number?”

  Courtenay took a deep breath and began singing the song we’d taught her. “Five-one-nine-five-five-five-two-eight-three-six. That’s my phone number, that’s my phone number!” We had taught her how to use both a dial phone and a push-button phone.

  “All right! That gets you five points, for a total of eight. Now, Jay,” said Mike to an imaginary announcer, “tell our contestant what we have behind the curtain … That’s right, it’s a new washer-dryer with a special blender attachment. A surprise package chosen especially for you, worth … over one thousand dollars!”

  The game went on. Mike and I ran through every thing we thought Courtenay should know about being on her own in the big, bad world: who to trust, who not to trust, what to do if somebody wanted to give her candy, touch her, take her for a ride. …

  And that was one of the big problems between Leigh and me. Leigh was incensed that I had started the Lost Game. She thought it would scare Courtenay, and all Leigh wanted to do was protect her.

 

    Karen's Tea Party Read onlineKaren's Tea PartyKristy and the Snobs Read onlineKristy and the SnobsBest Kept Secret Read onlineBest Kept SecretKaren's Kittens Read onlineKaren's KittensKaren's Big Job Read onlineKaren's Big JobClaudia and the Genius of Elm Street Read onlineClaudia and the Genius of Elm StreetThe Fire at Mary Anne's House Read onlineThe Fire at Mary Anne's HouseScience Fair Read onlineScience FairMe and Katie (The Pest) Read onlineMe and Katie (The Pest)Karen's Plane Trip Read onlineKaren's Plane TripJessi's Wish Read onlineJessi's WishDawn and Too Many Sitters Read onlineDawn and Too Many SittersJessi and the Jewel Thieves Read onlineJessi and the Jewel ThievesEleven Kids, One Summer Read onlineEleven Kids, One SummerKaren's Goldfish Read onlineKaren's GoldfishSnow War Read onlineSnow WarAbby and the Secret Society Read onlineAbby and the Secret SocietyKeeping Secrets Read onlineKeeping SecretsGood-Bye Stacey, Good-Bye Read onlineGood-Bye Stacey, Good-ByeKaren's Sleepover Read onlineKaren's SleepoverClaudia and the World's Cutest Baby Read onlineClaudia and the World's Cutest BabyMary Anne Saves the Day Read onlineMary Anne Saves the DayMallory and the Dream Horse Read onlineMallory and the Dream HorseKristy and the Mystery Train Read onlineKristy and the Mystery TrainDawn's Family Feud Read onlineDawn's Family FeudKaren's Twin Read onlineKaren's TwinLittle Miss Stoneybrook... And Dawn Read onlineLittle Miss Stoneybrook... And DawnKaren's Mistake Read onlineKaren's MistakeKaren's Movie Star Read onlineKaren's Movie StarMallory and the Mystery Diary Read onlineMallory and the Mystery DiaryKaren's Monsters Read onlineKaren's MonstersKristy + Bart = ? Read onlineKristy + Bart = ?Karen's Dinosaur Read onlineKaren's DinosaurHere Today Read onlineHere TodayKaren's Carnival Read onlineKaren's CarnivalHow to Look for a Lost Dog Read onlineHow to Look for a Lost DogStacey vs. Claudia Read onlineStacey vs. ClaudiaStacey's Ex-Boyfriend Read onlineStacey's Ex-BoyfriendHere Come the Bridesmaids! Read onlineHere Come the Bridesmaids!Graduation Day Read onlineGraduation DayKristy's Big News Read onlineKristy's Big NewsKaren's School Surprise Read onlineKaren's School SurpriseKristy Thomas, Dog Trainer Read onlineKristy Thomas, Dog TrainerBaby-Sitters' Christmas Chiller Read onlineBaby-Sitters' Christmas ChillerBaby-Sitters' Winter Vacation Read onlineBaby-Sitters' Winter VacationTen Good and Bad Things About My Life Read onlineTen Good and Bad Things About My LifeClaudia and the Bad Joke Read onlineClaudia and the Bad JokeMary Anne's Makeover Read onlineMary Anne's MakeoverStacey and the Fashion Victim Read onlineStacey and the Fashion VictimDawn Schafer, Undercover Baby-Sitter Read onlineDawn Schafer, Undercover Baby-SitterKaren's Tuba Read onlineKaren's TubaDawn's Wicked Stepsister Read onlineDawn's Wicked StepsisterDiary Three: Dawn, Sunny, Maggie, Amalia, and Ducky Read onlineDiary Three: Dawn, Sunny, Maggie, Amalia, and DuckyKaren's Nanny Read onlineKaren's NannyJessi and the Awful Secret Read onlineJessi and the Awful SecretKaren's New Year Read onlineKaren's New YearKaren's Candy Read onlineKaren's CandyKaren's President Read onlineKaren's PresidentMary Anne and the Great Romance Read onlineMary Anne and the Great RomanceMary Anne + 2 Many Babies Read onlineMary Anne + 2 Many BabiesKristy and the Copycat Read onlineKristy and the CopycatJessi and the Bad Baby-Sitter Read onlineJessi and the Bad Baby-SitterClaudia, Queen of the Seventh Grade Read onlineClaudia, Queen of the Seventh GradeClaudia and the Lighthouse Ghost Read onlineClaudia and the Lighthouse GhostKaren's New Puppy Read onlineKaren's New PuppyKaren's Home Run Read onlineKaren's Home RunKaren's Chain Letter Read onlineKaren's Chain LetterKristy in Charge Read onlineKristy in ChargeKaren's Angel Read onlineKaren's AngelMary Anne and Too Many Boys Read onlineMary Anne and Too Many BoysKaren's Big Fight Read onlineKaren's Big FightKaren's Spy Mystery Read onlineKaren's Spy MysteryStacey's Big Crush Read onlineStacey's Big CrushKaren's School Read onlineKaren's SchoolClaudia and the Terrible Truth Read onlineClaudia and the Terrible TruthKaren's Cowboy Read onlineKaren's CowboyThe Summer Before Read onlineThe Summer BeforeBeware, Dawn! Read onlineBeware, Dawn!Belle Teale Read onlineBelle TealeClaudia's Big Party Read onlineClaudia's Big PartyThe Secret Life of Mary Anne Spier Read onlineThe Secret Life of Mary Anne SpierKaren's Book Read onlineKaren's BookTeacher's Pet Read onlineTeacher's PetBoy-Crazy Stacey Read onlineBoy-Crazy StaceyClaudia and the Disaster Date Read onlineClaudia and the Disaster DateAuthor Day Read onlineAuthor DayClaudia and the Sad Good-Bye Read onlineClaudia and the Sad Good-ByeKristy and the Worst Kid Ever Read onlineKristy and the Worst Kid EverYours Turly, Shirley Read onlineYours Turly, ShirleyClass Play Read onlineClass PlayKristy and the Vampires Read onlineKristy and the VampiresKristy and the Cat Burglar Read onlineKristy and the Cat BurglarKaren's Pumpkin Patch Read onlineKaren's Pumpkin PatchStacey and the Mystery at the Empty House Read onlineStacey and the Mystery at the Empty HouseKaren's Chicken Pox Read onlineKaren's Chicken PoxMary Anne and the Playground Fight Read onlineMary Anne and the Playground FightStacey's Mistake Read onlineStacey's MistakeComing Apart Read onlineComing ApartMary Anne and the Little Princess Read onlineMary Anne and the Little PrincessKaren, Hannie and Nancy: The Three Musketeers Read onlineKaren, Hannie and Nancy: The Three Musketeers'Tis the Season Read online'Tis the SeasonClaudia and Mean Janine Read onlineClaudia and Mean JanineKaren's School Bus Read onlineKaren's School BusMary Anne's Big Breakup Read onlineMary Anne's Big BreakupRain Reign Read onlineRain ReignClaudia and the Mystery at the Museum Read onlineClaudia and the Mystery at the MuseumClaudia and the Great Search Read onlineClaudia and the Great SearchKaren's Doll Read onlineKaren's DollShannon's Story Read onlineShannon's StorySea City, Here We Come! Read onlineSea City, Here We Come!Stacey and the Mystery of Stoneybrook Read onlineStacey and the Mystery of StoneybrookKaren's Treasure Read onlineKaren's TreasureTen Rules for Living With My Sister Read onlineTen Rules for Living With My SisterWith You and Without You Read onlineWith You and Without YouBaby-Sitters' Island Adventure Read onlineBaby-Sitters' Island AdventureKaren's Fishing Trip Read onlineKaren's Fishing TripDawn and the Big Sleepover Read onlineDawn and the Big SleepoverNew York, New York! Read onlineNew York, New York!Ten Kids, No Pets Read onlineTen Kids, No PetsHappy Holidays, Jessi Read onlineHappy Holidays, JessiHalloween Parade Read onlineHalloween ParadeKaren's New Holiday Read onlineKaren's New HolidayKristy Power! Read onlineKristy Power!Karen's Wish Read onlineKaren's WishClaudia and the Mystery in the Painting Read onlineClaudia and the Mystery in the PaintingKaren's Stepmother Read onlineKaren's StepmotherAbby in Wonderland Read onlineAbby in WonderlandKaren's Snow Day Read onlineKaren's Snow DayKristy and the Secret of Susan Read onlineKristy and the Secret of SusanKaren's Pony Camp Read onlineKaren's Pony CampKaren's School Trip Read onlineKaren's School TripMary Anne to the Rescue Read onlineMary Anne to the RescueKaren's Unicorn Read onlineKaren's UnicornAbby and the Notorious Neighbor Read onlineAbby and the Notorious NeighborStacey and the Haunted Masquerade Read onlineStacey and the Haunted MasqueradeClaudia Gets Her Guy Read onlineClaudia Gets Her GuyMissing Since Monday Read onlineMissing Since MondayStacey's Choice Read onlineStacey's ChoiceStacey's Ex-Best Friend Read onlineStacey's Ex-Best FriendKaren's New Teacher Read onlineKaren's New TeacherKaren's Accident Read onlineKaren's AccidentKaren's Lucky Penny Read onlineKaren's Lucky PennyKaren's Cartwheel Read onlineKaren's CartwheelKaren's Puppet Show Read onlineKaren's Puppet ShowSpelling Bee Read onlineSpelling BeeStacey's Problem Read onlineStacey's ProblemStacey and the Stolen Hearts Read onlineStacey and the Stolen HeartsKaren's Surprise Read onlineKaren's SurpriseKaren's Worst Day Read onlineKaren's Worst DayThe Ghost at Dawn's House Read onlineThe Ghost at Dawn's HouseKaren's Big Sister Read onlineKaren's Big SisterKaren's Easter Parade Read onlineKaren's Easter ParadeMary Anne and the Silent Witness Read onlineMary Anne and the Silent WitnessKaren's Swim Meet Read onlineKaren's Swim MeetMary Anne's Revenge Read onlineMary Anne's RevengeKaren's Mystery Read onlineKaren's MysteryStacey and the Mystery Money Read onlineStacey and the Mystery MoneyDawn and the Disappearing Dogs Read onlineDawn and the Disappearing DogsKaren's Christmas Tree Read onlineKaren's Christmas TreeWelcome to Camden Falls Read onlineWelcome to Camden FallsKaren's Pilgrim Read onlineKaren's PilgrimDawn and the Halloween Mystery Read onlineDawn and the Halloween MysteryMary Anne in the Middle Read onlineMary Anne in the MiddleKaren's Toys Read onlineKaren's ToysKristy's Great Idea Read onlineKristy's Great IdeaClaudia and the Middle School Mystery Read onlineClaudia and the Middle School MysteryKaren's Big Weekend Read onlineKaren's Big WeekendLogan's Story Read onlineLogan's StoryKaren's Yo-Yo Read onlineKaren's Yo-YoKristy's Book Read onlineKristy's BookMallory and the Ghost Cat Read onlineMallory and the Ghost CatMary Anne and the Music Read onlineMary Anne and the MusicKaren's Tattletale Read onlineKaren's TattletaleKaren's County Fair Read onlineKaren's County FairKaren's Mermaid Read onlineKaren's MermaidSnowbound Read onlineSnowboundKaren's Movie Read onlineKaren's MovieJessi and the Troublemaker Read onlineJessi and the TroublemakerBaby-Sitters at Shadow Lake Read onlineBaby-Sitters at Shadow LakeMallory on Strike Read onlineMallory on StrikeJessi's Baby-Sitter Read onlineJessi's Baby-SitterKaren's Leprechaun Read onlineKaren's LeprechaunClaudia and the Phantom Phone Calls Read onlineClaudia and the Phantom Phone CallsKaren's Good-Bye Read onlineKaren's Good-ByeKaren's Figure Eight Read onlineKaren's Figure EightLogan Likes Mary Anne! Read onlineLogan Likes Mary Anne!Mary Anne and the Zoo Mystery Read onlineMary Anne and the Zoo MysteryMissy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure Read onlineMissy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever CureDawn on the Coast Read onlineDawn on the CoastStacey and the Cheerleaders Read onlineStacey and the CheerleadersClaudia and the Clue in the Photograph Read onlineClaudia and the Clue in the PhotographKaren's New Friend Read onlineKaren's New FriendMallory and the Trouble With Twins Read onlineMallory and the Trouble With TwinsKaren's Roller Skates Read onlineKaren's Roller SkatesAbby and the Best Kid Ever Read onlineAbby and the Best Kid EverPoor Mallory! Read onlinePoor Mallory!Karen's Witch Read onlineKaren's WitchKaren's Grandmothers Read onlineKaren's GrandmothersSlam Book Read onlineSlam BookKaren's School Picture Read onlineKaren's School PictureKaren's Reindeer Read onlineKaren's ReindeerKristy's Big Day Read onlineKristy's Big DayThe Long Way Home Read onlineThe Long Way HomeKaren's Sleigh Ride Read onlineKaren's Sleigh RideOn Christmas Eve Read onlineOn Christmas EveKaren's Copycat Read onlineKaren's CopycatKaren's Ice Skates Read onlineKaren's Ice SkatesClaudia and the Little Liar Read onlineClaudia and the Little LiarAbby the Bad Sport Read onlineAbby the Bad SportThe Baby-Sitters Club #5: Dawn and the Impossible Three Read onlineThe Baby-Sitters Club #5: Dawn and the Impossible ThreeAbby's Book Read onlineAbby's BookKaren's Big Top Read onlineKaren's Big TopMain Street #8: Special Delivery Read onlineMain Street #8: Special DeliveryKristy and the Kidnapper Read onlineKristy and the KidnapperKaren's Ski Trip Read onlineKaren's Ski TripKaren's Hurricane Read onlineKaren's HurricaneStacey and the Mystery at the Mall Read onlineStacey and the Mystery at the MallJessi and the Superbrat Read onlineJessi and the SuperbratKristy and the Baby Parade Read onlineKristy and the Baby ParadeKaren's New Bike Read onlineKaren's New BikeKaren's Big City Mystery Read onlineKaren's Big City MysteryBaby-Sitters' European Vacation Read onlineBaby-Sitters' European VacationHello, Mallory Read onlineHello, MalloryDawn's Big Date Read onlineDawn's Big DateKaren's Christmas Carol Read onlineKaren's Christmas CarolJessi's Horrible Prank Read onlineJessi's Horrible PrankKristy and the Missing Fortune Read onlineKristy and the Missing FortuneKristy and the Haunted Mansion Read onlineKristy and the Haunted MansionJessi's Big Break Read onlineJessi's Big BreakKaren's Pony Read onlineKaren's PonyWelcome Home, Mary Anne Read onlineWelcome Home, Mary AnneStacey the Math Whiz Read onlineStacey the Math WhizSeptember Surprises Read onlineSeptember SurprisesBummer Summer Read onlineBummer SummerKaren's Secret Read onlineKaren's SecretAbby's Twin Read onlineAbby's TwinMain Street #4: Best Friends Read onlineMain Street #4: Best FriendsKaren's Big Move Read onlineKaren's Big MoveMary Anne Misses Logan Read onlineMary Anne Misses LoganStacey's Book Read onlineStacey's BookClaudia and the Perfect Boy Read onlineClaudia and the Perfect BoyHoliday Time Read onlineHoliday TimeStacey's Broken Heart Read onlineStacey's Broken HeartKaren's Field Day Read onlineKaren's Field DayKristy's Worst Idea Read onlineKristy's Worst IdeaDawn and the Older Boy Read onlineDawn and the Older BoyKaren's Brothers Read onlineKaren's BrothersClaudia's Friend Read onlineClaudia's FriendMary Anne and the Haunted Bookstore Read onlineMary Anne and the Haunted BookstoreDawn and Whitney, Friends Forever Read onlineDawn and Whitney, Friends ForeverSummer School Read onlineSummer SchoolKaren's Birthday Read onlineKaren's BirthdayKaren's Black Cat Read onlineKaren's Black CatStacey McGill... Matchmaker? Read onlineStacey McGill... Matchmaker?Claudia's Book Read onlineClaudia's BookMain Street #2: Needle and Thread Read onlineMain Street #2: Needle and ThreadKaren's Runaway Turkey Read onlineKaren's Runaway TurkeyKaren's Campout Read onlineKaren's CampoutKaren's Bunny Read onlineKaren's BunnyClaudia and the New Girl Read onlineClaudia and the New GirlKaren's Wedding Read onlineKaren's WeddingKaren's Promise Read onlineKaren's PromiseKaren's Snow Princess Read onlineKaren's Snow PrincessClaudia Kishi, Middle School Dropout Read onlineClaudia Kishi, Middle School DropoutStarring the Baby-Sitters Club! Read onlineStarring the Baby-Sitters Club!Kristy for President Read onlineKristy for PresidentCalifornia Girls! Read onlineCalifornia Girls!Maid Mary Anne Read onlineMaid Mary AnneAbby's Un-Valentine Read onlineAbby's Un-ValentineStacey's Secret Friend Read onlineStacey's Secret FriendKaren's Haunted House Read onlineKaren's Haunted HouseClaudia and Crazy Peaches Read onlineClaudia and Crazy PeachesKaren's Prize Read onlineKaren's PrizeGet Well Soon, Mallory! Read onlineGet Well Soon, Mallory!Karen's Doll Hospital Read onlineKaren's Doll HospitalKaren's Newspaper Read onlineKaren's NewspaperKaren's Toothache Read onlineKaren's ToothacheMary Anne and Miss Priss Read onlineMary Anne and Miss PrissAbby's Lucky Thirteen Read onlineAbby's Lucky ThirteenThe Secret Book Club Read onlineThe Secret Book ClubThe All-New Mallory Pike Read onlineThe All-New Mallory PikeKaren's Turkey Day Read onlineKaren's Turkey DayKaren's Magician Read onlineKaren's MagicianMary Anne and the Library Mystery Read onlineMary Anne and the Library MysteryDiary One: Dawn, Sunny, Maggie, Amalia, and Ducky Read onlineDiary One: Dawn, Sunny, Maggie, Amalia, and DuckyMary Anne and the Secret in the Attic Read onlineMary Anne and the Secret in the AtticKristy and the Mother's Day Surprise Read onlineKristy and the Mother's Day SurpriseKaren's in Love Read onlineKaren's in LoveWelcome to the BSC, Abby Read onlineWelcome to the BSC, AbbyKaren's Kittycat Club Read onlineKaren's Kittycat ClubThe Mystery at Claudia's House Read onlineThe Mystery at Claudia's HouseThe Truth About Stacey Read onlineThe Truth About StaceyKaren's Bully Read onlineKaren's BullyKaren's Gift Read onlineKaren's GiftBSC in the USA Read onlineBSC in the USAEverything for a Dog Read onlineEverything for a DogDawn and the We Love Kids Club Read onlineDawn and the We Love Kids ClubKaren's Ghost Read onlineKaren's GhostStacey's Lie Read onlineStacey's LieJessi's Secret Language Read onlineJessi's Secret LanguageKristy and the Missing Child Read onlineKristy and the Missing ChildBetter to Wish Read onlineBetter to WishBaby-Sitters on Board! Read onlineBaby-Sitters on Board!Kristy at Bat Read onlineKristy at BatEverything Changes Read onlineEverything ChangesDon't Give Up, Mallory Read onlineDon't Give Up, MalloryA Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray Read onlineA Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a StrayKaren's Big Lie Read onlineKaren's Big LieKaren's Show and Share Read onlineKaren's Show and ShareMallory Hates Boys (and Gym) Read onlineMallory Hates Boys (and Gym)Diary Two: Dawn, Sunny, Maggie, Amalia, and Ducky Read onlineDiary Two: Dawn, Sunny, Maggie, Amalia, and DuckyKaren's Pen Pal Read onlineKaren's Pen PalClaudia and the Friendship Feud Read onlineClaudia and the Friendship FeudKaren's Secret Valentine Read onlineKaren's Secret ValentineKeep Out, Claudia! Read onlineKeep Out, Claudia!Aloha, Baby-Sitters! Read onlineAloha, Baby-Sitters!Welcome Back, Stacey Read onlineWelcome Back, StaceyJessi Ramsey, Pet-Sitter Read onlineJessi Ramsey, Pet-SitterKaren's Pizza Party Read onlineKaren's Pizza PartyKristy and the Dirty Diapers Read onlineKristy and the Dirty DiapersStaying Together Read onlineStaying TogetherDawn and the Surfer Ghost Read onlineDawn and the Surfer GhostClaudia Makes Up Her Mind Read onlineClaudia Makes Up Her MindJessi's Gold Medal Read onlineJessi's Gold MedalKaren's Kite Read onlineKaren's KiteBaby Animal Zoo Read onlineBaby Animal ZooDawn's Big Move Read onlineDawn's Big MoveKaren's Big Joke Read onlineKaren's Big JokeKaren's Lemonade Stand Read onlineKaren's Lemonade StandMa and Pa Dracula Read onlineMa and Pa DraculaBaby-Sitters' Haunted House Read onlineBaby-Sitters' Haunted HouseAbby and the Mystery Baby Read onlineAbby and the Mystery BabyHome Is the Place Read onlineHome Is the PlaceKaren's Grandad Read onlineKaren's GrandadTwin Trouble Read onlineTwin TroubleTen Good and Bad Things About My Life (So Far) Read onlineTen Good and Bad Things About My Life (So Far)Diary Two Read onlineDiary TwoBaby-Sitters Club 027 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 027Claudia and the Mystery Painting Read onlineClaudia and the Mystery PaintingDiary One Read onlineDiary OneBaby-Sitters Club 037 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 037Baby-Sitters Club 028 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 028Baby-Sitters Club 085 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 085Dawn Schaffer Undercover Baby-Sitter Read onlineDawn Schaffer Undercover Baby-SitterJessi's Babysitter Read onlineJessi's BabysitterThe Baby-Sitters Club #110: Abby the Bad Sport (Baby-Sitters Club, The) Read onlineThe Baby-Sitters Club #110: Abby the Bad Sport (Baby-Sitters Club, The)Karen's Little Sister Read onlineKaren's Little SisterBaby-Sitters Club 058 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 058Claudia And The Genius On Elm St. Read onlineClaudia And The Genius On Elm St.Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Sticky-Fingers Cure Read onlineMissy Piggle-Wiggle and the Sticky-Fingers CureKristy and Kidnapper Read onlineKristy and KidnapperBaby-Sitters Club 041 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 041Karen's Bunny Trouble Read onlineKaren's Bunny TroubleBaby-Sitters Club 032 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 032Diary Three Read onlineDiary ThreeChristmas Chiller Read onlineChristmas ChillerKaren's Half-Birthday Read onlineKaren's Half-BirthdayNeedle and Thread Read onlineNeedle and ThreadSecret Life of Mary Anne Spier Read onlineSecret Life of Mary Anne SpierBaby-Sitters Beware Read onlineBaby-Sitters BewareClaudia Kishi, Middle School Drop-Out Read onlineClaudia Kishi, Middle School Drop-OutLogan Likes Mary Anne ! Read onlineLogan Likes Mary Anne !Baby-Sitters Club 061 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 061Best Friends Read onlineBest FriendsBaby-Sitters Club 031 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 031Karen's Little Witch Read onlineKaren's Little WitchJessi Ramsey, Petsitter Read onlineJessi Ramsey, PetsitterBaby-Sitters Club 123 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 123Baby-Sitters Club 059 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 059Baby-Sitters Club 033 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 033Baby-Sitters Club 060 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 060Baby-Sitters Club 094 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 094The Baby-Sitters Club #99: Stacey's Broken Heart Read onlineThe Baby-Sitters Club #99: Stacey's Broken HeartThe Baby-Sitters Club #109: Mary Anne to the Rescue (Baby-Sitters Club, The) Read onlineThe Baby-Sitters Club #109: Mary Anne to the Rescue (Baby-Sitters Club, The)Mystery At Claudia's House Read onlineMystery At Claudia's HouseClaudia And The Sad Goodbye Read onlineClaudia And The Sad GoodbyeMary Anne's Big Break-Up Read onlineMary Anne's Big Break-UpBaby-Sitters Club 025 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 025Baby-Sitters Club 042 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 042Stacey and the Mystery of the Empty House Read onlineStacey and the Mystery of the Empty HouseKaren's Baby-Sitter Read onlineKaren's Baby-SitterClaudia's Friendship Feud Read onlineClaudia's Friendship FeudBaby-Sitters Club 090 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 090Baby-Sitters Club 021 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 021Baby-Sitters Club 056 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 056Baby-Sitters Club 040 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 040The Baby-Sitters Club #108: Don't Give Up, Mallory (Baby-Sitters Club, The) Read onlineThe Baby-Sitters Club #108: Don't Give Up, Mallory (Baby-Sitters Club, The)Dawn and the Impossible Three Read onlineDawn and the Impossible ThreeThe Snow War Read onlineThe Snow WarSpecial Delivery Read onlineSpecial DeliveryBaby-Sitters Club 057 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 057Mary Anne And Too Many Babies Read onlineMary Anne And Too Many BabiesBaby-Sitters Club 030 Read onlineBaby-Sitters Club 030