The Baby-Sitters Club

The Baby-Sitters Club (also known as BSC) is a series of novels written by Ann M. Martin and published by Scholastic between 1986 and 2000, that sold 180 million copies. Martin wrote an estimated 60-80 novels in the series, but the subsequent novels were written by ghostwriters, such as Peter Lerangis. A total of 131 books were published and has been translated into multiple languages, including French and Spanish. The novels are told in first-person narrative and deal with issues such as illness, moving, and divorce. The series focuses on a group of friends living in the fictional, suburban town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut who run a local babysitting service called "The Baby-Sitters Club". The original four members were Kristy Thomas, Claudia Kishi, Stacey McGill and Mary Anne Spier. As the series progressed, Dawn Schafer, Mallory Pike, Jessi Ramsey, Logan Bruno and Shannon Kilbourne joined the club. Abby Stevenson would later join the club to replace Dawn when she moves back to California. The series is generally considered suitable for readers of all ages, particularly children and young adults with the primary targets being a middle-grade audience, typically ranging from 8 to 12 years old. However, many older readers also enjoy the books for their relatable characters and engaging storylines. The content is generally appropriate for all ages, with themes centered around friendship, responsibility, and problem-solving.