Pearl writes an essay about her complicated summer during which her father lost his job, her sister was her junior camp counselor, and she had an explosive fight with James Brubaker the Third.

Stacey invites her Baby-sitters Club friends down for a weekend in New York City, but the big city creates big problems for the girls.

"Crank calls, uncontrollable toddlers, wild pets, untruthful clients - running a business is hard work! Kristy and her co-founders, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey, are sure they can handle anything. But only if they stick together...."--P. [4] of cover.

At the urging of a very artistic new girl who encourages Claudia to practice art instead of caring for kids, Claudia considers leaving the club and the other members give her an ultimatum.

Eleven-year-old Jessi copes with pet sitting for the Mancusi family and serious dissension among the members of the Baby-sitters Club.

"When Kristy Thomas has the great idea to form a baby-sitters club--a chance to earn money and spend time with her friends, all while doing something they each love to do--she has no idea how much the club will change everything. Crank calls, uncontrollable toddlers, wild pets, untruthful clients . . . running a business is hard work! Kristy and her co-founders, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey, are sure they can handle anything. But only if they stick...