Thoughts before reading:
It seems like this book is pretty universally hated in the fandom, but I'm not sure why exactly. Is it just because people think Dawn is annoying and preachy in here? She probably is, but I still don't think I'm going to hate this one. When I was a kid this was one of my favorites, and I still have my old well worn copy. (According to the sticker inside, I paid $1.65 for it at the used bookstore.)
The reason this was a childhood favorite? From a young age, I was already a budding activist. One of the reasons I loved Dawn so much was because she did things like this. I can't remember exactly where my own interest started, but I was very into the environment and trying to help the planet. I've always been a huge animal lover, so that could be where it all came from. This story really appealed to me, and I loved Dawn in here. I remember that she's really over the top and annoys all her family and friends, but I was all for it. I'll also admit that I did some similar things when I was a kid.
The basics:
Dawn's science class is asked to complete an assignment where they create a project to help save the planet. She's all for it, and decides to teach an ecology class to some of the BSC charges for her project. (The idea comes to her after she tells the Barrett kids a little about ecology during a babysitting job.) Stacey's in the same class a different period, so they decide to work together. They end up getting thirteen kids to sign up for a series of six classes, one hour each. The classes will be held once a week at Stacey's house, and each will cover a different topic. At the end of the six weeks, they'll hold a Green Fair to help educate the community. All proceeds will go to an environmental group.
After learning a lot about trash and recycling in preparation, Dawn starts to get appalled by all the waste she sees around her. She starts telling other people things they shouldn't be doing, like buying individually wrapped candies, using straws, using Styrofoam, etc. After learning that Stoneybrook only has one recycling center, she also decides to do something about that. She pitches the idea to the VP of SMS, who really likes it. The motion is put to a vote among the student body, and ends up being approved. However, the students vote for Mrs. Gonzalez, the science teacher, to head the project instead of Dawn. She's crushed, and then to make matters worse, she overhears Cokie and Grace talking about how Mrs. G won by a landslide because everyone thinks Dawn is too obnoxious. Discouraged and hurt, she ends up not doing any of the work on the new recycling center.
On the opening day of the new center, Dawn's more disheartened to see how her idea came together without her, and how Mrs. G is given all the credit. Dawn is mentioned in a newspaper article about it, but there's no picture of her, just some of the volunteers. (Sort of understandable, since at this point she isn't working there or helping out.)
Stacey's gotten fed up by this point with Dawn ordering her around and taking over their project, but she's been biting her tongue. Unfortunately, Dawn doesn't pick up on it. She also still hasn't learned you can't force someone into caring about something. Things come to a head when she just assumes the whole BSC will be volunteering at her Green Fair, but never actually bothers to ask any of them. Then she gets angry when Kristy isn't free to help hang fliers for it. The other girls, especially Stacey, finally admit they've found her really obnoxious lately, because she acts like she's the only one who knows anything about ecology. Stacey also points out that she had her own good ideas for their project, but she wouldn't listen to any of them. Everyone's also tired of being ordered around and expected to be perfect.
Dawn's really hurt after hearing all of this, but she finally realizes how pushy she's been and apologizes. Everyone forgives her and tells her they think she should be running the recycling center, if she could remember to tone it down and stop treating people like criminals.
The Green Fair ends up being a success, and Dawn and Stacey work nicely together. Mrs. G even attends. Dawn decides to donate the proceeds to the recycling center. For her final project essay, she writes about how you can't save the planet alone, and how self-righteous that mentality made her act. She gets an A, and is asked to co-chair the recycling center.
Timeline:
I'm assuming it's spring, but nothing was said one way or another.
Misc. thoughts:
*Ghostwritten by Jahanna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner
*This book was more progressive than I expected, with accurate information about global warming. Not bad for 1992...
*I really do get why this constant lecturing and judgement is annoying, and Dawn is acting terribly in here. BUT I will say it's a hard thing to avoid doing once you're educated about these issues. When you learn these things that are horrifying and shocking, yet you've gone your whole life so far clueless about, for awhile it's all you can think about. Naturally this means you are also dying to talk about it. If you're surrounded by people who seem to have no idea either, you need some superhuman willpower not to share the information. I went through this same thing when I first learned about global warming, then again with factory farming. It changes how you think about everything, and you feel like everyone should know.
*BUT, for the other side, Dawn acts like she knows everything and other people know nothing. So I wonder, how does she not know that one of the biggest contributors to global warming is airline travel?
*It's mentioned that the Odner kids have measles. So, these are regular clients, but we've never had a job with them specifically mentioned, even in passing. We don't know the kids' names, or one single thing about anyone in the family. Which is all just really weird, since we hear about the same few families and kids over and over.
*The Pike kids forming the green patrol and the green school was actually pretty cute. (They're making sure people are being green, and scolding them when they mess up.) It sounds annoying, but was kind of funny.
*Apparently the BSC members can sometimes eat lunch separately without it being a big deal again. This book mentions Claudia eating with friends on the other side of the lunch room. In some books, that would be a huge scandal...
*Score another maturity point for Stacey. She really puts up with a lot before she ever says anything to Dawn about her behavior, trying not to rock the boat.
*Dawn refusing to work at the recycling center after the vote was really immature, but probably a really realistic reaction from a teenager. Plus I don't blame her for being hurt. That teacher should have at least given her credit for coming up with the idea, or called her and invited her to the opening day.
*The scene where Dawn apologizes to her friends and they talk things out was actually really nice. We've come a long way from the petty, ridiculous fights of the early books. Everyone was open and honest with Dawn about how she made them feel, and she listened to them, learned something, and ended up apologizing. The other girls immediately accepted, and they discussed solutions. Most adults can't even do any of this! It was a great friendship moment, and you can really see how close everyone has become.
*Moral of the story? Not everyone thinks like you do. This is a great lesson for adults too, especially in our current world...
*I wonder if Dawn working at the recycling center is ever mentioned again?
Books mentioned:
*50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save The Earth, by the Earthworks Group
My rating:
3.5 stars. I didn't hate this book, and I think it unfairly gets a bad rap. It would be impossible for it to hold up to my childhood love for it, but I still did enjoy it. This is an excellent intro to environmental issues for kids, and all the information is still relevant today. It even tells kids the steps to making a bird feeder, what to feed them, how to make milk carton birdhouses, and lots of other practical but fun advice. I was impressed, and would definitely want my kids to read this one.
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