- Graphic Novels
- Ages 8–12
- Contemporary
The Baby-Sitters Club: Mallory and the Trouble with Twins
Book 17 of 19 in The Baby-Sitters Club GraphixView the full series
Part of the The Baby-Sitters Club universeOpen the collection
A Mallory-focused story about being trusted, wanting independence, and learning that younger children also want to be seen as individuals. It is a gentle but useful volume for readers who feel underestimated.
- Best for8–12
- FormatGraphic
- Length176 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr25 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Warm
- Funny
- Heartwarming
- Thought provoking
- Cosy
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Mallory Pike knows she is a good babysitter. She has looked after her seven younger siblings for years, so when Kristy offers her a steady job babysitting the Arnold twins, Mallory expects it to be easy. But Marilyn and Carolyn are tired of being treated as interchangeable twins, and they make it very clear that they want their own interests, identities and choices respected. Mallory also wants to prove that she is capable and mature, especially when adults and older kids still see her as young. This seventeenth Baby-Sitters Club Graphix volume, adapted and illustrated by Arley Nopra, is a warm, low-peril story about individuality, responsibility and being taken seriously. It is especially useful for children who feel stuck between younger and older roles, or who are starting to understand that fairness does not always mean treating everyone exactly the same.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 8–12
- Read aloud · 7–11
- Independent · 8–12
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
5 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Mallory pike fans
- Twin story
- Growing independence
- Realistic graphic novel
- Reluctant readers
Avoid if
- Has not read earlier bsc
- Wants action adventure
- Prefers fantasy or sci fi
Particularly good for children who are…
- Reluctant reader
- Low self esteem
- Struggling with reading
- Making friends
In the classroom
How it works in school.
The hugely popular Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels — a reluctant-reader favourite that also touches on friendship, responsibility and family.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific recognition is being seen as one of a pair instead of yourself — Marilyn and Carolyn Arnold tired of being treated as interchangeable twins, asking to be respected as individuals. A child reading it gets a quiet lesson on fairness, plus Mallory finding her place in the club.
- Being special or chosen
- Family belonging
- Friendship and belonging
- Making a difference
- Proving yourself
Why parents love it
The BSC where Mallory comes properly into her own — the Arnold twins want to be seen as individuals, and the babysitting job becomes a useful study in what fairness actually means. Useful for any household with twins, or any child who's tired of being mistaken for someone else.
- Nostalgia
- Conversation starter
- Quick to read
- Bedtime appropriate
In the series
The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix.
19 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
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