Full House books
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[edit] Overview of the book series
Books based on the American television series Full House are geared toward children primarily ages 8-14. However, many are considered enjoyable by fans of the sitcom, especially of the characters Stephanie Tanner and Michelle Tanner, who are the main focuses. The series include the following:
Full House Stephanie: A series of 33 books from Stephanie's point of view. These feature Stephanie in a different middle school, likely because of a slightly different redistricting plan compared to the one mentioned in season 7's Fast Friends. She has different best friends Allie and Darcy, as well. Though these are book creations, she has known Allie since Kindergarten, and there are several places in the first five seasons where fans think an unnamed extra could be Allie. The first ten of these books overlap with seasons 7 and 8 of the TV series, though they take place in a slightly different parallel universe from the series, as noted below - known to some as the "Book Universe" and encompassing most of the books.
Full House Michelle: A series of 44 books from Michelle's point of view. The first 27 feature more of her home life than others, though some focus on events at school, whereas the last 14, the "Michelle and Friends" series, focuses mostly on Michelle and her classmates. The first four books in the Michelle series overlap with season 8 of "Full House," while being in this Book Universe.
Full House Sisters: A series of 14 books focusing on Michelle and Stephanie's friendship and comical situations that occur between them, taking place in the book universe and often alternating points of view in the story.
Full House: Club Stephanie: A series of 15 books in 5 trilogies focusing on Stephanie and her friends and their battles with a rival clique called the Flamingoes. Some have argued that this part of the Book Universe is similar to the Sweet Valley High books, though books not dealing with the Flamingoes are clearly "Full House" stories.
Full House: Dear Michelle: A series of 4 books focusing on Michelle's third grade class paper advice column, set in a different third grade class from either the first four books or the TV universe, though with several of the same friends as in the other books. Since there are three fourth grade classes in the episode Spellbound and in the book "If I Were President," it is not implausible that there would be three different classes for each grade level in her school.
[edit] Differences Between Book and TV Characters
Michelle is in a different class in third grade, and Stephanie in a different school. Each of the younger girls is more mature, and not as rebellious in general in the books. Some books have the girls closer to the TV Universe characters, however, leading some to speculate that 1-2 Michelle books could arguably be better suited for the TV and not the Book Universe. For instance, in "The Wish I Wish I Never Wished," Michelle is reading Stephanie's diary and has a big argument with her, and Stephanie moves out of the room they share for a few days. This type of snooping is more akin to the TV Universe sisters, as they are never seen to be reading each others diaries in the books. Their reconciling seems like the end of one of the TV episodes as Stephanie moves back in.
As for individual character traits, Michelle is more compassionate and sensitive, and slightly more emotional, or at least more willing to show her emotions. One scene in the book "Here Comes the Brand New Me" shows Stephanie reading a school newspaper article about school lunches, written from the meatloaf's point of view, concerning the abuse students heap on it, and Michelle cries thinking of how the meatloaf must feel, a sign not only of her increased sensitivity but also of Stephanie's writing skills in describing this unique point of view, skills not explored on TV. Stephanie not only is on the school paper, she babysits quite often at times, unlike on the TV series. She has her own babysitting business with her friends. Her actions revolve around trying to accomplish things and getting in over her head much more in books, a sign of her overexcitability from the TV series.
Other charcters: The girls' dad, Danny Tanner, has a home office/study/den, with Joey Gladstone living in the basement apartment yet, whereas he lives on the second floor in later years on TV, replacing the girls' Uncle Jesse Katsopolis. It is implied that this office has always been in the Tanners' fourth bedroom, with Jesse possibly always in the attic.
This may have occurred because the writers felt it more likely that only actual family members would normally room on the floor with the dad and the girls. However, many fans also feel that this room placement logically explains the different personalities. The girls' uncle is the mother figure to Michelle in the TV series, and has quite a bit of influence on Stephanie, as well, after the girls' mother dies. With an office in the fourth bedroom, it is presumed that the girls' oldest sister D.J. filled that role early in their lives, and was able to mold them into being more mature than the sometimes rebellious Jesse.
This change in family history is an example of what some call a retcon. Other evidence includes the fact that Jesse never uses his pet names for Michelle in the books, such as munchkin, rugrat, or shorty.
[edit] Time Frame
The books, which began to be published in 1993 and finished in 2001, except for the 2004 "Dear Michelle" series, span from Stephanie's sixth grade year (season 7 on TV) to her ninth grade year. No book has been written as of now to show her in high school, nor Michelle starting Middle School. Since the Flamingoes are featured less and less in Stephanie books, it's assumed that their rivalry with Stephanie dies out after a few years. Indeed, the last "Club Stephanie" trilogy, also the final book till the "Dear Michelle" series, shows Stephanie and her friends becoming friends with the Flamingoes by the end.
The books are careful not to seem too far away from what would be 1995-6 if they were episodes on TV, though a few small problems occur because of the lack of development in the Internet till a few years after the TV series ended.
