The Terrible Two

Mrs. Hardinger - 6 Reasons Why You Should Read THE TERRIBLE TWO 1) Ever pulled a great prank? The characters in this book may just have you beat. For example, in the first few pages someone pulls the ULTIMATE prank on the school principal. This book will make you want to become a member of the super secret pranking society known as the International Order of Disorder. 2) The book has really short chapters that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Be careful you don't stay up TOO late devouring chapter after chapter under the covers with your flashlight. (I'm a teacher. I had to say it.) 3) You'll meet two hilarious characters who will have you laughing out loud constantly. Miles and Niles will become so real to you that by the end you'll swear they're good friends of yours in real life. 4) Do you know what it feels like to be the new kid in town? Pretty tough, right? Well, you'll be able to understand exactly how Miles feels. He's forced to leave all his friends behind and move with his mom to a boring little cow town called Yawnee Valley. 5) Speaking of cows, you'll learn all sorts of funny, weird facts about these lovable bovine creatures. For example, "Cows have 360-degree panoramic vision. Want to sneak up on a cow? You can't. They see you." Crazy! 6) In this book, the drawings, hand written letters, photos, and cartoons are just as cool as the writing itself. If you're a fan of the Wimpy Kid Series or James Patterson's Middle School books, then you'll love The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John. Bonus: This book is brand new. Grab a copy ASAP to be one of the first kids to read it in 2015!

October 27, 2014
Two rival pranksters headline this boisterous series opener set in Yawnee Valley, “the cow capital of the United States, this side of the Mississippi, excluding a couple of towns that cheat.” Barnett (the Brixton Brothers series) and John (All My Friends Are Dead) are in perfect comic harmony, filling their story with exaggerated archetypes (the overbearing principal, the do-gooder), pranks gone awry, and wisecracking banter. On his first day at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy, master trickster Miles is impressed that someone has moved Principal Barkin’s car to block the school entrance—and distressed that he wasn’t the perpetrator. Determined to establish his prankster dominance, Miles masterminds a huge birthday party—presents required—for a fictitious peer, who (somehow) shows up to wow the crowd and abscond with the gifts. Eventually, Miles finally forms a partnership with his unlikely nemesis to create a “secret society founded on mutual admiration and the joy of pranking.” Cornell’s (The Chicken Squad) b&w cartoons layer on the laughs, especially when portraying the megalomaniacal Principal Barkin, and Barnett and John’s deadpan writing lets Yawnee Valley’s absurdity shine. Ages 8–12. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

November 1, 2014
Miles used to live near the sea. Miles had friends. Miles was his school's greatest prankster...how will he survive a move to Yawnee Valley? Yawnee Valley is famous for one thing: cows. All new students at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy receive a booklet of 1,346 interesting cow facts from fussbudget fifth-generation principal Barry Barkin. On the first day of school, when Principal Barkin's car is found mysteriously parked on the school's steps, Barkin suspects Miles and assigns Niles Sparks to be Miles' buddy. Miles can't think of anything more awful than spending every moment of every day with smiling, officious, king-of-the-obvious Niles. On top of that, Barkin's son, Josh, has decided Miles is a good bullying target. To make life interesting, Miles plans a perfect prank in his pranking notebook, but it's foiled. That's followed by an invitation to join forces in pranking from an unexpected source...no way! Let the prank war commence! Barnett and John launch their cow-resplendent illustrated series with the humorous origin story of the pranking duo who lend the series its name. Characters may be stock; however, the pranks are anything but, and it's peppered with cow facts. Cornell's goofy cartoon illustrations (especially the blase cows) add giggles aplenty. Fluffy, fast, fun reading for fans of Clueless McGee and the Wimpy Kid. (Fiction. 7-11)

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January 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-When you move to a new school, you get to decide who you want to be: front-row kid, kid with cool shoes, or smart kid. Miles Murphy has moved to a new town and a new school, but he doesn't want to reinvent himself. He wants to be who he has always been; a prankster. The problem is, that role has already been taken by a troublemaker who is even better than Miles, Niles Sparks, masquerading as a do-gooder. Niles respects Miles' skills and suggests they join forces as The Terrible Two. Initially disinterested, Miles ultimately realizes he is no match for Niles, and they work together to pull off the ultimate prank and develop a close friendship. Coauthors and friends Barnett and John have created a fast paced, laugh-out-loud novel sure to appeal to those who appreciate a good prank and have a sense of justice. The caricaturelike protagonists, particularly the childlike adult characters, add to the absurdity of the book, and the evolving relationship between the Miles and Niles is pure fun. Cornell's varied graphics perfectly capture the humorous tone and add their own comic appeal. This is a good candidate for reluctant readers and a natural next read for fans of Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series.-Juliet Morefield, Multnomah County Library, OR

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2015
Grades 4-6 Miles Murphy isn't happy about moving to small Yawnee Valley (Welcome sign: Come look at our cows ) or leaving his friends, but he is determined to be Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy's number one prankster, the title he proudly held at his old school. He is facing serious competition, however, when an anonymousand, Miles admits, inspiredtrickster delays the first day of school by somehow blocking the school's entryway with the principal's car. Worse, aptly named Principal Barkin blames Miles and pairs him with goody-two-shoes Niles Sparks; then he is targeted by bully Josh. Undaunted, Miles focuses on achieving premiere prankster status, but he is continually thwarted. Thus begins a rivalry of pranking one-upmanship, but perhaps an alliance is betterand ultimately rewarding in multiple ways. With plenty of humor, quirky characters, interspersed drolly related cow factoids, and fantastical, over-the-top pranking, this entertaining, enjoyable read will especially appeal to Wimpy Kid aficionados. Throughout, lively black-and-white cartoon illustrations depict characters, scenarios, and sundry ephemera with witty details. Readers will be anticipating the prankster pals' further escapades.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)