The Great Brain Reforms

Fitzgerald puts out yet another good book in the Great Brain series with the Great Brain Reforms. It details a few more of T.D.'s swindles, and builds up to the point where the rest of the kids in town hate him. When he risks two of the kids' lives for thirty cents, they realize that it has gone too far. They hold a mock court meeting, and convict the Great Brain of swindling everyone in town, and as punishment every kid in town refuses to speak to him for a whole year. The Great Brain promises to reform, so they agree to talk to him as long as he stays reformed. Definitely an interesting and humerous read. Overall grade: A-

John Dennis Fitzgerald intended to chronicle his youth in Utah for adults, not children. His publisher thought otherwise and the result are these gems. I don't even call them children's lit gems because I find them just as enjoyable as an adult. Before I go on, you should know that Fitzgerald wrote one book about his youth that is for adults, called "Papa Married a Mormon". It is one of the most amazing books on the American west that I have ever read. Sadly, it is out of print, and you may, like me, have to pay an exorbitant sum to get a copy. Trust me, save up and do it. Now back to this book. Every single Great Brain book in the series is pure gold, and the entire set can be had cheaply, so I say buy them all at once. I "put my money where my mouth is" as Tom the Great Brain would say, and bought the lot.

The Great Brain series is my very favorite of all the books I read as a kid. I recall beginning reading the series as a fourth grader, and re-read them ...and even now if I want an easy read that is guaranteed to make me chuckle I pull them out and read them. Also, Harriet the Spy, Little House series, and of course classics like Treasure Island, Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer will appeal as well.

The "Great Brain"(also known as Tom) is one of the most clever characters I have ever seen. He proves to be above both the children as well as the adults with his money-loving heart and his great brain. Tom manages to swindle every single child in his town (especially his simple-minded brother) and gets away with it most of the time. He could argue his way out of everything and he uses this advantage over others to have his own way over everything. I loved this book mainly because it was hilarious and was very realistically written by the author. I would certainly recommend this book to anybody who loves to read!! The "Great Brain" reminds me a lot of what I used to do to my brother, Chandu, when we were little. I used to get my way with him every time just like the Great Brain did with his brother, John.