The Terrible Two Get Worse

October 1, 2015
When pranking perfection meets the seemingly unprankable foe, who gets the last laugh? Terrible Two Niles and Miles have been merrily pranking their favorite targets, Principal Barkin and his dim, loathsome son Josh, at school and in town all autumn long. Fed up with the plague of pranks, former Principal Barkin (father of the current one) stages a coup d'etat at a school board meeting and takes back his old job. This new-old Principal Barkin is draconian in his control of the school. He hangs a sign counting the days since the last prank]which, since he avows there is no prank if no one reacts (and he never reacts), means there have been no pranks. Miles and Niles despair as one after another of their complex, devious plots are ignored. School becomes unbearable until they seek help from a most unlikely source. Can three succeed where two have failed? John and Barnett's sophomore effort is as much fun as series opener The Terrible Two (2015). The boys' history as rivals and their home lives barely receive mention here, so the first volume is a must-read]no hardship. Cornell's line drawings add to the goofy, deadpan experience. This revenger's comedy, dotted with references to classic plays and philosophical concepts, will be a joy for pranksters and seekers of a good-hearted laugh. (Fiction. 8-11)

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November 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-It's a new school year, and Miles and Niles, the Terrible Two, are ready to prank. The year has hardly begun when the unthinkable happens. The Terrible Two have done their job too well, and their principal, Mr. Barkin, is put on involuntary leave because of his inability to control the incessant rash of pranks in his school, humiliatingly replaced by his father. Miles and Niles gear up to start pranking the new Principal Barkin, but he is a strong opponent, maintaining that a prank is only a prank if it is acknowledged as such. No matter how ingenious the Terrible Two's pranks are, Barkin will not admit anything is wrong. Depressed and a feeling a little guilty, Miles and Niles team up with the last person they ever thought they'd pull off a prank with: former principal Barkin, the one person who knows his father's only weakness. This is a strong and much anticipated follow up to the original. The evolution of the characters and their relationships is particularly enjoyable. Miles and Niles have grown as friends and as people. It's fun to watch them grapple with the repercussions of their actions but ultimately decide to continue pranking. Viewing former principal Barkin from a new perspective, as he tries to find meaning in his life after losing his job, will make readers rethink their original views of him. The new Mr. Barkin is a wonderful, villainous addition to the cast of characters at Yawnee Valley School. Fast-paced and laugh-aloud funny, the book will appeal to a wide range of readers. Frequent, humorous graphics will attract fans of visual storytelling and also make the book more accessible to reluctant readers. Quirky writing and colorful dialogue make the book an excellent read-aloud. VERDICT A welcome addition for fans of the first book, though familiarity with the original isn't necessary to enjoy this hilarious sequel.-Juliet Morefield, Multnomah County Library, OR

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2015
Grades 4-6 Miles Murphy and Niles Sparks, the pals from The Terrible Two (2015), continue clandestinely and gleefully causing mayhem at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy, pranking figures such as their excitable, controlling principal, Barry Barkin. But targeting the traditional all-school picture day has unexpected consequences: Barry Barkin is booted out, and his father, a former principal who is even less tolerant and more power-hungry, is reinstalled. That grim principal, Bertrand Barkin, implements a successful ban on pranksand any school funthat leaves Miles and Niles feeling defeated. But not for long: they devise an epic prank to bring him down, enlisting help from a most unlikely source. This humorous sequel makes for engaging, fast-paced reading that again highlights the meaning of friendship, and animated, amusing cartoon illustrations enhance and extend the story. Existing fans will enjoy learning more about Miles and Niles and their latest capers, and room is left for another follow-up.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2016
Pranking remains a fine art in this sequel to The Terrible Two (rev. 3/15), which opens with Miles and Niles targeting Principal Barkin and his obnoxious son, Josh, in practical jokes of the highest quality. Unfortunately, their success brings a new challenge in the form of Principal Barkin's father, former Principal Barkin, who, disgusted by his son's inability to handle the pranking that mars his legacy, takes the school back under his own control. The Terrible Two seem to have met their match in this wily, domineering leader who defuses most of their hijinks and just ignores the others, no matter how creative, complicated, or well executed. Ultimately, the Terrible Two must enlist some help to get under the skin of senior Principal Barkin, and they know exactly whom to ask. Exaggerated cartoon illustrations throughout punctuate the plot and add to the comedy. Full of absorbing strategy and even a little suspense, this humorous sequel will keep readers entertained while offering insight into the nature of successful pranking and its reliance on audience reaction. julie roach

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)