The Great Brain (Great Brain, Book 1)
by John D. Fitzgerald
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Book Summary Information
Author: John D. FitzgeraldBrand: Puffin Books
Illustrator: Mercer Mayer
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-02-09
ISBN: 0142400580
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Puffin
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780142400586
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of The Great Brain (Great Brain, Book 1)
Book Review: Interesting, But Not A Carefree Ride
Summary: 4 Stars
I agree with the other reviewers in that The Great Brain is an entertaining, clever, and highly intelligent read for 4th graders and up with excellent reading comprehension. However, parents may wish to be aware that the book raises a number of challenging, troubling issues to which their children may not have been previously exposed. All are dealt with in lighthearted ways, yet for some children, it may be the first time being exposed to some of the darker concepts - like feuds between Christian sects (since it takes place in Utah at the turn-of-the-century the narrator frequently discusses fights with the Mormon kids), anti-Semitism (when a Jewish merchant sets up shop in town and is presumed to be hoarding gold), the death of the merchant, alcoholism (when a plot hatches to get a disliked teacher fired by planting empty whiskey bottles in his room), amputation (when a child gets gangrene after stepping on a nail and is forced to lose his leg), and even suicide (when that child feels that he is "plumb useless" and tries to enlist his friends to help him end it all.)
Not only are these issues raised rather offhandedly, but the overall story is morally complex. It involves Tom, the narrator's brother, looked up to as a brilliant thinker, but the main focus of his Great Brain is how to make money from his brother, his friends, and their parents regardless of the circumstance. He is generally on the right side of each issue, but a cynical child might assume he is only in it for himself. For example, he helps defend an immigrant child from bullies. But he does it by convincing the boy's father that in order to be a "real American kid" he must learn how to fight, and that Tom is willing to teach him for a fee. Tom manages to swindle his friends out of their spare pennies, his parents out of their pocket change, and his brother out of his prized Indian beaded belt.
So I recommend this book as a good read for intelligent kids, but if they have previously been exposed to only typical lighthearted children's fare, be prepared to read it along with your child, as some thorny moral discussions may develop.
Summary of The Great Brain (Great Brain, Book 1)
The best con man in the Midwest is only ten years old. Tom, a.k.a., the Great Brain, is a silver-tongued genius with a knack for turning a profit. When the Jenkins boys get lost in Skeleton Cave, the Great Brain saves the day. Whether it's saving the kids at school, or helping out Peg-leg Andy, or Basil, the new kid at school, the Great Brain always manages to come out on top-and line his pockets in the process.
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