Summary: The Terrible Two
Miles is devastated to be moving from his town to another one called Yawnee Valley. He loved his town, had good friends, and, most importantly, was well-known as the best prankster around. When he arrives in Yawnee Valley, he immediately discovers that there’s already a superb prankster there — with a secret identity no less. When Miles gets out-pranked by the Yawnee Valley prankster, it starts a prank war between both kids until they decide to join forces.
The Good
I’m not going to pretend that this book is some great literary feat, but what it does well is the wacky humor. Miles genuinely takes pride in being a great prankster, so discovering Yawnee Valley’s prankster shakes his identity a bit. I liked seeing how different both boys’ approach to pranking was — while Miles likes to show off with his pranks, Niles prefers to let his work speak for him.
I also liked the teeny mystery of who the second prankster was. It creates some suspense for the readers. This book has a sizable cast of characters, and the authors do well managing all of them, creating a distinct personality for each of them. The principal, Mr. Barkin, is exceeding ridiculous, as is his son Josh who bullies Miles a bit.
Finally, Yawnee Valley is known for cows, so readers should expect plenty of cow-related facts throughout. Of course, there are also many fun and funny illustrations for readers to enjoy as they read. The audiobook is thoroughly enjoyable as well.
Overall: The Terrible Two
The Terrible Two is a riotous, animated middle grade book about pranks, unlikely friendships, and cows. This is a great bridge book for kids who like graphic novels and chapter books with wacky humor. It’s super short, and the audiobook is fantastic for the entire family. Although books like this are not my favorite, I totally understand the appeal and see why many kids love it.
My Rating
Content Notes
Here are some specifics to know about the content.
Content Warnings
- Death: None
- Alcohol/substance abuse: None
- Violence: The school bully is violent at times, but nothing too disturbing
Diversity
- Ethnic: None
- Sexual orientation: None
Recommended for ages: 8+
Good for kids who like:
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid
- Funny chapter books
- Stories about pranks and pranksters
Kids say:
“The book has a slow start, but gets better towards the end. I liked the book because it was silly, but I got bored with the main story and the flashbacks. If you like silly pranks you should give this book a try, and maybe you’ll enjoy it.”
— Alex g,, age 8.5
“I really enjoyed the book. It was funny and exciting. I liked the part about the prank war. Sounds fun!”
— Kanmi L,, age 11
Publisher Details
| Publisher details | Amulet Books |
| Author: | Mac Barnett, Jory John |
| Illustrator: | Kevin Cornell |
| Publication date: | January 13, 2015 |
| Audiobook? | Yes, |
| Page count: | 224 |
| Cover artists | Designer: |
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