The Girls Get Even

The Girls Get Even is part of the Boys Against Girls series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, set in the small town of Buckman, West Virginia. The story continues the rivalry between the Hatford boys and the Malloy girls, who live across the river from each other. When the Malloy sisters discover the Hatford boys' camping plans, a new round of pranks begins. The two groups strike a deal centered around a Halloween costume contest, with the winners earning the right to boss around the losing team for a month. The competition escalates as both sides attempt to outmaneuver each other through costumes, sabotage, and elaborate schemes involving a cemetery visit and Halloween party. The story builds toward a climactic Halloween night filled with tricks and surprises. The book explores themes of friendship, rivalry, and the complexities of growing up through the lens of good-natured competition between boys and girls. Reynolds Naylor captures the spirit of childhood pranks while maintaining an underlying message about respect and fairness.

Readers describe this as a fun sequel that continues the boy-vs-girl rivalry from the first book but with higher stakes and more elaborate pranks. Many find it funnier than the first book. Readers appreciated: - The escalating pranks and schemes - Character growth, especially Caroline's development - Humor that appeals to both boys and girls - Good messages about friendship and working together Common criticisms: - Some pranks seem unrealistic or over-the-top - Not as strong as other books in the series - A few readers found the rivalry tiresome Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (253 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (15 ratings) Multiple reviewers noted this book works well as a read-aloud for families. One parent wrote: "My kids begged me to keep reading each night - they had to know what crazy thing would happen next." A student reviewer said: "The pranks are silly but that's what makes it fun. Caroline and Peter both learn important lessons."

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★ The author, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, has written over 140 books and won the Newbery Medal in 1992 for her novel "Shiloh" ★ The Boys Against Girls series consists of 12 books total, following the Hatford-Malloy rivalry through multiple seasons and adventures ★ West Virginia, where the story is set, has deep Halloween traditions dating back to early European settlers, who brought harvest celebration customs to the Appalachian region ★ The book's publishing in 1994 coincided with a surge in middle-grade series featuring boy-girl rivalries, reflecting changing social dynamics in children's literature ★ Phyllis Reynolds Naylor based many elements of the fictional town Buckman on her experiences growing up in small Midwestern towns, though she intentionally set it in West Virginia to capture the state's unique cultural heritage