Cheap The Great Brain (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Great Brain (Prebound)) Discount Review Shop
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.
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"The Great Brain (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Great Brain (Prebound))" Overview
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. 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.
Customer Reviews
Fun book. - D. Golightly - Melba, ID USA
This a great read. A fun book! It was here on time and in good condition. Thank you!
The Great Brain Book - Coyotes 1 - Preston, Idaho United States
Made this book purchase for my son to read while we took a road trip! He LOVED it! He is now anxious to read all the books in the "Great Brain" series!! Excellent read for Older Grade School and Jr. High aged Kids!
Timeless Children's Classics - Barbara from New Jersey - Madison, NJ USA
I too read The Great Brain series books over and over again as a child. I recently bought all of them for my nine year old daughter who could also not put them down. These books are timeless classics and a great addition to any child's bookshelf. I do wish the publisher would reprint the box set!!
Great Brain Fails Test of Time and has Bad Message - pjm -
I read the Great Brain books back in the 80's and thought they were funny and amusing. I started to reread this one and found it boring and the Great Brain rude, annoying, and obnoxious. I can't believe the parents are so clueless as to the swindles T.D perpretrates on others, especially their youngest son. If their so fair and omniscient, why do they let him act as little devil and expect everyone else to behave. I feel sorry for the author if he had to suffer with this upbringing.
This book is a bad influence if a family is trying to teach their children to behave decently and be kind to others. There is lots of bullying in it. It's message is it's ok to take advantage of other people as long as your smart, strong, or their the wrong kind of people.
I understand the book was written a long time ago about a time before that. Still the book is full of prejudice and racist stereotypes. These may be based on real experiences, but I can't overlook the disgusting slights to Mormons, Jews, and Native Americans. Fitzgerald's books should not be read by young children to avoid propogating these views.
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