The Terrible Two (book series)

Last updated

The Terrible Two is a series of four novels aimed at tweeners. The two protagonists are Miles Murphy and Niles Sparks, who are in the same grade at the Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy. It is the local public school in Yawnee Valley, a town in a country area where the main industry appears to be dairy cattle. Originally rivals, Miles and Niles discover that they have a shared love of pranking, and begin to institute elaborate pranks, often aimed at the principal of the Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy, Barry Barkin.

Contents

The series was written by Jory John and Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell, and published by Harry N. Abrams. The four books in the series are: The Terrible Two (2015), The Terrible Two Get Worse (2016), The Terrible Two Go Wild (2018), and The Terrible Two's Last Laugh (2018).

The Terrible Two

The Terrible Two is the first book in the series. [1] It introduces Miles Murphy, who has recently moved to Yawnee Valley with his mother. Miles is upset about the move, away from his former town and school where he had established his reputation as a prankster. On his first day of school, he meets Niles Sparks, an extremely well-behaved student who has earned the title of "school helper" from Principal Barkin. Barkin is the victim of an elaborate prank the first day of school and blames Miles, without any proof. Miles gradually realises that behind the facade of good behaviour, Niles is a committed prankster. They eventually team up, with Niles having considerable planning abilities, and Miles having a strong skill at improvisation, when a prank looks like it may be about to be detected. The book finishes with an elaborate prank on Principal Barkin, and his son, Josh Barkin.

Josh is the school bully and class president. He is opposed by Holly, a bright student who regularly runs in opposition to Josh for the class president. She is sceptical of Niles's excessively good behaviour, and befriends Miles, who is an outsider. She gradually realises that Miles and Niles have become friends and is somewhat puzzled, as Niles and Miles seem completely different in attitudes.

The Terrible Two received positive reviews from Publishers Weekly , [2] Booklist , [3] Kirkus Reviews , [4] and The Guardian , [5] as well as the following accolades:

The audiobook, released January 12, 2015 and voiced by Adam Verner, received a starred review from Booklist . [9]

The Terrible Two Get Worse

The Terrible Two Get Worse is the second book in the series. Barry Barkin has lost his position as principal because of the fiasco at the end of the first book. He has been replaced by his father, Former Principal Barkin, who comes out of retirement to try to restore order at Yawneee Valley Science and Letters Academy. Niles and Miles continue their pranking ways, but find that Former Principal Barkin is a more formidable opponent than Barry Barkin had been.

The Terrible Two Get Worse was published January 11, 2016, and a Spanish-language edition of the book, titled Bromas Pesadas S.A. Aun Peor, was released March 15, 2017. The book is a New York Times Bestseller [10] and received positive reviews from Kirkus Reviews, [11] Booklist, [12] and School Library Journal. [10]

The Terrible Two Go Wild

The Terrible Two Go Wild, the third book in the series, cover the adventures of Niles and Miles during summer vacation. They are camping in the country outside Yawnee Valley. Barry Barkin is also on vacation, taking nature walks in the same area. Josh Barkin is leading a small group of scouts in the same area. It was published January 8, 2018.

The Terrible Two's Last Laugh

The Terrible Two's Last Laugh was published January 14, 2019.

Related Research Articles

Lockwood & Co. is a young adult supernatural thriller series written by Jonathan Stroud. The series follows three young operatives of a psychic detection agency as they fight ghosts in London, England.

Amie Kaufman is a New York Times bestselling and internationally bestselling Australian author of science fiction and fantasy for young adults. She is known for the Starbound Trilogy and Unearthed, which she co-authored with Meagan Spooner; for her series The Illuminae Files, co-authored with Jay Kristoff; and for her solo series, Elementals. Her books have been published in over 35 countries.

<i>Stamped from the Beginning</i> Book by Ibram X. Kendi

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America is a non-fiction book about race in the United States by the American historian Ibram X. Kendi, published April 12, 2016 by Bold Type Books, an imprint of PublicAffairs. The book won the National Book Award for Nonfiction.

<i>The Poet X</i> 2018 YA novel by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Poet X, published March 6, 2018 by HarperTeen, is a young adult novel by Elizabeth Acevedo. Fifteen-year-old Xiomara, also known as "X" or "Xio," works through the tension and conflict in her family by writing poetry. The book, a New York Times bestseller, was well received and won multiple awards at the 2019 Youth Media Awards.

Jory John is an American author of children's books and is known for incorporating dark humor and discussing difficult topics in his books.

The Food Group is a children's book series by American author Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald and published by HarperCollins between 2017 and 2021. The series includes seven books: The Bad Seed (2017), The Good Egg (2019), The Cool Bean (2019), The Couch Potato (2020), The Good Egg Presents: The Great Eggscape! (2020), The Smart Cookie (2021), and The Bad Seed Presents: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky (2021), The Sour Grape (2022), and The Cool Bean Presents: As Cool as It Gets.

Animal Problems is a children's book series by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith, and published by Random House Books for Young Readers. The series includes three books: Penguin Problems (2016), Giraffe Problems (2018), and Cat Problems (2021).

Goodnight Already! is a children's book series by American author Jory John, illustrated by Benji Davies and published by HarperCollins. The series includes four books: Goodnight Already! (2014), I Love You Already! (2015), Come Home Already! (2017), and All Right Already! (2018).

<i>Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All</i> 2019 young adult novel by Laura Ruby

[[Candlewick Press|

<i>Shout</i> (memoir) 2019 memoir by Laurie Halse Anderson

Shout: The True Story of a Survivor Who Refused to be Silenced is a poetic memoir by Laurie Halse Anderson, published March 12, 2019 by Viking Books. The book is a New York Times best seller.

<i>Somethings Wrong</i> (childrens book) 2021 childrens book by Jory John

Something's Wrong!: A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear is a children's book written by Jory John, illustrated by Erin Kraan, and published March 23, 2021 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

<i>Its Not My Fault!</i> 2020 childrens book by Jory John

It's Not My Fault! is a children's book about emotional literacy written by Jory John, illustrated by Jared Chapman, and published June 9, 2020 by Random House Books for Young Readers.

That's What Dinosaurs Do is a children's book written by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald, and published May 21, 2019 by HarperCollins. The story is "about unapologetically and happily being yourself, no matter the cost."

The Fixer is a young adult mystery novel series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, published by Bloomsbury Children's Books. The series consists of two books: The Fixer (2015) and The Long Game (2016).

Little Elliot is a series of children's picture books, written and illustrated by Mike Curato and published by Henry Holt and Company. The series consists of five books: Little Elliot, Big City (2015); Little Elliot, Big Family (2015); Little Elliot, Big Fun (2016); Little Elliot, Fall Friends (2017); and Merry Christmas, Little Elliot (2018). The books follow the adventures of Elliot, a small, polka-dotted elephant.

Rebecca Serle is an American author and television writer. Her novel In Five Years was a New York Times best seller, and her Famous in Love series was adapted into a young adult television series on Freeform.

<i>Look Both Ways</i> (novel) 2019 novel by Jason Reynolds

Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks is a young adult novel written by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Alexander Nabaum, and published October 8, 2019 by Atheneum Books. The book is a New York Times best seller, National Book Award for Young People's Literature finalist (2019), Coretta Scott King Award honor book (2020), and Carnegie Medal recipient (2021).

<i>The Book of Aron</i> 2015 novel by Jim Shepard

The Book of Aron is a historical fiction novel by Jim Shepard, published May 12, 2015 by Knopf Publishing Group.

<i>Nora Webster</i> 2014 novel by Colm Tóibín

Nora Webster is a historical novel by Colm Tóibín, published October 7, 2014 by Scribner.

The Sea of Ink and Gold trilogy is a three-part young adult fantasy novel series written by Traci Chee, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers. The trilogy includes the following books: The Reader (2016), The Speaker (2017), The Storyteller (2018).

References

  1. ↑ Jory John and Mac Barnett, The Terrible Two (New York: Amulet Books, 2015).
  2. ↑ Malk, Steven (2014-10-17). "Children's Book Review: The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John, illus. by Kevin Cornell". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2021-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ "The Terrible Two". Booklist. January 1, 2015. Retrieved 2021-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "The Terrible Two". Kirkus Reviews. October 22, 2014. Retrieved 2021-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ IX, Henry (2015-03-13). "The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John - review". the Guardian. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  6. ↑ "ABA Announces 2015 Indies Choice and E.B. White Award Winners". the American Booksellers Association. 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  7. ↑ "Cumulative Texas Bluebonnet Master List titles 1980-2019". Texas Library Association. Retrieved 2021-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ↑ "Winners of the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award" (PDF). Vermont Department of Libraries. Retrieved 2021-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ Blau, Amanda (June 1, 2015). "The Terrible Two". Booklist. Retrieved 2021-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. 1 2 "The Terrible Two Get Worse (UK edition)". IndieBound. Retrieved 2021-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ↑ "The Terrible Two Get Worse". Kirkus Reviews. September 16, 2015. Retrieved 2021-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ "The Terrible Two Get Worse". Booklist. Retrieved 2021-10-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.