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The Boys Start the War, the Girls Get Even
In The Boys Start the War, the Hatford brothers plan to get rid of the new Malloy girls by playing pranks and making them miserable, while in The Girls Get Even, the brothers' creepy idea for Halloween night is thwarted by the Malloy's ingenuity. Reprint.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
211 books1,041 followersPhyllis Reynolds Naylor was born in Anderson, Indiana, US on January 4, 1933.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 17, 2024
A book filled with nostalgia that I try to read yearly!! Never misses!!!!
May 26, 2008
Craaaaaacktastic. The dudes take the youngest sister hostage and she pretends she has rabies.
October 18, 2008
This was a hilarious book!!! SO many favorite parts that I can't name a single one because I love them all too much! There is one part . . . the sirens. That was good.
July 18, 2013
(Genre:Children's fiction/humor)These stories were recommended to me years ago by the junior librarian at our local library. I was trying to find humorous books for my child that was a bit of a reluctant reader, but who liked books that made him laugh. He never got around to reading this particular recommendation, but I have always remembered it and was excited to find a copy of the book at a used bookstore. I took it on a road trip with my husband and 2 youngest children and it was very entertaining. We read the first book (The Boys Start the War) on the road and then my husband read the next book (The Girls Get Even) at the dinner table. They aren't long books and the chapters are fairly short. They feel a little dated, but that was part of their charm. The boys (Wally, Peter, Josh, and Jake) are feeling down because their best friends (a family of all boys the same ages) have moved. But they are appalled when they realize that the new family that has moved in are all girls (Eddie, Beth, and Caroline)! In an attempt to discourage the new move-ins, the boys cook up a plan to encourage the girls removal from the neighborhood. But the girls aren't easily discouraged and they immediately retaliate. Soon they are exchanging pranks back and forth, in an all out war against the other. All in all, these stories were a lot of fun and we will probably read some more in the series.
August 24, 2021
I read this when I was maybe ten. I cheered for the girls and especially adored bookish, horror fantasy-reading Beth. I didn't remember anything really about the book as an adult except the title. Woo! I found a book all by myself and didn't exclusively post anywhere!
I'm anti-prank. This...is nearly three hundred pages of a prank war between two sets of siblings who are new neighbors. As is common in 90s kid lit, they are defined by a single personality trait. The boys even give the girls mean nicknames based off them. The Goodreads page count is so off, that I wonder what happened and why it isn't fixed. It's three hundred pages of a prank war. That's a long, long time for it to go on, even if this is two books in one. The book has silly ones in it, and some that really could have gotten the kids injured (pulling ladders out from under them, dead squirrels, locking someone in a metal shed, various others). A few more innocent ones made me giggle. I sided even more heavily with the girls as an adult. They go big or go home, from the very first trick of convincing the boys, without any words, that their sister is dead and has a water burial (she's fine). Dang, ladies! While the war goes on, both sets of parents have no idea what's going on. Part I ends with Caroline pretending rabies. I positively guffawed. Caroline is so creative! And she appears to be practicing an acting method I was trained in as a kid and have always used: Stanislavsky method. What a joy it was to read, especially her going into the auditorium. Adults sometimes do that when there's a ghost light on. Part II is more of the same, and it quickly wears thin. When I learned this was two stories in one volume that was part of a series, the weak ending made sense. I'm glad I read this again, though.
I'm anti-prank. This...is nearly three hundred pages of a prank war between two sets of siblings who are new neighbors. As is common in 90s kid lit, they are defined by a single personality trait. The boys even give the girls mean nicknames based off them. The Goodreads page count is so off, that I wonder what happened and why it isn't fixed. It's three hundred pages of a prank war. That's a long, long time for it to go on, even if this is two books in one. The book has silly ones in it, and some that really could have gotten the kids injured (pulling ladders out from under them, dead squirrels, locking someone in a metal shed, various others). A few more innocent ones made me giggle. I sided even more heavily with the girls as an adult. They go big or go home, from the very first trick of convincing the boys, without any words, that their sister is dead and has a water burial (she's fine). Dang, ladies! While the war goes on, both sets of parents have no idea what's going on. Part I ends with Caroline pretending rabies. I positively guffawed. Caroline is so creative! And she appears to be practicing an acting method I was trained in as a kid and have always used: Stanislavsky method. What a joy it was to read, especially her going into the auditorium. Adults sometimes do that when there's a ghost light on. Part II is more of the same, and it quickly wears thin. When I learned this was two stories in one volume that was part of a series, the weak ending made sense. I'm glad I read this again, though.
July 22, 2020
This was one of my favorite books in elementary school. It's a 12-book series, but I never knew that until a few years ago. I had only read maybe 5 before I aged out and started reading other books. But thanks to the library and the ability to borrow ebooks, I was able to read it in its entirety! And it's still amazing and funny and brings me back to a much simpler time. While I could write a little something for every single book, I decided to just write a collective review under the version that I physically owned. I had read it so many times that when I reread it now, I still remembered the dialogue and descriptions.
The character of Caroline was insufferable though. Just wow. Such a drama queen.
The character of Caroline was insufferable though. Just wow. Such a drama queen.
June 3, 2025
The Hartford boys aren't just annoyed at their new neighbors, the Malloys, are a trio of girls--they're determined to get them to leave. The Malloy girls, on the other hand, refuse to be bullied; after all, it's not like they chose to move to their new home. One prank leads to another, and soon they're embroiled in an all-out war. Which side will emerge victorious? Can there even be a victory?
I read this in fifth grade and enjoyed it. It's told from multiple points of view, and there are parts that still make me smile when I remember them. It'd actually make a pretty good graphic novel or Netflix adaptation.
I read this in fifth grade and enjoyed it. It's told from multiple points of view, and there are parts that still make me smile when I remember them. It'd actually make a pretty good graphic novel or Netflix adaptation.
March 2, 2023
At first I was gonna just give it away to my cousins but I read the back of it and I started to read it. I honestly thought it was really good with all of the adventures in the book. I really made me think that this probably happens a lot we’re because elementary kids don’t like to mix. Like boys like to be with boys and girls like to be with girls. But there was a lot of conflict witch made it really good and interesting and fun. I honestly think this book needs to get out more it was very good.
March 25, 2021
I remember just loving this one when I was a kid. It was a laugh-out-loud sorta book. Looking now for a copy for my kids to read.
May 3, 2024
Enjoyed reading this with our 10 year old.
May 5, 2026
Cake right to the puss, best quote
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February 9, 2016Book rev5 144 pages
We are finally at our new home look there is a house next door hope to be friends. This book is called the boys start a war written by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. One of the reasons this book is great is how it brings the story to life by using reality. Another good thing is about this book is it uses both sides of the story instead of one person it's more.
We are finally at our new home look there is a house next door hope to be friends. This book is called the boys start a war written by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. One of the reasons this book is great is how it brings the story to life by using reality. Another good thing is about this book is it uses both sides of the story instead of one person it's more.
Currently Reading
November 16, 2012The Boys Start The War and The Girls Get Even by Phyllis Reynolds was awesome. This book was amazing.I thought it was super funny what they did throughout the book. To show that it was I give it 5 stars.
April 20, 2015
I remember loving this book as a kid. I don't remember much else about the book now as it has been a long time since I have read it. I did enjoy reading about the pranks back and forth between the groups and remember it being a fun and playful story.
June 12, 2008
I loved these books when I was a kid.
November 2, 2009
this book is awesome. The boys try to get rid of the girls. It turns out that probably they'll never win.
March 31, 2010
Pretty good book. I dont usually read books like this, but i love all the pranks the boys and girls pull against each other.
November 20, 2010
A wonderful book about a strong hatred between two families' children. It grabs you and tickles your funny-bone nonstop.
May 16, 2011
Harhar nostalgia good times.
August 23, 2011
Good book. The characters were interesting.
January 1, 2012
This is another of my a favorite books from elementary school. So much fun!
January 7, 2012
I absolutely loved this book when I was a kid.
January 13, 2012
loved it very interesting .... girls rule
May 9, 2012
I used to love this book series as a kid. So hilarious!
September 29, 2014
Love This Book! This was the first novel that I read in grade 6! Love the youngest Malloy sister, I'm sooo like her in many ways!
July 14, 2012
hilarious
November 4, 2012
Awesome book
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January 1, 2014AR Quiz No. 44298 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 4.9 - AR Pts: 4.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 4.9 - AR Pts: 4.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP
September 25, 2015
I love this book so much it is so funny and exiting to read and I love it so much I thinik that everyone shoud read this book because it is great!
October 12, 2015
Loved these books as a kid
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews