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Boy/Girl Battle #3
Boys Against Girls
Caroline Malloy matches wits with her nemesis Wally Hatford as they race to discover the mystery of the abaguchie, a mysterious, strange animal supposedly spotted in their town. By the author of The Boys Start the War.
147 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
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326 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
246 books1,038 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 43 reviews
August 23, 2021
i’ve decided i’m not even going to count these towards my goal because there’s too many but oh my god finally the parents are punishing them justice has been served
i’m ngl this one was cute :/
i’m ngl this one was cute :/
April 27, 2020
I was a little hesitant going into this, after I gave the second book only two stars, but I was thankful to see this was on par with the others I've read.
I LOVED when the boys called the girls asking if Peter was there.
"Beth, yes or no? Is Peter there or not?"
The Hatford boys' mom after finding out Peter isn't home:
"What do you mean, you're not sure? Did he run any bathwater or not?"
"I didn't hear any," Wally said miserably.
-"Wallace Hatford, where is your brother?"
"We left him on a rock."
-'What if a kidnapper had come along and taken him, bunny slippers and all? He was surprised to find tears in his eyes.'
I was hoping the girls would show up at the Hatford's with Peter, saying they found him. That would have been a good scene.
I loved that it was finally out in the open that the mom's pies didn't make it to the other house where they sent it, and both moms family knew it. I was thinking they might never know it. And when Mrs. Hartford goes to turn to her sons, they were gone from the bake sell. She catches them later at home and asked "Why would those three sweet girls do something like that?" haha!
Caroline's envisioning her starring in a movie about the abaguchie grabbing her throat and she's making choking sounds and her dad says "Are you all right, Caroline? Drink a little juice."
Eddie hurts her thumb while practicing her pitching, and I thought when we find out the boys were throwing acorns around, they'd claim it was his fault. But they blamed it on a mystery animal, leading them to believe it's the abaguchie.
Caroline goes down the trapdoor and the boys take turns standing on it. But they have to leave when Oldaker has to close the shop. So the boys don't get the satisfaction of seeing Caroline crawling out.
She waits for Mike Oldaker to leave and then she finds herself locked in the bookstore. She calls her sisters, and they tell her to look for the back door. She goes out but then the alarm goes off. That was very unexpected, and everything after, how the police showed up, found the hair from her jacket caught in the door, and it ended up in the paper.
They help the boys play ball, then they leave them after without switching places. To get them back they dump their ice on two of the brothers necks while they're holding up the other two to see the football game over the fence. The girls are immediately paid back when the guard won't let them back in without their tickets.
It was so funny when Mrs. Malloy announces they're spending thanksgiving with the Hatford's, & she's bringing the pie. And Eddie asks if they have a choice and she says no.
I hated that the girls' paw print trick was ruined when Caroline ran screaming to the house, & all the Hatford's came out and the boys realized they make the tracks, but it was funny when Mr. Hatford said "Well, girls, do you want the boys to walk you home?"
Wally and Caroline actually had a nice moment when he told her they planned to trap the abaguchie, and said he'd let her know if they caught anything.
So of course that had to get ruined when Caroline planned to capture it herself so Eddie would be proud of her.
I was smiling at Caroline thinking girls were so much smarter than boys and if you put all the boys together it wouldn't equal half of the girl's sports talent, brains and imagination, just knowing something would happen. It didn't disappoint. She didn't factor in the cow bell, which was actually smart of them to add.
Mr. Hatford comes out and poor Caroline is found out:
"What's under there?"
"Car-o-line!" Peter warbled.
-"Well," said Dad, and Wally could tell he was trying not to laugh. "How was the chicken leg?"
And Caroline doesn't answer, just sticks her hands in her pockets and goes home.
"She tried to take our bait," said Wally.
"Maybe she was hungry," offered Peter.'
And their dad realizes he doesn't know half of what's been going on between all of them.
And then Wally's thinking that boys are smarter, and even Peter wouldn't have gotten in the trap. And girls don't think of the consequences. Boys thought ahead. I loved that it was the same kinds of thoughts Caroline was having.
I was surprised the brothers didn't wonder how Caroline knew about their trap, and then find out that Wally spilled the beans.
The boys didn't wanna make place cards and the girls didn't wanna make a centerpiece for Thanksgiving, showing how much they're all dreading it.
Caroline is so imaginative with her acting skills in unexpected situations. She's carrying the heavy crate and imagines she's carrying a sick baby sister across an alligator infested river. Sometimes it got in the way. At one point it irritated me. I think when she was going down the trapdoor and was thinking about acting, when she was supposed to be searching for bones.
The girls see the boys standing on the bridge looking with mouths open at their crate lodged in the river, 'which had somehow managed to leave their backyard in the middle of the night to throw itself in to the Buckman River.' And it had the chicken leg still swinging inside on the wire. Lmao!
It was awful that Mr. Malloy ended up with the worm in his plate and ate it. I'm surprised Caroline wasn't horrified and didn't make sure the boys ended up with it, and that the girls thought it was funny their dad ate a worm.
In the end, Wally appreciates the Malloys, even more so, because they passed the worm around and threw their mom's cake in the river, the best scene Wally had ever seen. And they'd be bored without them. You can tell they're warming up to the girls living there.
At the end, just to leave you guessing, some creature steals their Thansgiving turkey, & all the kids are excited about it, thinking the abaguchie could be real.
A minor complaint is that sometimes the chapter titles gave away what was gonna happen.
And how the POVs are always Caroline and Wally. I wish she'd switch it up throughout, give us a bit in everyone's POV, or at least different POVs in different books.
Also sometimes there's a little too much back and forth with which side is winning and losing. The girls will make a win and then it immediately switches to the boys, when their win could be dragged out and enjoyed more.
This was really enjoyable and fun to read, the antics as funny as ever. I can't wait to see what they get into next. I'm glad the humor was back full force, and I found myself smiling and laughing out loud throughout.
I LOVED when the boys called the girls asking if Peter was there.
"Beth, yes or no? Is Peter there or not?"
The Hatford boys' mom after finding out Peter isn't home:
"What do you mean, you're not sure? Did he run any bathwater or not?"
"I didn't hear any," Wally said miserably.
-"Wallace Hatford, where is your brother?"
"We left him on a rock."
-'What if a kidnapper had come along and taken him, bunny slippers and all? He was surprised to find tears in his eyes.'
I was hoping the girls would show up at the Hatford's with Peter, saying they found him. That would have been a good scene.
I loved that it was finally out in the open that the mom's pies didn't make it to the other house where they sent it, and both moms family knew it. I was thinking they might never know it. And when Mrs. Hartford goes to turn to her sons, they were gone from the bake sell. She catches them later at home and asked "Why would those three sweet girls do something like that?" haha!
Caroline's envisioning her starring in a movie about the abaguchie grabbing her throat and she's making choking sounds and her dad says "Are you all right, Caroline? Drink a little juice."
Eddie hurts her thumb while practicing her pitching, and I thought when we find out the boys were throwing acorns around, they'd claim it was his fault. But they blamed it on a mystery animal, leading them to believe it's the abaguchie.
Caroline goes down the trapdoor and the boys take turns standing on it. But they have to leave when Oldaker has to close the shop. So the boys don't get the satisfaction of seeing Caroline crawling out.
She waits for Mike Oldaker to leave and then she finds herself locked in the bookstore. She calls her sisters, and they tell her to look for the back door. She goes out but then the alarm goes off. That was very unexpected, and everything after, how the police showed up, found the hair from her jacket caught in the door, and it ended up in the paper.
They help the boys play ball, then they leave them after without switching places. To get them back they dump their ice on two of the brothers necks while they're holding up the other two to see the football game over the fence. The girls are immediately paid back when the guard won't let them back in without their tickets.
It was so funny when Mrs. Malloy announces they're spending thanksgiving with the Hatford's, & she's bringing the pie. And Eddie asks if they have a choice and she says no.
I hated that the girls' paw print trick was ruined when Caroline ran screaming to the house, & all the Hatford's came out and the boys realized they make the tracks, but it was funny when Mr. Hatford said "Well, girls, do you want the boys to walk you home?"
Wally and Caroline actually had a nice moment when he told her they planned to trap the abaguchie, and said he'd let her know if they caught anything.
So of course that had to get ruined when Caroline planned to capture it herself so Eddie would be proud of her.
I was smiling at Caroline thinking girls were so much smarter than boys and if you put all the boys together it wouldn't equal half of the girl's sports talent, brains and imagination, just knowing something would happen. It didn't disappoint. She didn't factor in the cow bell, which was actually smart of them to add.
Mr. Hatford comes out and poor Caroline is found out:
"What's under there?"
"Car-o-line!" Peter warbled.
-"Well," said Dad, and Wally could tell he was trying not to laugh. "How was the chicken leg?"
And Caroline doesn't answer, just sticks her hands in her pockets and goes home.
"She tried to take our bait," said Wally.
"Maybe she was hungry," offered Peter.'
And their dad realizes he doesn't know half of what's been going on between all of them.
And then Wally's thinking that boys are smarter, and even Peter wouldn't have gotten in the trap. And girls don't think of the consequences. Boys thought ahead. I loved that it was the same kinds of thoughts Caroline was having.
I was surprised the brothers didn't wonder how Caroline knew about their trap, and then find out that Wally spilled the beans.
The boys didn't wanna make place cards and the girls didn't wanna make a centerpiece for Thanksgiving, showing how much they're all dreading it.
Caroline is so imaginative with her acting skills in unexpected situations. She's carrying the heavy crate and imagines she's carrying a sick baby sister across an alligator infested river. Sometimes it got in the way. At one point it irritated me. I think when she was going down the trapdoor and was thinking about acting, when she was supposed to be searching for bones.
The girls see the boys standing on the bridge looking with mouths open at their crate lodged in the river, 'which had somehow managed to leave their backyard in the middle of the night to throw itself in to the Buckman River.' And it had the chicken leg still swinging inside on the wire. Lmao!
It was awful that Mr. Malloy ended up with the worm in his plate and ate it. I'm surprised Caroline wasn't horrified and didn't make sure the boys ended up with it, and that the girls thought it was funny their dad ate a worm.
In the end, Wally appreciates the Malloys, even more so, because they passed the worm around and threw their mom's cake in the river, the best scene Wally had ever seen. And they'd be bored without them. You can tell they're warming up to the girls living there.
At the end, just to leave you guessing, some creature steals their Thansgiving turkey, & all the kids are excited about it, thinking the abaguchie could be real.
A minor complaint is that sometimes the chapter titles gave away what was gonna happen.
And how the POVs are always Caroline and Wally. I wish she'd switch it up throughout, give us a bit in everyone's POV, or at least different POVs in different books.
Also sometimes there's a little too much back and forth with which side is winning and losing. The girls will make a win and then it immediately switches to the boys, when their win could be dragged out and enjoyed more.
This was really enjoyable and fun to read, the antics as funny as ever. I can't wait to see what they get into next. I'm glad the humor was back full force, and I found myself smiling and laughing out loud throughout.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2020
This picked up right after the precious ended, with the boys sitting around dejectedly after they'd had to go through all their Halloween candy with the girls. I loved that Wally was humiliated that the girls had learned of their plan and foiled it and tricked them into giving them a party.
It's funny how Wally was sick of his brothers always talking about the girls and didn't want any part of it, but then they expected him to join in on what they wanted to have happen to them. Wally reluctantly answered and found himself getting recognized as the mastermind behind their latest prank when that hadn't been his intention. He wished the abaguchie would carry them away and Jake and Josh latched onto it.
It annoyed me that she kept explaining their best friends leaving. It's book 3. We've got it by now! And about the river doubling back and being the same one on both sides of town. We don't need to be told the same things each book!
But Wally got on board when he got to class and saw that Caroline looked fat on his Halloween candy. Not okay to say that about someone, but it was funny that he saw the benefits of tricking her after what they had done to get a party out of them.
Their parents were all gone to a PTA meeting and the girls heard this howling outside the window. At first they were really afraid but then Eddie recognized the howls as belonging to a recording she had heard at her old school. She decided to sneak outside and catch them at it while having Beth and Caroline stay inside and act afraid. Caroline of course pulled on all of her acting knowledge and gave the performance of her life. And then she cut to the boys and went back and told what they were doing leading up to that as she does. Jake had the idea to play his wolf cassette and make the girls think it was the abaguchie.
It was Josh's idea to slowly increase the volume like the animal was getting closer, and he said Beth would pass out because she reads this stuff.
When the boys were going to leave they found out Peter had disappeared and all that was left was a piece of one bunny slipper. She had hidden him behind the bushes until his brothers left. Way to go, Eddie!
It was so funny how the girls were all smiles as they buttered Peter up with a root beer float and grilled him on what his brothers were doing. The boys called them twice to ask if Peter was there and they really played it up that they had lost their brother. The best part was that the Hatfords came home and discovered that Peter was missing and got upset and made them go back to their house and look for him. I had wanted them to have to go to the door, but Peter was sitting on the rock when they returned.
I wanted and expected Peter to actually say that they were tricking them that the abaguchie was real, but he didn't. He didn't actually say much. Beth guessed that they were playing wolf and Peter asked how she knew, but that's not really what they were doing so I didn't know why he said that.
But Peter told them the girls had known what they were doing and Wally realized their scared routine was an act--didn't realize some of it was real!--and despaired that the girls were laughing at them. Even better, their mom told them they'd lost her trust and she was disappointed in them and I LOVED it!
It was HILARIOUS when the two moms arrived at the PTA bake sale and both commented on the pie and cake they had sent the other, and of course they had no idea what the other one was talking about because the kids saw it to it that those desserts never got there. Mrs. Malloy asked the girls what happened to Mrs. Hatford's cake and Caroline had to admit that she threw it in the river, which horrified Mrs. Hatford. And when she went to question them on the fate of Mrs. Malloy's pie, her boys had left! She didn't get to question them until she got home and their conversation made me laugh out loud!
It was definitely the boys' turn to get them back since the girls had had the last laugh. But to my surprise and delight, the girls were at it again. They practiced softball with Eddie, but when she went to catch the ball it bent her thumb back and she was in pain on the way home. Josh asked what happened and Eddie told them not to tell. Beth told them she was bitten and looked afraid as she said Eddie retrieved the ball in the bushes and something growled and bit her! I was so glad that Eddie wasn't the mastermind because she seems to come up with most of the good pranks. Caroline saw that the boys looked horrified. Score!
The boys told their dad, who called the girls' dad to inquire about Eddie's bite, and he told him it was just a sprain! Double score!
I couldn't believe that at school Caroline asked Wally if any bones of the abaguchie were ever found. Even Wally couldn't believe that Caroline was going to take his word for it. So of course he jumped on the opportunity for revenge. That's when he mentioned the bookstore from the summary.
It's been there between these two since the beginning, and I was thrilled that when Caroline tapped him, he turned around and looked at her and noticed her eyes had an earnest look that he'd like on a girl except for a Malloy. Finally!
It's so cute how Caroline always pokes him with her finger or pencil of tugs on his clothes to get his attention, and they always get in trouble for talking! I love a good recurring theme.
Wally sold it by saying he couldn't tell her because she'd tell her sisters and Mr. Oldaker of the bookstore would be mad because Wally's dad is the only one who knows. Caroline was insistent for more info and Wally lied and said unidentifiable bones were found in the cellar and he told her where the trapdoor was. I couldn't believe Caroline was buying this!
Caroline was in full-out performer mode and I loved it! It was so hilarious the way she imagined what she would need to pull off the search, a medium-colored outfit that would blend in, and a screwdriver in case the door was shut--smart! But when she thought "When an actress has been given a role, she in turn gives her heart to the performance" I couldn't get over it! She went on to describe the emotion she would need: cautious excitement, deep foreboding, and terror. It was funny when the teacher asked if she needed to see the nurse because she was acting it out at her desk! Gold! But I didn't like that the teacher said she looked like she was having an attack and everyone laughed at her. Why can't Caroline catch a break with her acting aspirations? But it was funny her teacher asked where petroleum products could be found and Caroline dreamily answered at the bottom of the secret staircase.
Caroline, despite being glad that the brothers weren't out when she went to Oldaker's and therefore Wally couldn't laugh at her if there was no trap door, she still went right into that bookstore and went down the cellar stairs and shut the door back. How could she?!
The boys hid out in the pharmacy until Carolina went in the bookstore, under the guise of looking for a sleeve for their dad's hurt knee. So of course the pharmacist called their dad asking about his knee! But the boys weren't suspected so they dodged that one. They stood over the trap door until Oldaker told them it was closing time. But at dinner Eddie called asking if they'd seen Caroline and they said they might have.
Caroline had called her sisters and told them what happened. She had heard the boys' voices and stopped trying to open the door, figuring they were standing on it and that's why she couldn't open it. So Eddie had the idea to call the Hatfords. Caroline made it out a back door but the alarm went off and she ran the whole way home.
By this point the boys were miserable and thinking they'd killed Caroline. Wally could see the newspaper headlines and figures they'd better turn themselves in before the sheriff came looking! It served them right!
When they got to the store to see what was going on, they were there when a tuft of brown fur was discovered in the door. It was really fur from Caroline's jacket but the abaguchie struck again!
Surprisingly, the girls went to practice ball for Eddie and found the guys there and Eddie asked if they needed basemen and the boys let them. Then when it was the girls' turn to hit, the boys left without helping them.
They all went to a softball game, separately of course, where the girls spied the boys taking turns looking over a fence and Beth realized they were up on each other's shoulders, so Caroline had the idea to sneak up behind them and dump their remaining ice down the necks of the ones on the bottom. That's my girl!
But it was immediately ruined as they tried to go back in the game and the guard wouldn't let them because they didn't have their tickets and the boys saw and laughed.
And worse, Mrs. Hatford had invited them over for Thanksgiving!
I was SO upset when Eddie's paw print idea was ruined by Caroline. I can't stand when a good prank is ruined before it works. They spent so much time making tracks all over the boys' yard and then they heard a growl and saw eyes and Caroline screamed and went running to their house. The family came out and they admitted to the crime when Wally noticed all the mud and realized they had made the tracks. And even though she mentioned the animal, the boys didn't believe her. Mr. Hatford smiled and asked if they wanted the boys to walk them home.
Wally went outside alone to see if he could see what the girls claimed to see, and sure enough the eyes presented themselves and scared him good. He told his brothers something was out there and they decided to catch whatever it was.
It was so unexpected that Wally turned around in his seat and spoke to Caroline voluntarily and politely and wanted to know what she'd saw and heard that night. He even told her he and his brothers were going to try to catch it and he'd let her know what they got. Caroline thanked him and it was such an unusual moment.
But Caroline herself ruined the good feelings and the unspoken truce because she wanted to get back on Eddie's good side. Eddie was still mad about the print fiasco. Caroline did feel guilty after Wally had shared his plans with her, but she started thinking of all he'd done to her and worked herself up into payback. Her idea was to make them think the abaguchie had visited their trap.
I was upset even more when Caroline went to make things right herself and impress Eddie with her fantastic idea, but it backfired. After all that talk of girls being smarter than boys, she got herself caught in the trap when she tried to steal the bate. And Mr. Hatford and the boys saw her and all she could do was walk home embarrassed. Danget, that was strike 2 at least and I didn't think their score.
Caroline next thought to use the crate as a boat so she told her sisters and they sank it in the river. I expected it to be a bigger deal but the boys just looked forlorn and didn't even accuse them or say anything.
At Thanksgiving dinner Jake switched the place cards around so he wouldn't have to sit beside Eddie and Josh switched to be away from Beth, but Wally sat beside Caroline so he could put a worm on her plate. But Caroline was actually amused and put it into a dish which went to his mom which went to Jake and then her dad, who ate it! All the kids eventually saw and they were all smiling about it, in on the joke. And Wally realized he'd never done any of these things with the Benson boys and if the Malloys weren't here they'd be bored.
The turkey that was out outside was predictably taken off by an animal, one that looked bigger than a bobcat. So the abaguchie was alive again and all the kids were excited to have it to believe in and talk about.
I found this to favor the boys too heavily and the summary was misleading about girls being smarter than boys. The boys had the last laughs and they didn't foil the last girl pranks, Caroline ruined them herself! I was disappointed with how most of the pranks turned out and wish they’d had more impact. Wally tried to do a prank but Caroline surprisingly found it funny and Jake did when he saw them smiling, and they all did when Mr. Malloy ate it. I didn't know what to think of them all getting along and having this shared humor and camaraderie. But as always, I’m blown away by her creativity and sense of humor.
It's funny how Wally was sick of his brothers always talking about the girls and didn't want any part of it, but then they expected him to join in on what they wanted to have happen to them. Wally reluctantly answered and found himself getting recognized as the mastermind behind their latest prank when that hadn't been his intention. He wished the abaguchie would carry them away and Jake and Josh latched onto it.
It annoyed me that she kept explaining their best friends leaving. It's book 3. We've got it by now! And about the river doubling back and being the same one on both sides of town. We don't need to be told the same things each book!
But Wally got on board when he got to class and saw that Caroline looked fat on his Halloween candy. Not okay to say that about someone, but it was funny that he saw the benefits of tricking her after what they had done to get a party out of them.
Their parents were all gone to a PTA meeting and the girls heard this howling outside the window. At first they were really afraid but then Eddie recognized the howls as belonging to a recording she had heard at her old school. She decided to sneak outside and catch them at it while having Beth and Caroline stay inside and act afraid. Caroline of course pulled on all of her acting knowledge and gave the performance of her life. And then she cut to the boys and went back and told what they were doing leading up to that as she does. Jake had the idea to play his wolf cassette and make the girls think it was the abaguchie.
It was Josh's idea to slowly increase the volume like the animal was getting closer, and he said Beth would pass out because she reads this stuff.
When the boys were going to leave they found out Peter had disappeared and all that was left was a piece of one bunny slipper. She had hidden him behind the bushes until his brothers left. Way to go, Eddie!
It was so funny how the girls were all smiles as they buttered Peter up with a root beer float and grilled him on what his brothers were doing. The boys called them twice to ask if Peter was there and they really played it up that they had lost their brother. The best part was that the Hatfords came home and discovered that Peter was missing and got upset and made them go back to their house and look for him. I had wanted them to have to go to the door, but Peter was sitting on the rock when they returned.
I wanted and expected Peter to actually say that they were tricking them that the abaguchie was real, but he didn't. He didn't actually say much. Beth guessed that they were playing wolf and Peter asked how she knew, but that's not really what they were doing so I didn't know why he said that.
But Peter told them the girls had known what they were doing and Wally realized their scared routine was an act--didn't realize some of it was real!--and despaired that the girls were laughing at them. Even better, their mom told them they'd lost her trust and she was disappointed in them and I LOVED it!
It was HILARIOUS when the two moms arrived at the PTA bake sale and both commented on the pie and cake they had sent the other, and of course they had no idea what the other one was talking about because the kids saw it to it that those desserts never got there. Mrs. Malloy asked the girls what happened to Mrs. Hatford's cake and Caroline had to admit that she threw it in the river, which horrified Mrs. Hatford. And when she went to question them on the fate of Mrs. Malloy's pie, her boys had left! She didn't get to question them until she got home and their conversation made me laugh out loud!
It was definitely the boys' turn to get them back since the girls had had the last laugh. But to my surprise and delight, the girls were at it again. They practiced softball with Eddie, but when she went to catch the ball it bent her thumb back and she was in pain on the way home. Josh asked what happened and Eddie told them not to tell. Beth told them she was bitten and looked afraid as she said Eddie retrieved the ball in the bushes and something growled and bit her! I was so glad that Eddie wasn't the mastermind because she seems to come up with most of the good pranks. Caroline saw that the boys looked horrified. Score!
The boys told their dad, who called the girls' dad to inquire about Eddie's bite, and he told him it was just a sprain! Double score!
I couldn't believe that at school Caroline asked Wally if any bones of the abaguchie were ever found. Even Wally couldn't believe that Caroline was going to take his word for it. So of course he jumped on the opportunity for revenge. That's when he mentioned the bookstore from the summary.
It's been there between these two since the beginning, and I was thrilled that when Caroline tapped him, he turned around and looked at her and noticed her eyes had an earnest look that he'd like on a girl except for a Malloy. Finally!
It's so cute how Caroline always pokes him with her finger or pencil of tugs on his clothes to get his attention, and they always get in trouble for talking! I love a good recurring theme.
Wally sold it by saying he couldn't tell her because she'd tell her sisters and Mr. Oldaker of the bookstore would be mad because Wally's dad is the only one who knows. Caroline was insistent for more info and Wally lied and said unidentifiable bones were found in the cellar and he told her where the trapdoor was. I couldn't believe Caroline was buying this!
Caroline was in full-out performer mode and I loved it! It was so hilarious the way she imagined what she would need to pull off the search, a medium-colored outfit that would blend in, and a screwdriver in case the door was shut--smart! But when she thought "When an actress has been given a role, she in turn gives her heart to the performance" I couldn't get over it! She went on to describe the emotion she would need: cautious excitement, deep foreboding, and terror. It was funny when the teacher asked if she needed to see the nurse because she was acting it out at her desk! Gold! But I didn't like that the teacher said she looked like she was having an attack and everyone laughed at her. Why can't Caroline catch a break with her acting aspirations? But it was funny her teacher asked where petroleum products could be found and Caroline dreamily answered at the bottom of the secret staircase.
Caroline, despite being glad that the brothers weren't out when she went to Oldaker's and therefore Wally couldn't laugh at her if there was no trap door, she still went right into that bookstore and went down the cellar stairs and shut the door back. How could she?!
The boys hid out in the pharmacy until Carolina went in the bookstore, under the guise of looking for a sleeve for their dad's hurt knee. So of course the pharmacist called their dad asking about his knee! But the boys weren't suspected so they dodged that one. They stood over the trap door until Oldaker told them it was closing time. But at dinner Eddie called asking if they'd seen Caroline and they said they might have.
Caroline had called her sisters and told them what happened. She had heard the boys' voices and stopped trying to open the door, figuring they were standing on it and that's why she couldn't open it. So Eddie had the idea to call the Hatfords. Caroline made it out a back door but the alarm went off and she ran the whole way home.
By this point the boys were miserable and thinking they'd killed Caroline. Wally could see the newspaper headlines and figures they'd better turn themselves in before the sheriff came looking! It served them right!
When they got to the store to see what was going on, they were there when a tuft of brown fur was discovered in the door. It was really fur from Caroline's jacket but the abaguchie struck again!
Surprisingly, the girls went to practice ball for Eddie and found the guys there and Eddie asked if they needed basemen and the boys let them. Then when it was the girls' turn to hit, the boys left without helping them.
They all went to a softball game, separately of course, where the girls spied the boys taking turns looking over a fence and Beth realized they were up on each other's shoulders, so Caroline had the idea to sneak up behind them and dump their remaining ice down the necks of the ones on the bottom. That's my girl!
But it was immediately ruined as they tried to go back in the game and the guard wouldn't let them because they didn't have their tickets and the boys saw and laughed.
And worse, Mrs. Hatford had invited them over for Thanksgiving!
I was SO upset when Eddie's paw print idea was ruined by Caroline. I can't stand when a good prank is ruined before it works. They spent so much time making tracks all over the boys' yard and then they heard a growl and saw eyes and Caroline screamed and went running to their house. The family came out and they admitted to the crime when Wally noticed all the mud and realized they had made the tracks. And even though she mentioned the animal, the boys didn't believe her. Mr. Hatford smiled and asked if they wanted the boys to walk them home.
Wally went outside alone to see if he could see what the girls claimed to see, and sure enough the eyes presented themselves and scared him good. He told his brothers something was out there and they decided to catch whatever it was.
It was so unexpected that Wally turned around in his seat and spoke to Caroline voluntarily and politely and wanted to know what she'd saw and heard that night. He even told her he and his brothers were going to try to catch it and he'd let her know what they got. Caroline thanked him and it was such an unusual moment.
But Caroline herself ruined the good feelings and the unspoken truce because she wanted to get back on Eddie's good side. Eddie was still mad about the print fiasco. Caroline did feel guilty after Wally had shared his plans with her, but she started thinking of all he'd done to her and worked herself up into payback. Her idea was to make them think the abaguchie had visited their trap.
I was upset even more when Caroline went to make things right herself and impress Eddie with her fantastic idea, but it backfired. After all that talk of girls being smarter than boys, she got herself caught in the trap when she tried to steal the bate. And Mr. Hatford and the boys saw her and all she could do was walk home embarrassed. Danget, that was strike 2 at least and I didn't think their score.
Caroline next thought to use the crate as a boat so she told her sisters and they sank it in the river. I expected it to be a bigger deal but the boys just looked forlorn and didn't even accuse them or say anything.
At Thanksgiving dinner Jake switched the place cards around so he wouldn't have to sit beside Eddie and Josh switched to be away from Beth, but Wally sat beside Caroline so he could put a worm on her plate. But Caroline was actually amused and put it into a dish which went to his mom which went to Jake and then her dad, who ate it! All the kids eventually saw and they were all smiling about it, in on the joke. And Wally realized he'd never done any of these things with the Benson boys and if the Malloys weren't here they'd be bored.
The turkey that was out outside was predictably taken off by an animal, one that looked bigger than a bobcat. So the abaguchie was alive again and all the kids were excited to have it to believe in and talk about.
I found this to favor the boys too heavily and the summary was misleading about girls being smarter than boys. The boys had the last laughs and they didn't foil the last girl pranks, Caroline ruined them herself! I was disappointed with how most of the pranks turned out and wish they’d had more impact. Wally tried to do a prank but Caroline surprisingly found it funny and Jake did when he saw them smiling, and they all did when Mr. Malloy ate it. I didn't know what to think of them all getting along and having this shared humor and camaraderie. But as always, I’m blown away by her creativity and sense of humor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2017
These books are entertaining and mostly just fluff. XD I think I’m a bit too mature in my reading tastes to keep continuing with the series but I’d totally recommend these to someone in the 8-12ish range maybe.
They’re cute and fun and that’s about it ;)
They’re cute and fun and that’s about it ;)
December 9, 2015
This one I grabbed specifically from a library sale for my Little Free Library. I didn't realize it was part of a series until I started reading it.
Here we have the third book in the "Boys versus Girls" series of stories between the Hatfords and the Malloys (clever, and I didn't even put the joke/reference together until the very end when the two family names were put side by side). The Hatford boys are at war with the Malloy girls, which leads to the constant back and forth between them. This particular episode involves a mysterious creature rumored to take small animals from the small town that's called an "abaguchie."
This was a very fun story, which has enough draw for both the girls and the boys out there. The chapters follow a back and forth between one of the Hatford boys and one of the Malloy girls, each having their own experience with the mysterious abaguchie that spurs on the rest of the kids.
Definitely a welcome story added to my Little Free Library.
Here we have the third book in the "Boys versus Girls" series of stories between the Hatfords and the Malloys (clever, and I didn't even put the joke/reference together until the very end when the two family names were put side by side). The Hatford boys are at war with the Malloy girls, which leads to the constant back and forth between them. This particular episode involves a mysterious creature rumored to take small animals from the small town that's called an "abaguchie."
This was a very fun story, which has enough draw for both the girls and the boys out there. The chapters follow a back and forth between one of the Hatford boys and one of the Malloy girls, each having their own experience with the mysterious abaguchie that spurs on the rest of the kids.
Definitely a welcome story added to my Little Free Library.
December 19, 2014
I found this book by looking around my house for books to read. One thing that impressed me was that the 1st book I didn't read it but read the second and it was very interesting for a short story because it had a great plot and makes you want to read more of the book and on the outgoing series. A quote that supports this, "Two more days and he'd have to spend two hours looking at Caroline's face across the table." This quote supports that the plot is interesting because it give suspense on how they are waiting for 2 days for this moment of their life.This helps me by getting ideas about writing ideas for books that can have suspense in the story.
September 20, 2012
Thoroughly and completely enjoyed this series, which I read to my daughters through Nov & Dec at bedtime. Love, love, love Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for elementary aged readers. Love, love, love this series for the Brady-bunch era of hijinx between children... Love, love, love that neither the boys nor the girls are clear-case winners of the "war", though, my daughters do believe there was a winner. Whole-heartedly recommend as a family read and to all elementary-aged readers.
October 30, 2014
I loved it and am already reading the next book
November 16, 2025
- Young readers will enjoy reading about the creative antics and adventures of the Hatford boys and Malloy girls.
- I don't want to give away the ending, but I will say that I was satisfied with the resolution.
- Some parents might not like that the children in the book are never truly disciplined for their pranks; they are verbally scolded without any consequences.
- I don't want to give away the ending, but I will say that I was satisfied with the resolution.
- Some parents might not like that the children in the book are never truly disciplined for their pranks; they are verbally scolded without any consequences.
May 19, 2017
This book was good . I really liked the ending .
October 15, 2017
I loved the book because I liked to see how the pranks go back and fourth. It is very interesting!
August 19, 2018
3/5 stars
it was ok
it was ok
September 25, 2018
Did you know there are 12 of these books in the series? 12. I admit, the seasonal settings make them fun and my daughter frequently laughs out loud as we read.
December 5, 2021
A strange animal is bothering the town. Is it an animal or kid
April 30, 2023
A bit dated (It was published in 1993, after all.), but still a fun read. And an interesting look at middle-grade from the early 90s.
January 16, 2013
The book Boys Against Girls by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is about four boys and three girls who live across the street from each other. The boys used to be best friends with the boys who lived across the street, but when they moved, the girls moved in. Now, they play pranks and fight with each other like brothers and sisters. They all say they hate each other, but that might not be true.
I think the theme of the book is even if you don’t like someone at first, give them a chance because you never know until you get to know them better. Also, I think it could be, don’t be afraid to talk to people you think you don’t like. And things might not always be as bad as they seem.
I think this novel is really good. It isn’t super fast paced, but isn’t slow either.
I really liked this book, I like reading about boys vs. girls stories and all the funny things that happen. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially kids with annoying kids in their lives. It is really funny the things they do and keeps you wondering what will happen next.
I think the theme of the book is even if you don’t like someone at first, give them a chance because you never know until you get to know them better. Also, I think it could be, don’t be afraid to talk to people you think you don’t like. And things might not always be as bad as they seem.
I think this novel is really good. It isn’t super fast paced, but isn’t slow either.
I really liked this book, I like reading about boys vs. girls stories and all the funny things that happen. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially kids with annoying kids in their lives. It is really funny the things they do and keeps you wondering what will happen next.
September 11, 2013
I didn't realize that this book was #3 in a series. I thought it was a stand-alone! My only complaint was that it ended so abruptly, but that's probably okay if there's another book. I would love to read them all! I love Naylor's books. She wrote these when I was just Caroline's age, so I totally get it. It was a really fun read, and kids about 7-10 would love them too. This was a $1 book order win!
July 2, 2017
It's the Hatford vs. the Malloys as Wally and his brothers try to out-prank Caroline and her sisters. They single-handedly advance the legend of the Abaguchie, a mysterious creature that no one has actually seen but has become legendary in the small town. Caroline gets locked in the cellar of the bookstore by the boys. The girls lure Peter away, so the boys can't find him, etc. Caroline's movie-script imagination makes for some funny moments.
October 17, 2011
When I was in fifth grade my teacher had read a book to our class called, "Boys Star the War" which is one of the series of "Boys against Girls". I remember that the book was so fun, so I decided to read this book. I really enjoyed this book. I think I would give a four stars to it. It was exciting, there weren't many parts that was boring.
April 18, 2015
Even though I have only read three of the books in this series this was definitely my 2nd favorite. The first book was probably the best. The second one wasn't so good and this one was second best. Overall I am liking this series a lot and I will continued reading the books unless they start to get bad...
April 21, 2011
Really funny.
This book shows the point of view from both the boys and the girls. It's a laugh out loud kind of experience.
Phyllis Reynolds Nalor wrote a lot of books like the Alice series. she is a very good writer.
This book shows the point of view from both the boys and the girls. It's a laugh out loud kind of experience.
Phyllis Reynolds Nalor wrote a lot of books like the Alice series. she is a very good writer.
January 18, 2014
This book is about boys vs. girls. A battle to see if the mysterious creature roaming the small town is real or fake. The boys are doing everything they can to scare the girls but they don't expect the creature to catch them!
Read this book if you like annoying boys and bratty girls!
Read this book if you like annoying boys and bratty girls!
November 28, 2007
IT WAS FUNNY. I THINK THAT CAROLINE AND WALLY MAKE A GREAT COUPLE. MY FAVORITE CHARACHTERS ARE CAROLINE AND EDDIE. I WANNA PLAY BOY GAMES, BUT I ALSO WANNA BE A GOOD ACTRESS AT THE SAME TIME. :)
March 28, 2008
I loved this book when I was a kid. It's funny read.
June 6, 2008
Great
September 12, 2008
I loved this series of books so much. It was really fun and I loved the jokes they played on each other. I think it was because i was at that stage of life when boys were like the enemies lol.
September 17, 2008
i have the whole series! (ALMOST :P)
October 11, 2008
All of these books are so great!
March 8, 2009
Really interesting book...... *spoiler alert* but in the end they never find this animal called an abaguchie and thats sad and i really wanted to now what it was like........
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2009
I thought this book was okay. She needs to describe it better.
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