As fifth-grader Bingo Brown strives for the triumphs of today and steels himself against the tribulations of tomorow, he discovers that he will have to undergo a few more trials and triumphs before growing up.
Betsy Byars was an American author of children's books. She wrote over sixty books for young people. Her first novel was published in 1962. Her novel Summer of the Swans won the 1971 Newbery Medal. She also received a National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Night Swimmers and an Edgar Award for Wanted ... Mud Blossom!!
Bingo's first love, Melissa, has moved away and he must deal with the ins and outs of a long distance relationship at the tender age of 12. He has abandoned Burning Questions for daily Trials and Triumphs. He's still absurdly literate for a twelve year old and still hilarious to read about.
Read this with my sixth grade reading group. It was better than I thought it would be. The kids liked it, so I'd recommend it for either boys or girls. I chose it because this grade is insanely hormonal at the moment, and I hoped they would see how silly they seem. That didn't happen, but they did enjoy it anyway.
Bingo Brown, you're such a delightful kid. Funny, engaging, and intelligently written, this second installment has Bingo at nearly twelve, still with girl trouble and burning questions. Highly recommended.
Betsy Byars was one of my favorite authors as a child, and I remember really enjoying the Bingo Brown series. However, this book does not hold up as well as I would have expected it to, and did not really do much for me as an adult.