A Billion for Boris

Andrews Family #2

by Mary Rodgers

Things are back to normal for Annabel Andrews since that freaky Friday when she switched bodies with her mother. She is still in love with Boris, her cute friend from upstairs, and she is still annoyed by her pesky little brother, Ape Face. But normal doesn't last long in the Andrews household! When Ape Face fixes a broken-down television set Boris sold to him, something unusual happens. Instead of regularly scheduled programs, this TV shows the future -- one day in advance! They get tomorrow's shows, tomorrow's movies, and tomorrow's news. Annabel thinks they should use their new TV with ESP to help people, but Boris has plans of his own ...

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Fantasy, Juvenile, Science Fiction, Middle Grade

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1974

About the author

Mary Rodgers was an accomplished author, screenwriter and composer. Her first book--Freaky Friday--won several prizes, and was cited on the ALA Notable Book list. She composed many musicals, and had also amassed credits in television and radio. She had served as Chairman of the Board of the Julliard School and on the Board of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, I know people get freaked out by the prospect of kids watching 60+ hours of television a week, but let me just say that I was one of those kids and so far I've only killed 5 people. As complete degenerates go, that's a pretty low body count.

Onward to A Billion for Boris. I love this sequel to Freaky Friday because it depicts growing up in NYC during the '70s, when networks relied on old reruns of Abbott and Costello and Torture Garden to fill its rosters. I also enjoy books about psychic phenomenon, and the idea of a television that broadcasts shows a day ahead of schedule is just brilliant. Written by Mary Rodgers, who also contributed songs to Free to Be You and Me and Once Upon a Mattress, this book has plenty of snappy dialogue and makes you realize that kids aren't nearly as moronic as Barney, The Teletubbies, and Elmo would have you believe.

Cranky old geezer comment: Why was Edward Gorey's awesome cover illustration replaced with this current piece of trash? If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favorite, dug out of storage and re-visited - did not disappoint. So what if it's not a perfect book (the plot meanders a bit). I'm not sure if modern kids would understand or care about the book, but A Billion for Boris (along with Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler) introduced me to New York City (from a teenager of the 1970s viewpoint, at least); gave me the beginning of an appreciation for the gay voice (Annabel, on several occasions, sounds more like a gay man than a 13 year old girl, and knowing Mary Rodgers background, that should come as no surprise), and literary introduction to the concept of meta (an adult understanding of the name dropping in the last pages sealed that 30 years later). Those teens of the early 1970s were Mature too, weren't they? Annabel and Boris drink champagne and gamble. Boris calls his mother by her first name (so 70s - didn't Phyllis's daughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show do the same thing?). Fourteen year old Annabel claims to be dating a newspaper reporter in his twenties; he eventually (and let's face, humorously) ends up with her so called best friend Virginia. It's like they are starring in A Billion for Boris one day, and tomorrow it's Company: A Musical Comedy. Katniss from The Hunger Games may end up in a violent bloodbath, but I'm not sure the literary teens of YA-dom today would last long in the super hip world of Mary Rodger's 1970s New York City, where wit is the ultimate weapon. I'm not suggesting any child today should read this book. But 40somethings wanting a walk down memory lane might have a fun hour.

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2.23.23

I still completely agree with my review of ten years ago, except I'm adding a star. I dug out my old paperback with the Edward Gorey cover (those new covers are hideous; what the hell could ever be wrong with Edward Gorey? Are kids today that stupid that they can't appreciate Edward Gorey? Maybe it's to make the book look less adult than it is - because face it, it's pretty racy for a kid's book. They gamble and drink champagne; a 24 year old ends up with a 14 year old. I'm reading Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers and decided I would read Freaky Friday and Billions as well; go read my review of Freaky Friday and it's basically what I think of Billions.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book often but years ago. (When I later saw her fine musical Once Upon A Mattress, I didn’t make the connection…)

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this sequel to Freaky Friday when I was in third grade and I fell in love with Annabel, Boris, and Ape Face. I was fascinated by their life in NYC (They take the subway! They ride in cabs!) and I was totally enthralled by the idea of a television set that played tomorrow's shows. I'm happy to say that I've re-read this book many times and even in my 40's I still love it as much as I did then. I'm sure that is based somewhat on nostalgia but there are many other books that I loved in third grade that are best left as a memory. It's saying a lot that I still want to keep this book on the shelf. (Although the cover art on the goodreads picture is somewhat disturbing - this is NOT what I picture Boris and Annabel to look like!)

[Leta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Time travel back to 1974!

I read this book years ago and stumbled across it recently. The best part for me wasn't the plot (or the characters, really) but the references to so many things I remember from childhood. Worth reading just for the passing references to The Partridge Family and Motorola tvs.

And if you want to know why New Yorkers don't have the same reputation as Minnesotans, well, Annabel and Boris will walk you through it.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Freaky Friday friends are back in another magical adventure with real-life consequences. When little brother Ben aka Ape Face tinkers with an old TV from Boris, The Box is born. When they watch The Box, they can see 24 hours into the future. What will they do with this new discovery?

Here is what I liked:

😎Those 70's vibes were front and center. Anabel's snarky tone tells the story. We are immersed in her fourteen-year-old life.
👦Boris and his mom are featured as he attempts to redecorate their apartment with his spoils from utilizing information from The Box. Will his life be better for all his striving?
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦The Andrews family is eating breakfast and dinner together and Mom is working at Columbia University. This book is talking to my latest read Falling Like Leaves in which the FMC is working on a Columbia application.
🤗Throughout their escapades, Boris and Annabel learn about consequences and grace. I was glad to see their adventures with The Box come to an end. It was like playing with fire.

If you loved Freaky Friday, you will enjoy visiting the family again for this madcap adventure.

[Rusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book that still holds up today. The sequel to Freaky Friday, where Annabel turns into her mother for a day. Totally different from most of Rodgers' other books - Freaky Friday, Summer Switch (Ape Face turns into his father) and the lame Freaky Monday (more of the same with a girl switching bodies with her teacher) A Billion for Boris takes a different route. When Ape Face decides to fix Boris' broken TV, he ends up with a TV that shows the future. How Boris and Annabel deal with that is delightful. Terrific characterizations and sharp writing - this book is a hoot.

[Jeff Mayo · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first book was not as good as the movie based on it. This one was a total bomb. It made no sense. A little kid "fixes" a TV, and suddenly it can see into the future. An older kid, Boris, uses it to bet on horse races. Why does it work? How does it show shows, including news, one day in advance? Nobody knows. Nobody cares.

[Blue Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

:) :)

[Berna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars rounded up to 4.
The first book was better but still an enjoyable read 😉

[Ramesh Abhiraman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Juvenile. Edward Gorey art on cover.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just want to live in the realm of children’s books from the 1970s

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like this better than freaky Friday

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute read from childhood. It was fairly fetching and I liked it well enough as a grown up.

[Sean Duggan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was entertaining, and it did a decent job of exploring the perils of seeing the future in a young adult format. Early on, the characters decide that they can't do anything to actually disrupt the events that they see on the TV, and they stick with that, but they do try to use their knowledge in other ways, Boris (actually Morris) to make money and Annabelle to try to help people (Ape Face just enjoys being able to occasionally time-shift his favorite shows).

I was a little surprised at some of the mature themes in the book. Because much of what they're monitoring on the TV is the news, and they're in New York City, there are a number of shootings, stabbings, and muggings that they learn about in advance, including one case where Annabelle puts herself on-scene for an attempted robbery with two deaths, and has to grapple with the decision of whether to tell someone on the scene that their husband will die within the day. Also, the 14-year-old Annabelle claims to her friend Virginia that her relationship with the 24-year-old reporter, Bartholomew Bacon, is about love rather than a scoop, and it's convincing enough that at the end of the book, Virginia has apparently seduced Bacon, a plotline that doubtless would not fly in today's children's books.

Overall, I enjoyed myself reading the book, but it doesn't really warrant a reread from me, although I may try some of the other Freaky Friday books to see what sorts of spins the author adds to them.

[Ashton Shaffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book ESP TV was about three kids who have a old black and white TV that is one day ahead of everything else for example if today was June 16 the TV would be running on June 17. they come across a lot of what if situations like do we stop this fire or this robbery at one point there is a Japanese plain that was going to be hijacked and they were hesitant. Another option was do we make money off of this day ahead TV off gambling and betting sometimes it works if they disgise themselves as adults. Boris the main characters boy friends mom dose not save money well so he is trying to restore there trashy home. i liked this book and i would recommend this to others sometimes the chapters get long but otherwise good

[Sab]

I reread this the other day; I have a first-ed copy with the Edward Gorey cover art which I LOVE, and, anyway, this remains a really truly excellent book about New Yorkers in the 70s, awkward, gawky and clever, who want to save the world and also redecorate. Mary Rodgers is of course the wit behind both "Once Upon a Mattress" and "Freaky Friday," and having been in the former musical TWICE, and having read (1) and watched (2) versions of the second I can still say, I think "A Billion for Boris" is best.

[Logan L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because it was one of those freaky friday books. Its about a brother and sister and the brother likes fixing things. Their neighbor gives them a TV to fix because he dosen't want it anymore. The brother fixes it up and when the sister watches on it she looks at the tv guide and figures that the show that was on should be on tomorrow. You'll have to read the rest to find out about this really good book!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a whole lot during my youth too. I can't remember what much about it, but I remember liking it.

What I do remember: The protagonist, Boris, had a head cold. At the end of the book, folks figure out his name is really Morris. And there's money involved, but I don't remember how.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book about some kids who found a TV that would broadcast a day ahead. Boris and Annabel each have their reasons for wanting to know the next day's events. The book chronicles their successes and mishaps as they try to use the next day's events to their advantage. It also has a sweet storyline about Boris and his mother.

[Lafcadio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upon re-reading: Still pretty good. The two major future events I remembered ended up being the only two major future events that were that surprising.

It was a little weird how a couple of 14-year-old girls were dating or fake-dating a 24-year-old. That detail seems like it would have been written by a 14-year-old, but not by an adult.

[Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to point out that this isn't really a great book or really a good book either. It's kind of a busy as YA fic too, but it has all these wonderful element that any kind from NYC in the late 70's will lovingly remember, like buckshot channel 11 movies etc...

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful sequel to Freaky Friday.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't read Freaky Friday without going into a Billion for Boris. I would recommend it to everyone willing to relive a moment of their youth.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most clever books I read in junior high. I picked it up many times after I read it the first time.

[Amanda Wige · Rating 3 out of 5]

No switching just a TV that shwos things a day early.

[Cupof Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

My best one word description from high school was "teenage".

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel to Freaky Friday. I loved this book almost as much as the first one.

[Armatstorage]

Read most of this. Has some very funny descriptions, but pretty unrealistic of course.

[Berta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quins records! :)