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Ivy & Bean #2
Ivy and Bean and the Ghost That Had to Go
Best friends Ivy and Bean are back and looking for adventure in the second installment of this engaging new series. This time they've made an amazing discovery—a ghost in the school bathroom! Ivy and Bean can see its cloudy form and its glowing eyes. They can hear its moaning voice. This is the best thing that ever happened at school—until the teachers find out. Now Ivy and Bean have to figure out how to get the ghost out of the bathroom. Will they succeed? Maybe. Will they have fun? Of course!Includes bonus material!- Sneak peek chapter from the next book in the Ivy + Bean series Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2006
769 people are currently reading
1564 people want to read
About the author
Annie Barrows
76 books975 followersAnnie grew up in Northern California, and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, with a degree in Medieval History. Unable to find a job in the middle ages, she decided upon a career as an editor, eventually landing at Chronicle Books in San Francisco, where she was in charge of "all the books that nobody in their right mind would publish." After earning an M.F.A. in Creative Writing at Mills College, Annie wrote (as Ann Fiery) a number of books for grown-ups about such diverse subjects as fortune-telling (she can read palms!), urban legends (there are no alligators in the sewer!), and opera (she knows what they're singing about!). In 2003, Annie grew weary of grown-ups, and began to write for kids, which she found to be way more fun.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 390 reviews
October 28, 2024
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers! ***
Two stars seems too low, but in Goodreads it's labeled as "it was ok", and that is how I feel about the book. (On Amazon, "It's OK" translates to 3 stars.)
First off, I have to give this book praise because it is the first chapter book that my 8-year-old read all on her own, cover to cover. She got it as a gift, and though she was at first indifferent to it, once she picked it up, she read the entire book in one sitting. She is now very excited to go back and read book one - this book is the second in the series - and the rest of the series, too. The reading level is exactly appropriate for her, and clearly she finds the content amusing.
I want to say, too, that I really liked Ivy and Bean's teacher, Ms. Aruba-Tate. I thought she was kind, yet firm, and just what an elementary school teacher should be.
So, why do I think it was "just okay"? Basically, I don't like the way the two girls behave. I'm probably over-thinking it, but here goes...
Sure, Ivy and Bean's antics appeal to young readers. But I just can't get over the worry that maybe my child will pick up some bad ideas, with disastrous results. Yes, Ramona Quimby (whose books I love) behaved badly, too, but usually, by the time she got to be school-aged, she was well-intentioned, though sometimes misguided or misunderstood. Ivy and Bean, on the other hand, cause trouble even though it seems like they should know better.
Early on in the book, I was appalled that Bean physically tackled another student to the ground and then smashed plums into his hair - at school! Okay, I can see the humor in the situation, and in the book, Bean and the other student were simply told to "work it out." Yet, in these days of hyper-awareness regarding bullying, most schools have a zero tolerance policy, and if something like that happened in real life, Bean would be sent to the principal's office for sure, maybe even suspended. Bean also uses phrases like "shut up" - which I work hard to get my kids NOT to say - and she cuts her sister's hair in her sleep. Ivy, though sweet and quiet on the outside, misuses her active imagination and tells a tall tale at school about a ghost in the bathroom, eventually leading to another girl literally being scared to tears. She does end up feeling bad about getting in trouble, yet she doesn't learn the lesson about not spreading false stories. She continues to adhere to her ghost story, causing even more trouble. In the end, she basically gets away with her antics, never having to take responsibility for the mess she made in the bathroom.
Another issue I have with this book is that I think it unnecessarily exposes young readers to ideas they may not be ready for. First of all, there is this talk of ghosts and death and graves. I actually didn't mind it so much, personally - I know my kid can handle that kind of talk - but I can imagine that maybe there are other first graders who might not be ready for a book about ghosts and the underworld. Second, the girls at one point want to make a blood oath. Even though they didn't go through with it, I'm not sure I'm entirely comfortable with the idea that my young daughter now knows that some people will actually consider purposely making themselves bleed just for fun. Finally, when Ivy makes her ghost-begone potion, she finds that "ponie" is an ingredient, but she doesn't have a "pony", so she glosses over it. Now, I am a mother who encourages my daughter to look up words she doesn't know. Luckily, she doesn't use Google on her own yet, but one quick search tells me that "ponie" is slang for a "sexual female being that dances in a weird yet shexual [sic] manner". "Shexual" is apparently another slang word that means especially sexual. Not exactly the types of words I want my first grader exposed to...
I ended up spending a lot of time talking with my daughter about the difference between "book life" and "real life", and how things that happen in book life are entertaining and funny, partly because they are things we would NEVER do ourselves in real life, or else we'd get in REALLY big trouble.
In the end, I am allowing my daughter to read the rest of the books in this series, but I plan to read the books, too, so I can talk to her about specific concerns, if any more should arise.
Two stars seems too low, but in Goodreads it's labeled as "it was ok", and that is how I feel about the book. (On Amazon, "It's OK" translates to 3 stars.)
First off, I have to give this book praise because it is the first chapter book that my 8-year-old read all on her own, cover to cover. She got it as a gift, and though she was at first indifferent to it, once she picked it up, she read the entire book in one sitting. She is now very excited to go back and read book one - this book is the second in the series - and the rest of the series, too. The reading level is exactly appropriate for her, and clearly she finds the content amusing.
I want to say, too, that I really liked Ivy and Bean's teacher, Ms. Aruba-Tate. I thought she was kind, yet firm, and just what an elementary school teacher should be.
So, why do I think it was "just okay"? Basically, I don't like the way the two girls behave. I'm probably over-thinking it, but here goes...
Sure, Ivy and Bean's antics appeal to young readers. But I just can't get over the worry that maybe my child will pick up some bad ideas, with disastrous results. Yes, Ramona Quimby (whose books I love) behaved badly, too, but usually, by the time she got to be school-aged, she was well-intentioned, though sometimes misguided or misunderstood. Ivy and Bean, on the other hand, cause trouble even though it seems like they should know better.
Early on in the book, I was appalled that Bean physically tackled another student to the ground and then smashed plums into his hair - at school! Okay, I can see the humor in the situation, and in the book, Bean and the other student were simply told to "work it out." Yet, in these days of hyper-awareness regarding bullying, most schools have a zero tolerance policy, and if something like that happened in real life, Bean would be sent to the principal's office for sure, maybe even suspended. Bean also uses phrases like "shut up" - which I work hard to get my kids NOT to say - and she cuts her sister's hair in her sleep. Ivy, though sweet and quiet on the outside, misuses her active imagination and tells a tall tale at school about a ghost in the bathroom, eventually leading to another girl literally being scared to tears. She does end up feeling bad about getting in trouble, yet she doesn't learn the lesson about not spreading false stories. She continues to adhere to her ghost story, causing even more trouble. In the end, she basically gets away with her antics, never having to take responsibility for the mess she made in the bathroom.
Another issue I have with this book is that I think it unnecessarily exposes young readers to ideas they may not be ready for. First of all, there is this talk of ghosts and death and graves. I actually didn't mind it so much, personally - I know my kid can handle that kind of talk - but I can imagine that maybe there are other first graders who might not be ready for a book about ghosts and the underworld. Second, the girls at one point want to make a blood oath. Even though they didn't go through with it, I'm not sure I'm entirely comfortable with the idea that my young daughter now knows that some people will actually consider purposely making themselves bleed just for fun. Finally, when Ivy makes her ghost-begone potion, she finds that "ponie" is an ingredient, but she doesn't have a "pony", so she glosses over it. Now, I am a mother who encourages my daughter to look up words she doesn't know. Luckily, she doesn't use Google on her own yet, but one quick search tells me that "ponie" is slang for a "sexual female being that dances in a weird yet shexual [sic] manner". "Shexual" is apparently another slang word that means especially sexual. Not exactly the types of words I want my first grader exposed to...
I ended up spending a lot of time talking with my daughter about the difference between "book life" and "real life", and how things that happen in book life are entertaining and funny, partly because they are things we would NEVER do ourselves in real life, or else we'd get in REALLY big trouble.
In the end, I am allowing my daughter to read the rest of the books in this series, but I plan to read the books, too, so I can talk to her about specific concerns, if any more should arise.
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January 28, 2009I was very disturbed about the story discussing graves under schools and ghosts that were miserable, sad, etc. Not exactly what I would call uplifting and appropriate reading for a my daugher who is 7 years old. Call me old fashioned (which is an oxymoron because I tend to me quite progressive) but this is just not something I want my little girl reading and I just threw it in the trash. Next time maybe I should read each book I buy for her ahead of time.
September 24, 2012
Although Heidi enjoys the stories for the most part, we have way too many conversations about the poor behavior (e.g. cutting her sleeping sister's hair) and language ("shut-up!", etc) coming from Bean. These should be entitled "Ivy & Bean Can Be Quite Mean!". I think there are much better books out there if you want mystery that still manage to set a good example for kids (the original Boxcar Children set for one...warning: we find the "new" prequel to come short of the originals).
April 29, 2015
The title is a pun. The ghost does need to go (be expelled) but he or she is also living in the girls' bathroom, and therefore might have to go. GET IT?!!?! LOL
Ivy and Bean, best friends, face a new challenge when a ghost appears in the girls' bathroom of Emerson School.
Haha, not really. Ivy just doesn't want to admit that she doesn't know how to do a cartwheel, so she makes up a ghost to distract everyone. It's believable because there is a mist outside the bathroom sometimes, and it feels cold in there.
Unfortunately, Ivy's story spreads like wildfire and starts freaking out some of her less brave classmates. Ivy's beloved teacher scolds her and that makes Ivy very sad. So she and Bean come up with a plan to 'expel' the ghost. Of course that involves going to Ivy's secret lab to make a potion!!! I love how Ivy divides her bedroom into four or five separate "rooms" by drawing chalk lines on the floor and putting similar stuff into one area. She even has a "sink" in her secret potion lab, which is really a tub of water! She's so creative.
There's a rather frightening picture of Bean, scissors in hand, leaning down over Nancy's sleeping form. I won't tell you why!
One of the funniest parts is when Ivy and Bean decide to make a blood oath. Ivy is scared, but instead of admitting it, she claims that drawing blood will attract vampire bats. So they decide that any fluid will do, and have a great deal of fun spitting on a piece of paper.
There's also an interesting subtext (to me) about a boy named Leo. He ends up being interested in all the ghosts business and offers to help Ivy and Bean out. I enjoy this time in childhood when boys and girls are equal...before the whole 'boys/girls have cooties stay away from them' phase that divides the sexes. Remember when you could play with the little girl AND the little boy down the street? Remember when a group of children (mixed-sex) roamed the neighborhood looking for adventure and getting into all sorts of shenanigans? No? Well, I do. My best friends (up until age 9, when the sex-division was absolute) were BOTH male and female. I'll always remember the amazing, non-sexual male-female friendships of childhood. :)
Again, I feel that Barrows writes in a clear, very 7-year-old voice that is both amusing and spot-on. Her books aren't as "jokey" as Junie B. Jones and she obeys grammar rules, unlike the Junie B. Jones books. (Not dissing JBJ, I love those books!) My only complaint with this book was that the "ghost" was never explained. With the little hints Barrows was dropping, I thought there would be a new cooling system, air-freshening system or something to explain the "mist" and "cold" and "better smell" of the bathroom, but I guess the "ghost" was a pure manifestation of children's imagination.
Ivy and Bean, best friends, face a new challenge when a ghost appears in the girls' bathroom of Emerson School.
Haha, not really. Ivy just doesn't want to admit that she doesn't know how to do a cartwheel, so she makes up a ghost to distract everyone. It's believable because there is a mist outside the bathroom sometimes, and it feels cold in there.
Unfortunately, Ivy's story spreads like wildfire and starts freaking out some of her less brave classmates. Ivy's beloved teacher scolds her and that makes Ivy very sad. So she and Bean come up with a plan to 'expel' the ghost. Of course that involves going to Ivy's secret lab to make a potion!!! I love how Ivy divides her bedroom into four or five separate "rooms" by drawing chalk lines on the floor and putting similar stuff into one area. She even has a "sink" in her secret potion lab, which is really a tub of water! She's so creative.
There's a rather frightening picture of Bean, scissors in hand, leaning down over Nancy's sleeping form. I won't tell you why!
One of the funniest parts is when Ivy and Bean decide to make a blood oath. Ivy is scared, but instead of admitting it, she claims that drawing blood will attract vampire bats. So they decide that any fluid will do, and have a great deal of fun spitting on a piece of paper.
There's also an interesting subtext (to me) about a boy named Leo. He ends up being interested in all the ghosts business and offers to help Ivy and Bean out. I enjoy this time in childhood when boys and girls are equal...before the whole 'boys/girls have cooties stay away from them' phase that divides the sexes. Remember when you could play with the little girl AND the little boy down the street? Remember when a group of children (mixed-sex) roamed the neighborhood looking for adventure and getting into all sorts of shenanigans? No? Well, I do. My best friends (up until age 9, when the sex-division was absolute) were BOTH male and female. I'll always remember the amazing, non-sexual male-female friendships of childhood. :)
Again, I feel that Barrows writes in a clear, very 7-year-old voice that is both amusing and spot-on. Her books aren't as "jokey" as Junie B. Jones and she obeys grammar rules, unlike the Junie B. Jones books. (Not dissing JBJ, I love those books!) My only complaint with this book was that the "ghost" was never explained. With the little hints Barrows was dropping, I thought there would be a new cooling system, air-freshening system or something to explain the "mist" and "cold" and "better smell" of the bathroom, but I guess the "ghost" was a pure manifestation of children's imagination.
June 10, 2016
This book is about these girls that think that the school bathroom is haunted. They do all these crazy things just to prove that there's a ghost in the bathroom. I recommend this book to girls that like funny stories. I liked the part when she spilled the beans about the ghost and she started crying and told the teacher. Her friends weren't mad, she just thought that they were. I recommend this book to kids that like funny books.
July 1, 2010
I thought this book was inappropriate for the 1st and 2nd grade reader. In this book Ivy and Bean think there is a ghost in the school bathroom and the spot on floor is a portal to the underworld. I think that this book could scare some younger kids because the book never addresses that there really was not a ghost in the bathroom. Didn't like this one.
March 4, 2019
Best friends Ivy and Bean return in this second chapter-book adventure from author Annie Barrows and illustrator Sophie Blackall, this time confronting the ghost that is haunting Emerson School. Attempting to distract her classmates from her lack of cartwheeling skills one lunchtime, Ivy draws their attention to the misty white cloud to be seen - if looked at in just the right way, with just the right extended gaze - hovering at the entrance to the girls' bathroom. The second grade's excitement, at the discovery of this paranormal occurrence in their school, soon leads to trouble however, as their teacher, Ms. Aruba-Tate, insists that there be no more talk of ghosts. Clearly, the girls decide, the only option is to expel the spook, using a special potion and ceremony dreamt up by Ivy...
Like its predecessor, Ivy and Bean , with its "spell" to make Nancy dance, here we have an ambiguous story in which a magical occurrence might (if one really squints sideways at the story) be real, or might (as seems more likely) be the result of two very imaginative girls, and their play. Here we also have, like the first, an engaging story and charming artwork that work together to perfectly capture the distinctive personalities of each girl, from the seemingly shy Ivy, who is really an unconventional little dreamer, to the boisterous Bean, who really likes to please people. I enjoyed Ivy + Bean and the Ghost That Had to Go, particularly as I thought it was a little less mean-spirited that the first - no worm-throwing here, thankfully! - and think it is a worthy sequel. Recommended to any young chapter-book reader who enjoyed the first Ivy and Bean book.
Like its predecessor, Ivy and Bean , with its "spell" to make Nancy dance, here we have an ambiguous story in which a magical occurrence might (if one really squints sideways at the story) be real, or might (as seems more likely) be the result of two very imaginative girls, and their play. Here we also have, like the first, an engaging story and charming artwork that work together to perfectly capture the distinctive personalities of each girl, from the seemingly shy Ivy, who is really an unconventional little dreamer, to the boisterous Bean, who really likes to please people. I enjoyed Ivy + Bean and the Ghost That Had to Go, particularly as I thought it was a little less mean-spirited that the first - no worm-throwing here, thankfully! - and think it is a worthy sequel. Recommended to any young chapter-book reader who enjoyed the first Ivy and Bean book.
July 5, 2017
Ivy and Bean spread the rumor that there is a ghost in the girl's bathroom. After it gets back to the teacher, she tells them that while imagination is important "some stories can be harmful to others and that means we have to use our imaginations responsibly and respectfully." So Ivy and Bean decide to expel the ghost with a potion. Their final touch is to give the ghost presents for its trip back. They decide to flush them down the toilet. The toilet overflows and they lie to a teacher about what happened. They do not get caught and the final words of the book are: "A really great day, thought Bean."
This is not a good message in a kid's book and I would not recommend this book to students. These girls make a series of bad choices without retribution whatsoever: they cut Nancy's hair while she's sleeping; persist in their story after they've been told to stop; make a general mess of the bathroom, including overflowing the toilet. I don't mind when the characters in a story create a little mischief in a book. What I do mind is the author making it seem like it's no big deal when, in fact, any of these offenses could get a student in big trouble.
This is not a good message in a kid's book and I would not recommend this book to students. These girls make a series of bad choices without retribution whatsoever: they cut Nancy's hair while she's sleeping; persist in their story after they've been told to stop; make a general mess of the bathroom, including overflowing the toilet. I don't mind when the characters in a story create a little mischief in a book. What I do mind is the author making it seem like it's no big deal when, in fact, any of these offenses could get a student in big trouble.
February 10, 2012
Neither the character development nor the illustrations were quite as compelling as in the first book, but it remains head and shoulders better than those beginning-chapter book standbys, Magic Tree House and Junie B. Jones. Volume 2 does benefit from having a boy character appearing periodically, but the series probably remains too feminine with the partially pink cover to convince many boys to try it, which will certainly be their loss. Ivy and Bean remain two wonderful kids who overflow with imagination and friendship and errors in judgment, a winning combination for any reader.
January 28, 2016
아이비 앤 빈은 저학년 여자 아이 둘이 주인공인 만큼
읽기 쉬운 영어로 쓰여 있어 쓱쓱 읽기에 좋은거 같아요...
그 또래 여자 아이들이 읽으면 혼자 있을 때 상상으로만 떠올리고 지나쳤을 법한
아이들만의 기발한 생각들이 그대로 묘사되어 있어 공감하고 몰입하며 읽을 수 있겠다 싶었습니다.
그나이 또래의 공감은 아니겠지만 아..나도 어릴때 이런 비슷한 생각을 했더랬지 하며
저 역시도 흥미있게 읽어 내려 갔으니까요..
이 책이 어린 여자 아이들에게 인기있는 이유를 알겠더라구요..
다른 책이 잘 안 읽힐 때 그리고 짬짬이 짧은 시간이 주어질 때 섞어 읽듯 읽으면 좋겠다 싶었습니다.
잘 읽힌다는 기쁨과^^... 소소한 어린 시절의 추억들을 생각하게 하는 유쾌한 책이었습니다.
읽기 쉬운 영어로 쓰여 있어 쓱쓱 읽기에 좋은거 같아요...
그 또래 여자 아이들이 읽으면 혼자 있을 때 상상으로만 떠올리고 지나쳤을 법한
아이들만의 기발한 생각들이 그대로 묘사되어 있어 공감하고 몰입하며 읽을 수 있겠다 싶었습니다.
그나이 또래의 공감은 아니겠지만 아..나도 어릴때 이런 비슷한 생각을 했더랬지 하며
저 역시도 흥미있게 읽어 내려 갔으니까요..
이 책이 어린 여자 아이들에게 인기있는 이유를 알겠더라구요..
다른 책이 잘 안 읽힐 때 그리고 짬짬이 짧은 시간이 주어질 때 섞어 읽듯 읽으면 좋겠다 싶었습니다.
잘 읽힌다는 기쁨과^^... 소소한 어린 시절의 추억들을 생각하게 하는 유쾌한 책이었습니다.
October 1, 2012
I read this aloud to my 6 & 8 year old. I loved how it kept their attention because they were intrigued by the ghost, but I don't think the overall message of the book was great for their age. They pretty much lied about a ghost to all of their friends and went behind their dear teachers back to try and expell it. I think Katy Kazoo is a better choice for this age...
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June 9, 2010so far I like it but I dont have enough information to tell you about it.
October 28, 2012
I don't think their was really a ghost haunting the girls bathroom. It was probably just a cool gust of wind or a breeze. Who knows, it could be haunted.
January 19, 2017
I hated this book! Like i said in my other review, i hate it because of WITCHCRAFT!!
February 28, 2019
it was an adventure.
April 18, 2020
This book was a childhood favorite and I was feeling nostalgic so I re read it. The words are really big so it’s very easy to get through. When I was younger (3rd grade ish) I remember loving ivy and bean’s friendship, and all the antics they got involved in. They were both such creative and inspiring characters and this book back in the day was one of the reasons I did things like make potions in my backyard. This series just brings back a lot of fond memories and I really appreciate it for that. :)
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September 14, 2022Kids’ book. Had to read it myself because Willa had Questions and Concerns. It took time away from reading my own books, so it counts.
May 8, 2025
I love a good blood oath at the stroke of noon
July 21, 2020
This book was very fun to read! I’m gonna read the whole series.
January 25, 2020
Been reading these with my 8 year old daughter, we alternate pages, She loves them.
... Full review below.
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I have read this book twice, four years apart. First with my oldest daughter and then with my youngest daughter. My son who is between the girls has shown no interest to the books, but he did listen as his sister read it to me, usually while he did his piano practice. When I read this with my oldest, she was a very reluctant reader and we alternated pages, and if ever there was a shorter page she wanted to swap for it. With my youngest even though she struggled occasionally she read the entire text to me. Usually a chapter or 2 a day to get her 20minutes reading time in. My oldest rated it 4/5, I rated it 4/5 both times, and my youngest rated it 5/5. My Son gave it 4/5. So overall a 4/5.
I still have some reservations about the book and series. The whole Ivy being a watch and seeing ghosts. And ultimately creating a potion and trying to banish the ghost. For some it is a fun read. For others it will be scary and can be a cause of concern. And Ivy and Bean have no qualms about lying, misbehaving, and defying parents and teachers. In my opinion not great examples. But On the other hand, they are books my girls have wanted to read, and have kept reading. My oldest lost interested after 4 books and moved on to the Stella Batts books. We will see what happens with my youngest. But any book that keeps them reading and developing their skills is one I will read with them for now. But we always talk about the content of these books, and that the behavior modeled is not to be copied.
In this story Ivy, instead of admitting she can’t do a cartwheel to the girls in her class, pretends she is seeing a ghost by the washroom across the field. Soon the whole grade is talking about the ghost. And one girl sneaks to the senior school to use the washroom because she is afraid to use the haunted one. Ivy tells the kids the school was built over a burial ground and the ghost is mad and is opening a gateway. Ivy and Bean make a potion and offering to drive the ghost away.
Ivy and Bean have a knack for getting in trouble and stirring things up. And they do a good job of that in this volume. These are not my favorite books, but the kids seem to really like them.
In this story the mothers of both Ivy and Bean (Bernice) have been telling them they should become friends. They live across a cul-de-sac from each other. But both girls have hesitations and have not bothered acting on the advice. Until the day Bean is about to get in big trouble, and Ivy encourages her to run from her older sister who is getting their mother. And helps bean to hide and formulate a plan. Ivy believes she is a witch and from the set up of her room she has fairly liberal parents. She has a spell book she got from an aunt that is over 100 years old. The two plot to put a spell on Bean’s sister to force her to dance non-stop. To do so they need worms, lots and lots of worms.
There is something witchy about their friendship. And Ivy, who outwardly appears ‘normal’ but inwardly reminds me of Wednesday Addams. And Bean seems a little awkward and weird on the outside but seems to just be a kid with a knack for getting in trouble. We are told that “The moment they saw each other, Bean and Ivy knew they wouldn't be friends.” But circumstances brought them together and a bond was formed. A bond that now spans 11 books.
The books are a great leveled reader. Both my girls read it the first month of grade 4. At grade 4 if reading at grade level this book should be an easy read. If they are a little behind grade level, they will need some help. But both girls love the book and the story. But I had to want my youngest that it is a story and not an instructional manual, she cannot do to her sister what bean did to hers! And I have a feeling based on my youngest that I will be reading the whole series soon.
Note: My youngest read the paperback to me, and I followed along on my phone. The pictures are much larger and integrated into the text in the print edition.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books in the Ivy and Bean Series.
... Full review below.
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I have read this book twice, four years apart. First with my oldest daughter and then with my youngest daughter. My son who is between the girls has shown no interest to the books, but he did listen as his sister read it to me, usually while he did his piano practice. When I read this with my oldest, she was a very reluctant reader and we alternated pages, and if ever there was a shorter page she wanted to swap for it. With my youngest even though she struggled occasionally she read the entire text to me. Usually a chapter or 2 a day to get her 20minutes reading time in. My oldest rated it 4/5, I rated it 4/5 both times, and my youngest rated it 5/5. My Son gave it 4/5. So overall a 4/5.
I still have some reservations about the book and series. The whole Ivy being a watch and seeing ghosts. And ultimately creating a potion and trying to banish the ghost. For some it is a fun read. For others it will be scary and can be a cause of concern. And Ivy and Bean have no qualms about lying, misbehaving, and defying parents and teachers. In my opinion not great examples. But On the other hand, they are books my girls have wanted to read, and have kept reading. My oldest lost interested after 4 books and moved on to the Stella Batts books. We will see what happens with my youngest. But any book that keeps them reading and developing their skills is one I will read with them for now. But we always talk about the content of these books, and that the behavior modeled is not to be copied.
In this story Ivy, instead of admitting she can’t do a cartwheel to the girls in her class, pretends she is seeing a ghost by the washroom across the field. Soon the whole grade is talking about the ghost. And one girl sneaks to the senior school to use the washroom because she is afraid to use the haunted one. Ivy tells the kids the school was built over a burial ground and the ghost is mad and is opening a gateway. Ivy and Bean make a potion and offering to drive the ghost away.
Ivy and Bean have a knack for getting in trouble and stirring things up. And they do a good job of that in this volume. These are not my favorite books, but the kids seem to really like them.
In this story the mothers of both Ivy and Bean (Bernice) have been telling them they should become friends. They live across a cul-de-sac from each other. But both girls have hesitations and have not bothered acting on the advice. Until the day Bean is about to get in big trouble, and Ivy encourages her to run from her older sister who is getting their mother. And helps bean to hide and formulate a plan. Ivy believes she is a witch and from the set up of her room she has fairly liberal parents. She has a spell book she got from an aunt that is over 100 years old. The two plot to put a spell on Bean’s sister to force her to dance non-stop. To do so they need worms, lots and lots of worms.
There is something witchy about their friendship. And Ivy, who outwardly appears ‘normal’ but inwardly reminds me of Wednesday Addams. And Bean seems a little awkward and weird on the outside but seems to just be a kid with a knack for getting in trouble. We are told that “The moment they saw each other, Bean and Ivy knew they wouldn't be friends.” But circumstances brought them together and a bond was formed. A bond that now spans 11 books.
The books are a great leveled reader. Both my girls read it the first month of grade 4. At grade 4 if reading at grade level this book should be an easy read. If they are a little behind grade level, they will need some help. But both girls love the book and the story. But I had to want my youngest that it is a story and not an instructional manual, she cannot do to her sister what bean did to hers! And I have a feeling based on my youngest that I will be reading the whole series soon.
Note: My youngest read the paperback to me, and I followed along on my phone. The pictures are much larger and integrated into the text in the print edition.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books in the Ivy and Bean Series.
June 19, 2022
Great book.
November 30, 2011
Transitional Reader Book:
I read the first book in the series for fun over the summer and since I enjoyed it so much I chose to read the second installment as my transitional reader book. The series follows two girls who are very different but still best friends, Ivy and Bean. They do have one very similar interest though and that is their love for mischief. In this book Ivy discovers a ghost in the girls bathroom at their school. She of course immediately tells Bean so that they can find a way to expel the ghost from school and send it back to it's grave. Through plotting together they decide that the best thing to do is to have Ivy whip up a magic potion, since she is practicing to become a witch, and give it a traditional Egyptian Ceremony including gifts to make the parting easier on the ghost. The morning that Bean and Ivy go into the bathroom to expell the ghost they a half dollar and fossil rock to give to the ghost as they spread the potion around the bathroom floor and perform a ceremonial dance along with a chant to send the ghost back to the grave. Just as they are flushing their gifts down the toilet (so that the ghost can take them with him to the grave) the mean teacher from the 5th grade decides to find out what is going on in the bathroom since all the children on the playground are standing around it during recess. Luckily, just as they are about to have to confess what they are doing the toilet overflows giving the two girls something to blame their mischievous behavior on.
This would be a wonderful book for adolescent girls grades 2nd to 5th grade. The book follows Ivy and Bean who are in the 2nd grade, and though at first I felt that 2nd grade might be too young for readers to comprehend the word structure and sentences, I really feel that this fact would make the story easy for them to relate to since they are the same age as the main characters. The type is large and the book is set up in chapters where the title gives a general idea of what the entire chapter is about.
The illustrations is another component that would make this a great book for children who are learning to read books that based more on words then pictures. At the beginning of each chapter right under the heading, or on the reverse side of the page, is a picture that explains what Ivy and Bean are doing in the book at that time. These detailed illustrations are also scattered throughout the book and they explain whatever is happening in the book at that time as well. For example when Ivy and Bean are talking to the mean 5th grade teacher about why they were in the bathroom, on the opposite page it shows a drawing of the toilet over flowing.
I read the first book in the series for fun over the summer and since I enjoyed it so much I chose to read the second installment as my transitional reader book. The series follows two girls who are very different but still best friends, Ivy and Bean. They do have one very similar interest though and that is their love for mischief. In this book Ivy discovers a ghost in the girls bathroom at their school. She of course immediately tells Bean so that they can find a way to expel the ghost from school and send it back to it's grave. Through plotting together they decide that the best thing to do is to have Ivy whip up a magic potion, since she is practicing to become a witch, and give it a traditional Egyptian Ceremony including gifts to make the parting easier on the ghost. The morning that Bean and Ivy go into the bathroom to expell the ghost they a half dollar and fossil rock to give to the ghost as they spread the potion around the bathroom floor and perform a ceremonial dance along with a chant to send the ghost back to the grave. Just as they are flushing their gifts down the toilet (so that the ghost can take them with him to the grave) the mean teacher from the 5th grade decides to find out what is going on in the bathroom since all the children on the playground are standing around it during recess. Luckily, just as they are about to have to confess what they are doing the toilet overflows giving the two girls something to blame their mischievous behavior on.
This would be a wonderful book for adolescent girls grades 2nd to 5th grade. The book follows Ivy and Bean who are in the 2nd grade, and though at first I felt that 2nd grade might be too young for readers to comprehend the word structure and sentences, I really feel that this fact would make the story easy for them to relate to since they are the same age as the main characters. The type is large and the book is set up in chapters where the title gives a general idea of what the entire chapter is about.
The illustrations is another component that would make this a great book for children who are learning to read books that based more on words then pictures. At the beginning of each chapter right under the heading, or on the reverse side of the page, is a picture that explains what Ivy and Bean are doing in the book at that time. These detailed illustrations are also scattered throughout the book and they explain whatever is happening in the book at that time as well. For example when Ivy and Bean are talking to the mean 5th grade teacher about why they were in the bathroom, on the opposite page it shows a drawing of the toilet over flowing.
February 20, 2015
I have to say, I am definitely lacking in my knowledge of easy chapter books, I honestly think the last time I read a book like this was first grade. This wasn't to say that I wasn't a big fan of these kind of books back then. Oh no, I remember hiding from my ridiculous brothers in my closet with the classic flashlight scenario, just so I could get some quiet THANK YOU VERY MUCH. But I was a fickle child. Once I moved up a reading level, I was all like, FUCK YOU, Ramona and Beezus, I'm too good for you now (I was a tiny-hispter in my time.) That's been my life long tendency, and I often get quite bored with a book if it does not challenge me in any way.
But now things have changed, and the man is requiring me to read books like these for my job.
So I decided on Ivy and Bean, cause let's face it, all the book covers seem damn pretty adorable.
So what exactly is the verdict on Ivy and Bean?
It's a sweet story about two girls who were in your second grade class, that only wanted to be friends with each other. And they always made all others feel left out.
Now don't get me wrong, my life long friend Nicole and I were those people. And similarly, we made up a story about a ghost that lived inside an magic eight ball and predicted the future with scary details. It terrified us so bad, when ended up burying it in the backyard behind her shed. That way the ghost could return to the ground and be put to rest (child logic is flawless.)
And I have to give credit to Barrows, she captures childhood logic quite fabulously.
Obviously the book is a little boring for adults, but it was actually quite entertaining for an hour to read what all the kids are into.
I guess I can say with confidence to second graders that these books are a good choice. Unless, you know, they are tiny pretentious hispters like I was.
Those children are on their own. There is nothing child-hispters like that hate more than not discovering a book themselves.
But now things have changed, and the man is requiring me to read books like these for my job.
So I decided on Ivy and Bean, cause let's face it, all the book covers seem damn pretty adorable.
So what exactly is the verdict on Ivy and Bean?
It's a sweet story about two girls who were in your second grade class, that only wanted to be friends with each other. And they always made all others feel left out.
Now don't get me wrong, my life long friend Nicole and I were those people. And similarly, we made up a story about a ghost that lived inside an magic eight ball and predicted the future with scary details. It terrified us so bad, when ended up burying it in the backyard behind her shed. That way the ghost could return to the ground and be put to rest (child logic is flawless.)
And I have to give credit to Barrows, she captures childhood logic quite fabulously.
Obviously the book is a little boring for adults, but it was actually quite entertaining for an hour to read what all the kids are into.
I guess I can say with confidence to second graders that these books are a good choice. Unless, you know, they are tiny pretentious hispters like I was.
Those children are on their own. There is nothing child-hispters like that hate more than not discovering a book themselves.
July 19, 2012
i don't necessarily love these books for jayda, but they're not bad either. i think they're fun, imaginative stories for girls this age, but i'm not a fan of them doing mean things to other kids, even if said kid "deserves" it. i would much rather see them take the high road, or ignore the "bully." i guess as a mother, i just want the protagonist of a children's book to be someone that my kid can look up to, especially when it comes to attitude and behavior. it's hard enough just sending them to school!
October 14, 2013
What do two second graders do when they find out there's a ghost in their school bathroom? Mix potions and expel it, of course. This was a fun read. I could picture the rumors of a haunting spreading and the entire class watching and waiting outside the bathroom to see if the ghost was gone or not.
December 15, 2016
I loved this book.It was so amazing.It had some good action I do think this book could have done better in the way of more comedy I would say.It was a great book it was about ivy and bean trying to get rid of a ghost mi favorite part was when bean had to cut some of Nancy's hair off.I recommend this book to people who have a big imagination.
March 10, 2012
This second installment in the Ivy and Bean series is fine, but really nothing super special. The plot is a little thin, and my daughter didn't love the half-toned hijinks as much as the first one.
October 18, 2019
It is cool with adventures I think I should read the whole collection of them.
August 5, 2025
Okay I read some of the other reviews of Ivy and Bean because I was curious why some people gave it 1 or 2 stars. I definitely think this book is for older kids I guess it depends on how well you know your kid and what they can handle but from my pov I didn't even remember the plot that well (hence why I wanted to re read it). I can say it didn't influence me that much as a child on the "bad behavior" front. I just remember these books and being some of my favorite in terms of a series and the nostalgia I felt when reading this book made me so happy. I'm giving it four stars! Great book and the illustrations are so awesome. I want to collect the series!
December 31, 2023
Only Ivy and Bean would come up with a ghost in the bathroom at school. One little story escalates quickly until there isn't another kid in their grade who will go into the 'haunted' restroom. Hey, even a ghost needs to go sometimes! The consequences are funny and spot on as usual. Really loving this series. I cannot express this enough!
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