Book Description
Has Tom Jenkins, a.k.a. the Great Brain, given up his con-artist ways for a bicycle? Not for long. Soon the Great Brain is back to his old tricks, swindling and trading, even convincing the whole town there’s a prehistoric monster on the loose. But when someone robs the bank, even the police are stumped. Can the Great Brain solve the crime and put the crooks behind bars? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Timeless gems!
The Great Brain series was my favorite as a child and are now my son's favorite.The only difficulty is tracking down all the books at a reasonable price.These books need to be republished and introduced to generations to come.Fantastic books!!

So glad to find this book!
Book was in condition specified.I was very satisfied with my purchase.It arrived quickly.

A fun picture of late 18th century mormon Utah
I greatly enjoyed this Great Brain series, both when I was a kid and still today.This book, however, was probably my least favorite in the series.It really is probably not going to have a good impact on a child's moral character.That said, it is fun to read now, as it gives one great insights into what Utah was like 120 or so years ago.I also enjoy reading about the Great Brain's escapades, most of which are rather humerous.The Great Brain is almost the villian of this series as well as its hero.It is very often mentioned that he has a "money loving heart," and Fitzgerald makes it rather clear that he does not usually approve of his brother's actions, while admiring his brains at the same time.

Overall grade:B+

the monster walks
All summer I have been reading the Great Brain books that took place in Adenville, Utah in 1896.I liked the story in More Adventures of the Great Brain where the great brain makes the whole town believe that there is a monster in a place called Skeleton Cave. He did thisbecause his friend Parley got a bowie knife for Christmas. Tom( the Great Brain ) wanted Parley's knife, so Tom bet Parley his bb gun against Parley's knife that Parley would be too scared to meet Tom at Skeleton Cave at midnight the next night.
That night Tom made tracks that looked like monster footprints from Skeleton Cave to the river and back to the cave. The next day somebody saw the footprints and told the sheriff. Nobody was allowed to leave their houses until the monster was caught. Tom sneaked out of his house and went down to Skeleton Cave at midnight. Parley did not dare leave his house because of the monster. And he had to give his knife to Tom who usually gets money or toys when doing one of his swindles.
The reason that I like these books is because all of them are adventures and they are true.

Nathan D., age 12

Weakest link in a terrific series
Once again, the young narrator J.D. relates the adventures of his natural born con artist brother Tom, aka the Great Brain.

A hundred years after this series takes place, the writing that makes this series live and breathe is still in full force. The authentic details that flesh out life in the small town of Adenville, Utah are great touches and elevate the story above similar tales that take place in the present. The series also banks on the realistic and lovable main characters, especially John D. and Tom himself.

Despite all that, I have to say that this is the weakest of the Great Brain books.Tom's adventures are more grandiose than in the others, and I think that the series is more comfortable when Tom is operating within the realm of his peers, rather than conning the entire town on a big scale. He creates a stir when he convinces the entire town that a monster walks among them at night, and later in the book seeks to capture a ghost that has scared him and the other children away from an old mine. These episodes are just a little less fun than when Tom is conning quarters and dimes from the other kids.

Another chapter that I had a problem with was "The Taming of Britches Dotty," which is so demeaning toward women that I think it would actually be harmful for any child who reads it. Britches Dotty is essentially a rough and tumble cowgirl whom Tom "tames" by teaching her to wear pretty dresses and "act like a girl." He also teaches her to read and write, so it's not like the chapter couldn't work with some revision, but the notion that girls have to dress nicely, act demurely, and look pretty is so out of touch that the chapter should be altered or removed before it's given to a child.

But these books are episodic, and I do have to say that, on the positive side, this book has one of the best episodes in the entire series, which is when Papa and the boys get hopelessly lost among the local canyons, with Papa despairing that they will make it out alive.

There is also a touching chapter about the boys heading up a funeral for a local dog.

Mercer Meyer's detailed sketches are absolutely wonderful, with lots of detail and shading, and characters that retain some of their cartoonishness even as they look real.

This is a terrific series, and everyone who reads it will enjoy it.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Fun, but not as good as the previous ones
I've read all the great brain, and this is my least favorite. It is written by someone else after the author died, and it's obvious. It is entertaining, but does not qualify as a great brain book to me.

Closure for a great series.
My first introduction to this wonderful "young readers" series was in elementary school.Our class had a weekly period where the teacher read to us.It so happened that the Great Brain was one of those books.I was immediately hooked.
I had the other 7 books since my teenage years, but I had no idea that an 8th posthumous book had been released.
I finally had the chance to purchase it, and I must say that it was a very nostalgic experience to read new tales of these familiar character.
I highly recommend fans of the series to get this book to complete the collection.New readers should start with the 1st book, "The Great Brain".

Good, but not great
Honestly, I liked the original last book better than this posthumously published one, but I'm not going to complain about another book being added to the series.In this book T.D. catches some criminals and pulls a few minor swindle's, but the final conclusion of the series seems to be that swindling doesn't pay.The very last chapter is called "The Swindler gets Swindled," and Tom tries to pull a swindle and it backfires completely and he ends up losing some money.On that note the series ends, the author's point being made.Lots of humor along the way, as well as fascinating adventures in the old west.Definitely a series I'll be re-reading again in the future.

Overall grade:A-

So-so entry into the Great Brain series...
I would only give this 2.5 stars out of 5. As someone who grew up with the Great Brain series in the '70s I was quite pleased to hear about this "lost" book surfacing a few years ago. These were my favorite books when I was a kid and I kept them for many years afterwards. Imagine my disappointment when I read the introduction by the "editor." If one were to believe what she writes here, she is the one who should be commended for the "Great Brain" series, not Fitzgerald.

Oh, please.

Her insulting forward aside, readers should know that this book was assembled (after his death) from Fitzgerald's notes and we will never know for sure if he intended for it to be published or not. It's a fair book, but it doesn't have nearly the spark of the original works, all of which I would highly recommend over this, any day of the week.

Great Book, but read the others first
First, I loved the Great Brain series.My 11 year old son just got done reading the first seven.We agree that the first was the weakest, and the rest were amazing.His favorite is Me and My Little Brain, while mine is The Great Brain at the Academy.

I read the books in the 70's. I looked on Amazon.com for the books for my son and found this one.I bought, read it, and loved it.It was like meeting a best friend that you haven't seen for years, and starting right where you left off.

With that said, this book is not as good as the rest.It's a bit like saying Eric Clapton is not as good as Jimi Hendrix. Clapton is still better than 99.9% of the rest of the guitarist.And that's how you should look at this book.It's not quite as good as the original seven, but it's still great.

If you're thinking of buying this, read the rest of the series first.Then buy this one and enjoy it.If you read the series when you where young, then buy this book.You will love it. ... Read more

Book Description
The best con man in the Midwest is only ten years old. Tom, a.k.a., the Great Brain, is a silver-tongued genius with a knack for turning a profit. When the Jenkins boys get lost in Skeleton Cave, the Great Brain saves the day. Whether it’s saving the kids at school, or helping out Peg-leg Andy, or Basil, the new kid at school, the Great Brain always manages to come out on top—and line his pockets in the process. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (75)

Reliving my childhood through my daughter.
I poured through these books continuously in my youth. I would beg for a trip to the library so I could find just one more I hadn't read.

I had all but forgotten about them until my oldest showed a keenness for reading. Now I'm ordering them for her for Christmas. I hope she gleans as much joy as I did from them! I used to love to pretend that Papa was handing out his sage advice directly to me.

This is such a wonderfully written series for young readers. You really can't go wrong with them, and hopefully my daughter will review this for you some time after Christmas!

Reading Level
I hope AMAZON reads this, but the ages of 4 to 8 years is not correct. I think they mean 4th-8th grade, not years. My son is in 5th grade and is just getting where he can read it. I read it when I was young, one of my favorite books...but not for K-2nd grade!! Amazon, if you read this, you may want to change the Reading Level! Thanks!!

Hilarious book for kids of all ages!!!!!!!!!!
This is a wonderful book for all ages. Its about a 10 year old boy that is always thinking of money making schemes!!!

Witty and wonderful!
This book reminded me of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.It is so well
written. It is full of wit and heartwarming understanding of the workings
of young boys.I enjoyed it as much as any book I have read all year and
would highly recommend it to any age group.

Hillarity for "kids" of all ages
The antics of the Great Brain as told by his brother are some of the funniest, twisted, and gut-splitting moments in popular literature.I remember reading the entire series when I was a kid and I was stunned to find every moment as hillarious at age 40 as they were back when I was 10.My nine year old is reading the series now.It's a real pleasure to hear her giggles and howls of laughter coming from her loft as she experiences the adventures and hijinx of JD and the gang for herself.

In terms of reading pleasure, JD Fitzgerald's style and use of language, subtle dry whit and sideways descriptions add to the plot & character driven moments, making these tomes some of the best of Americanliterature.Adults who can hammer down a David Foster Wallace novel can sink their literary teeth into JD's reflexive fiction with just as much sophisticated vigor.If you have one of those little Great Brains in your own home, you'll instantly recognize the genuis and perverse brilliance in Fitzgerald's characters.In an age of labels and neuroses run amuck it feels good to see, yeah, here's a fictional (?) character who's just like my kid.

This stuff is beyond funny.Just be sure you have a massage afterwards because your muscles will ache from the laugh-reflex. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A wonderful book for those who grew up with The Great Brain
After my husband finished reading the Great Brain books to my stepson, I decided to find out more about John D. Fitzgerald, and to my surprise, I found that he had published this memoir that was aimed at adults (actually the Great Brain books weren't really intended for kids specifically). This books includes a lot of details of his growing up that are left out of the Great Brain books - like the fact that he has a sister, and the fact that Mamma is a Mormon, and that they let their kids decide which faith to follow.Sweyn, John, and their sister become Catholics, but Tom, became a Mormon.It includes the courtship between Papa and Mamma, and it takes you through until their old age. I highly recommend reading this book - it's got lots of laughs, joy, and even tears. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of John D(ennis) Fitzgerald, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 842 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Book Description
J. D. idolizes his older brother Tom, a.k.a. The Great Brain, a silver-tongued con artist with a genius for making a profit. No matter what the situation, The Great Brain will always find a way to turn it to his advantage--usually, his financial advantage. As boys growing up at the beginning of the 1900s, J. D. and Tom have plenty of scope for their adventures. And while J. D.'s ingenuity may not equal his conniving brother's, as a narrator he is endearingly sympathetic and wildly entertaining.

First published in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this classic series has been popular ever since. Now the first three books are again available in hardcover, complete with their original illustrations. Join the amazing Great Brain and his befuddled brother as they continue to captivate generations of young readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Great book for kids!
This is an amazing series!I first read it in the early 70's as a fifth grader and as teacher I read it every year to my third, fourth and fifth graders.They love it.

Nice change of pace
This book presents a very nice change of pace in the Great Brain series.The Great Brain has gone off to boarding school, and J. D. thinks that he will fill the Great Brain's shoes and try to swindle the kids in town.All of J. D.'s plans backfire, and he learns that swindling people is not something that is to be admired or done.The main focus of the book is on J.D.'s family's adoption of Frankie, a little boy whose parents were killed in an accident.It's a very heartwarming portrayal of a family's acceptance of a new member, and it is not at all lacking in comic relief.Mr. Fitzgerald's humor is not at all lacking in this book, and perhaps is even better than in the rest of the series.I definitely enjoyed this book.

Overall grade:A

Great pick for a "reluctant reader"
I remembered reading these books in the 70's and got this book for my son.My "reluctant reader" fifth grader loved the entire series.A great pick for kids who are more interested in straight fiction "real" characters and plots, as opposed to fantasy/science fiction (which can confound less strong readers).I wish the entire series was in print.

If I Only Had a Brain
I read these books as child by checking them out of a library.Now almost 20 years later, I have decided to reread them all starting from the beginning.In this book, J.D. decides that he can fill the Great Brain (T.D.)'s shoes, while T.D. is away at the Academy in Salt Lake City.It turns out to be a humbling experience, thus the title, Me and My Little Brain.While some people may tell you that this book isn't as good without the presence of the Great Brain, I found this book just as entertaining as the rest.The storytelling is as superb as the rest.You don't want to miss this book because it introduces the character, Frankie, who allows this book to still be about brothers.Towards the end of this book, we find out that J.D. can still do some amazing stuff even though he has a little brain.This book and The Great Brain at the Academy are parallel books, which describe events happening at the same time, however, you should read this book first to have things make sense.

Great & not so great brain
The third book in the series has mighty big shoes to fill but it lives up to expectations very well.
Other reviewers have expressed concern over the lack of stories with the main character (Tom), but this book is true to it's title and deals with the younger Fitzgerald in very well.\

I applaud the author for taking time to focus on the troubles of a younger sibling when his older (and more conniving) brother is absent.

I enjoyed this book very much when I was younger, and still enjoy it now that I am an adult and father.

This series is one that I hope to share with my children as they grow up, and I hope they will get as much pleasure from the stories as I did. ... Read more

Product Description
Set of 7 THE GREAT BRAIN books by John D. Fitzgerald. Trade paperbacks Dell Yearling publisher. #1 THE GREAT BRAIN, #2 MORE ADVENTURES OF THE GREAT BRAIN, #3 ME AND MY LITTLE BRAIN, #4 THE GREAT BRAIN AT THE ACADEMY, #5 THE GREAT BRAIN REFORMS, #6 THE RETURN OF THE GREAT BRAIN, #7 THE GREAT BRAIN DOES IT AGAIN. ... Read more

Book Description
Here's the bestselling guide that teaches aspiring novelists how to employ the 14 structural elements common to all novels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A great starting point for writers
Certainly if you have little writing experience or skill you will need more than just this book. But you have the talent and desire, but not the discipline, then you'll want this book. I put my amorphous novel idea through almost every chapter and by the end, it had solidified into a detailed outline.

The other great thing about this book is that if you can be truly honest with yourself, you will find out quickly whether your idea can stand on its own as a novel, which beats finding out 400 pages later.

Okay, but be careful
First, this book is not about structuring your novel.It is a general book on fiction writing.Second, it is very basic, for beginning writers only.That said, if you are just starting out, this book has it over the other beginning books in that, at least, it says what it has to say and doesn't beat around the bush.If you need a cookbook approach, this is it.
It is very brief.Also, its format is to say what it has to say in bold characters, then repeat the same thing in a couple of paragraphs, as though you were hard of hearing or as though teaching a class of bored students whose minds may have been wandering when he said it the first time.For instance: "The protagonist in a novel can be singular (just the main character) or plural (more than one of the leading characters)." (p.11)Then, just in case that statement was too difficult for you, he spells it out in the next half-page.And so it goes."To set the stage for the basic conflict..., place the protagonist in conflict with his own environment or the environment of others." (p.14)Again, a half page to repeat that.In other words, you can get all there is in the book just from reading the statements in bold print.That way, you can finish the book in one hour.
All this might be safe enough, except that some of these bold statements are debatable.For instance: "The basic conflict cannot be developed or sustained unless the author exaggerates the reaction of the protagonist to the stimulus of the environment." (p.20)"The event...that starts the chain of causally related events may or may not be presented in the first chapter." (p.128)Beware of such advice unless you have a good friend who is an acquisitions editor!
The author touches all the bases: idea, conflict, plot, viewpoint, theme, exposition, description, narration and action, characterization, symbolism.He also has two brief chapters on "craftsmanship" in which we are told to "Make every word count" (p.164)and that "The motivation of everything a character says and does in a novel must be established in the reader's mind." (p.158)And in a chapter on style we are told that "Style in novel writing cannot be taught." (.p.187)
As long as you go on to read several other beginning books on fiction writing and take many of the proclamations with a grain of salt, it might be safe to read this book.Certainly, it will get you started quickly.

THE book for writers who need direction
Ever sat in front of the blank page or screen with an idea mulling around and thought GEE WHIZ where do I go from here?
This book guides you out of the mire and through to the safe haven of the goal.
Onward through the fog!

One of the best books on writing I've ever read
I was so happy to learn today that this book is still in print as I have had occasion over the years to recommend it to many, many fiction writers I have coached in the writing of their novels.I first read it more than 20 years ago, and in pulling it down from my shelf I find that it still seems to me to have exceptionally clear explanations of point of view -- a hard concept for many first-time writers to get right -- and of theme -- a nebulous but important concept.If you want to master fictional technique, study this book.One of the best investments of time and money you could make! - Marcia Yudkin, Writing Coach and Author of 11 Books,

Structuring Your Novel: The One to Buy
Would be novelists most often write novels that never see the light of publishing day.The reasons for rejection are as many as the number of things the writer can do wrong.There are many books that teach How To Write a Novel (and I've read most of them), but only STRUCTURING YOUR NOVEL by Meredith and Fitzgerald discuss how to do it well. Both authors know what works and what does not work in getting a novel published.They recommend that after the novelist thinks of His Bright Idea, he ought to look at his idea in the way that an agent or publisher will. They recommend concepts as basic as the following:
1) Can the intention, attitude, and purpose be written as one
sentence each?
2) How can the conflict be developed?
3) Who or what is the protagonist, setting, significance?
4) How will the author create causally related events?
5) Is there a dramatic driving device for the protagonist?
6) What is the viewpoint? Omniscient? (avoid) First Person?
(Maybe) Third Person (best bet)
7) How will the author inform the reader about the relevant
details of the novel?
8)What about dialogue? (when/how much) Characterization? (how)
The above points are usually omitted by rookie authors, and their ignorance of them is the most common reason for rejection.
The value behind forcing a writer to think like a publisher is to anticipate pitfalls and correct them before too many hastily written words hit the paper.This book should be required reading for anyone who hopes to write and publish novels, and not have to wonder why their career is going nowhere. ... Read more