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The Terrible Two Get Worse

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The Terrible Two Get Worse
By Mac Barnett and Jory John
 Illustrated by Kevin Cornell
Abrams, Amulet Books, 2016. 214 p.

The Terrible Two pranksters who came together in book one are at it again. They pull pranks left and right. They dare each other to spontaneously come up with pranks based on random objects. They are so good at pranking…that the former Principal Barkin takes notice. In fact, he convinces the school board to appoint him to be principal—again. This doesn’t make Principal Barkin (his son) all that happy…since he basically lost his job and now has nothing to do. And Miles and Niles are now trying to prank a principal who doesn’t acknowledge pranks. Which brings about the question, is it a prank if people don’t believe it is a prank?

In this sequel Miles and Niles and their pranks get even better. But even with some pretty sweet practical jokes going on…it isn’t enough. They have to ask a third person to join their pranking duo. And the best part is that readers will not see the end coming. There are clues as to what will culminate the story. But readers just might not see them and will then be surprised at the end (and who the third member of the club will be). This is the perfect type of book for those who like Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Dork Diaries—the books with a lot of school humor and loads of illustrations. However, unlike the protagonists of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Dork Diaries, grownups might actually like Miles and Niles and will be happy to let their kiddos read the story of these two mischief-makers.
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