The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald, illustrated by Mercer Mayer
(Suggested reading level: Ages 9-12)
Amber (9) and I read this together. It was first published in 1967 and set in Utah in 1896, but if Amber’s any example, today’s kids will still find plenty to enjoy.
The Great Brain is Tom D. Fitzgerald and the story is told by J.D., his admiring younger brother. Tom is an expert at making money from his friends, but he does help a lot of people along the way, even if his motives are not entirely unselfish. Each chapter is like a mini-adventure. Tom gets a mean teacher fired and then rehired, finds two kids lost in a cave, helps a Greek immigrant boy fit in, saves a friend from committing suicide by teaching him that he’s not useless even after the lower part of his leg is amputated. Tom really is a brilliant kid, and it’s a fun book. As soon as it was over, Amber asked if there were more in the series, which there is.
A couple of comments. The word “jackass” was used a few times, and Amber asked that I rephrase it. Also, one of their neighbors, who is Jewish, starves to death, which does teach a good lesson of watching out for those around you, even if they are different in some way, but the boys’ father says it would never have happened in this mostly Mormon town if the man hadn’t been a Jew. Tom and his family are Catholic, by the way, but religion itself doesn’t come up often.
Tom and his friends are sneaky, get away with a lot of things, are not the best role models, but that’s not what kids are looking for in a story. It’s fun and the boys do learn several good lessons along the way, like watching out for each other. They may get some black eyes in the process but they’re boys and, no matter how politically correct we want to be, boys will be boys.
Overall, this was great read about a culture and time period that isn’t portrayed often in kids books now, it seems. The kids don’t watch TV, they play outside, do a lot of chores, attend school in a one room schoolhouse until they’re old enough to quit or go to a boarding school in Salt Lake City. I think the differences are part of what makes it exciting. For Amber, it’s peeking into a childhood totally different from the one she knows, more adventurous, more exciting in a way.
Challenges: 100+, A to Z, Shelf Discovery
Our copy was borrowed from the library and the above is my honest opinion. I am an Amazon associate.
I read all of the Great Brain books as a kid and loved them! I probably secretly liked that it used the word jackass – it probably made me feel grown up. You’ve made me want to read this.
I must have missed this one growing up, but it looks interesting in the same way that I loved the Little House books.
I love these kind of stories. Myabe I can use it for my Utah title 🙂
Hi Carol! Peeking into a childhood totally different from the one I know is also very exciting for me. I’m glad both of you have enjoyed this together! 🙂
I’ve never heard of this book, but it sounds really interesting. I think The Girl would die laughing about the word “jackass.” I’m sure she wouldn’t say it herself, but she’d be laughing.
–Anna
I loved the Great Brain growing up, I definitely want to re-read now!
I read these as a kid, too. And now my son (who’s Amber’s age) is reading them. He says he really likes them.
You know, I’d like to read them again. I wonder if he’d notice if I made off with them…
I read the books as a child, my daughter didn’t, although I don’t get why, I’m sure I suggested them.
One thing you failed to mention is that the stories are largely true, certianly, the time between when they happened and when they were recorded altered memories, but the stories are factual. The great brain eventually ended up in prison. I can’t find more information on why.
I don’t know. The only info I found was that it was “loosely” based on the author’s life.