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The Great Brain #8
The Great Brain Is Back
This classic trickster is back again, and he's up to no good in his eighth and final book of the series. Great mix of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Terrible Two series, and is perfect for fans of Roald Dahl.
Tom D. Fitzgerald--better known as The Great Brain--has turned thirteen, and pretty Polly Reagan has put a spell on him. But when it comes to swindling his younger brother J. D., and all the other kids in Adenville, Tom hasn't changed a bit. The Great Brain is back one more time, and he's at the top of his form with his money-making schemes and getting into big trouble. As always, life is more exciting when this brain's around!
Tom D. Fitzgerald--better known as The Great Brain--has turned thirteen, and pretty Polly Reagan has put a spell on him. But when it comes to swindling his younger brother J. D., and all the other kids in Adenville, Tom hasn't changed a bit. The Great Brain is back one more time, and he's at the top of his form with his money-making schemes and getting into big trouble. As always, life is more exciting when this brain's around!
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
61 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
About the author
John D. Fitzgerald
41 books163 followersOFFICIAL WEBSITE REFERENCED REPORTS:
John Dennis Fitzgerald was born in Price, Utah, on February 3, 1906, to Thomas and Minnie Melsen Fitzgerald. His father had a pharmacy degree but engaged in a number of business ventures and served on the Price Town Council for four years. John graduated from Carbon High School and at the age of eighteen and left Utah to pursue a career as a jazz drummer. He worked in a variety of occupations during his life, including newspaper reporter for the World-Tribune in New York City, foreign correspondent for United Press, advertising and purchasing agent, and bank auditor. He also served on Wendell Willkie's staff when Willkie was running for president.
At the time his first book, Papa Married a Mormon (1955), was published, he was living in Los Angeles and working as a steel buyer. Fitzgerald had collaborated with his sister, Belle Fitzgerald Empey, to write this book. Her name was not included as coauthor of the book because it was written in the first person. Papa Married a Mormon was very popular and was reprinted in several foreign-language editions, including Chinese. Twice chosen as a Book-of-the-Month Club selection, it was also serialized in McCall's Magazine. A sequel, Mamma's Boarding House, appeared in 1958.
Fitzgerald moved to Denver in 1960 where he tried for a short time to make his living as a full-time writer. He later reported that "I quit my job and went to a mountain cabin to make my living writing. I had to sell my jack and a tire to get back to Denver. When I got there I sold my typewriter and swore I would never write again." His wife later bought him another typewriter and he eventually resumed writing.
He had a very successful writing career, publishing more than 500 magazine articles, as well as poetry and songs and two books on writing, The Professional Story Writer and His Art (1963) and Structuring Your Novel: From Basic Idea to Finished Manuscript (1972).
His most successful and widely read novels are the juvenile books in the Great Brain Series. They were loosely based on the adventures of his brother Thomas N. Fitzgerald. Books in this series include: The Great Brain (1967), More Adventures of the Great Brain (1969), Me and My Little Brain (1971), The Great Brain at the Academy (1972), The Great Brain Reforms (1973), The Return of the Great Brain (1974), and The Great Brain Does It Again (1976).
The Great Brain Series has led to one of the most asked questions in Utah literature: "Where is Adenville, Utah?" Adenville is a fictional town created by Fitzgerald, but most readers believe that the geographical setting loosely fits that of a small town in southern Utah.
Fitzgerald and his wife, Joan, moved to Titusville, Florida, in about 1972 where he continued his writing career. He died there May 20, 1988, at the age of 82.
John Dennis Fitzgerald was born in Price, Utah, on February 3, 1906, to Thomas and Minnie Melsen Fitzgerald. His father had a pharmacy degree but engaged in a number of business ventures and served on the Price Town Council for four years. John graduated from Carbon High School and at the age of eighteen and left Utah to pursue a career as a jazz drummer. He worked in a variety of occupations during his life, including newspaper reporter for the World-Tribune in New York City, foreign correspondent for United Press, advertising and purchasing agent, and bank auditor. He also served on Wendell Willkie's staff when Willkie was running for president.
At the time his first book, Papa Married a Mormon (1955), was published, he was living in Los Angeles and working as a steel buyer. Fitzgerald had collaborated with his sister, Belle Fitzgerald Empey, to write this book. Her name was not included as coauthor of the book because it was written in the first person. Papa Married a Mormon was very popular and was reprinted in several foreign-language editions, including Chinese. Twice chosen as a Book-of-the-Month Club selection, it was also serialized in McCall's Magazine. A sequel, Mamma's Boarding House, appeared in 1958.
Fitzgerald moved to Denver in 1960 where he tried for a short time to make his living as a full-time writer. He later reported that "I quit my job and went to a mountain cabin to make my living writing. I had to sell my jack and a tire to get back to Denver. When I got there I sold my typewriter and swore I would never write again." His wife later bought him another typewriter and he eventually resumed writing.
He had a very successful writing career, publishing more than 500 magazine articles, as well as poetry and songs and two books on writing, The Professional Story Writer and His Art (1963) and Structuring Your Novel: From Basic Idea to Finished Manuscript (1972).
His most successful and widely read novels are the juvenile books in the Great Brain Series. They were loosely based on the adventures of his brother Thomas N. Fitzgerald. Books in this series include: The Great Brain (1967), More Adventures of the Great Brain (1969), Me and My Little Brain (1971), The Great Brain at the Academy (1972), The Great Brain Reforms (1973), The Return of the Great Brain (1974), and The Great Brain Does It Again (1976).
The Great Brain Series has led to one of the most asked questions in Utah literature: "Where is Adenville, Utah?" Adenville is a fictional town created by Fitzgerald, but most readers believe that the geographical setting loosely fits that of a small town in southern Utah.
Fitzgerald and his wife, Joan, moved to Titusville, Florida, in about 1972 where he continued his writing career. He died there May 20, 1988, at the age of 82.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
November 10, 2015
3.5 stars That extra half star is for the chapter about peach pie. :D
August 13, 2018
The Great Brain is Back was published posthumously, cobbled together from the late Fitzgerald’s writings. It is the last Great Brain book (obviously) and ends fairly well for being so—Tom goes off to high school in Pennsylvania, leaving John and Frankie bemoaning how boring it will be with him gone. It’s a good end, though in my opinion, the series ended best after book 5, when Tom reforms. The last three books weren’t anything special.
This book starts with perhaps the meanest trick Tom has ever pulled on his brother. John is occasionally at fault for falling for Tom’s cons, but the first chapter of the book details Tom maliciously and purposefully undermining his own brother. I became so irritated that I almost stopped reading, to be honest. It ends with Tom getting his just desserts, though, so that at least makes up for it, but the ending pales in comparison to the trial at the end of The Great Brain Reforms, mostly because there’s no indication that Tom will actually change.
Perhaps it’s because this was published after the author died, or perhaps it’s because even Fitzgerald was getting tired of these books, but this book (and the two before it) most prominently displays how quickly this series fell apart after having to explain away Tom’s reform. There’s no longer any lessons, no development—just story after story of Tom swindling people and mostly getting away with it. It’s always clever, occasionally heroic, and sometimes amusing, but there’s nothing connecting the stories to each other anymore. Tom has become a villain in his own series, in a way, because all the good things he does pales in comparison to the heartlessness he shows his friends and brothers.
I’ m glad I revisited this series, but now I’m glad it’s over. Tom was becoming too annoying for me to enjoy the books, and all of the lovely learning and development was tossed aside for more of the frustrating shenanigans. I would recommend to stop reading the series after book 5.
This book starts with perhaps the meanest trick Tom has ever pulled on his brother. John is occasionally at fault for falling for Tom’s cons, but the first chapter of the book details Tom maliciously and purposefully undermining his own brother. I became so irritated that I almost stopped reading, to be honest. It ends with Tom getting his just desserts, though, so that at least makes up for it, but the ending pales in comparison to the trial at the end of The Great Brain Reforms, mostly because there’s no indication that Tom will actually change.
Perhaps it’s because this was published after the author died, or perhaps it’s because even Fitzgerald was getting tired of these books, but this book (and the two before it) most prominently displays how quickly this series fell apart after having to explain away Tom’s reform. There’s no longer any lessons, no development—just story after story of Tom swindling people and mostly getting away with it. It’s always clever, occasionally heroic, and sometimes amusing, but there’s nothing connecting the stories to each other anymore. Tom has become a villain in his own series, in a way, because all the good things he does pales in comparison to the heartlessness he shows his friends and brothers.
I’ m glad I revisited this series, but now I’m glad it’s over. Tom was becoming too annoying for me to enjoy the books, and all of the lovely learning and development was tossed aside for more of the frustrating shenanigans. I would recommend to stop reading the series after book 5.
October 1, 2013
Who are these people rating this 4 and 5 stars? They have been swindled by the money loving heart of Dial Books and the editor of this book who ransacked the poor dead author's old notes for these chapters, hobbled them together and put together a book that only a person of little to no discrimination would consider a "great end to a great series". This book is not up the quality or craftsmanship of the TRUE books in this series. What makes this even more of a swindle is that the fact that John Fitzgerald did not approve this book (since it was published after his death from chapters he (IMO rightfully) considered of inferior quality) this important fact is hidden in the end notes of the book. The reason I am so steamed is that I love the books in the series so much and it is doing them and the author a disservice to put this book in the same series as them. Why is it so bad? Well, first off the character development is not there. Second, the story arc of the other books is lacking and the stories don't tie together in any way. Third, some of the stories are about inappropriate topics - dog fighting, smoking,Indians being falsely imprisoned and almost dying in a hunger strike, the boys being threatened with death by a band of thieves. And when the stories aren't inappropriate they are just boring. The worst is the big conclusion to the series is a horribly dull story of peaches being peeled. It says the Swindler is swindled leading you to believe the Great Brain is out thought - but it is just his mom making him give back money when she learns of T.D.'s scam - something that happened in the first chapter of the first book. The author would not have approved of this book and it is a shame Dial books would want to put it out. And a true shame some lovers of this series think this is a book of the same quality as the other books.
December 18, 2018
While it was nice for them to try and capture the magic again, it just wasn't there in this one (as it almost feels ghost written). Read it if you love the series, but it's mostly forgettable.
November 2, 2017
The Great Brain Is Back is about a young boy, and how he sees his older brother Tom. There are many adventures and events that happen that are so relatable and exciting that you can't stop reading until you are done. It was a good book to read on the weekend or when you are relaxing in the evening. You don't need to read the other books before this one. They all are somewhat their own story.
December 6, 2023
A childhood favorite that you will love again and again.
March 28, 2025
The storyline and hijinks from Tom D aren't strong in "The Great Brain is Back", but a delightful series nonetheless. These books help me remember what it's like to be a kid, and I'll always be grateful for that.
February 24, 2015
I loved The Great Brain series as a kid. I re-read this one again recently when I found it in my local library. I enjoyed it almost as much as the first time. Some of the others in the series are more engaging, and I liked the earlier illustrator better as well. But a nice final book for the series.
June 29, 2023
Enjoyed reading this at the beach. The last of the series I love. I'll miss these boys.
June 9, 2014
The Great Brain books are a fun series set in the late 1800s about a boy who uses his brain to trick and swindle other kids as well as solve mysteries the adults can't. Great nostalgia.
January 18, 2021
J. D. Fitzgerald only wrote the first seven books of the series, but after he died some notes were found in his desk regarding other possible stories. So this last book was put together by somebody else. The author actually did a pretty good job, but most of the stories seem to get cut short, like the one about the Indians; it ends OK, but it just ends--no denouement. I really liked the story about dogfighting (really, it’s not as bad as it sounds) but some of the rest of them left a bad taste in my mouth. Overall, the series could easily have ended without these. Maybe Fitzgerald had a good reason for not including them in his earlier books. One problem: I wish the later books in the series weren’t so hard to find. It’s too bad you can’t get them all together in a boxed set, like the “Little House on the Prairie” books. A whole new generation of kids would love having them.
December 25, 2020
Published posthumously long after the first seven books in the series, I missed this final one as a child. Reading it for the first time a few decades later, it strikes me quite differently than the other books did. Tom tends to be a rather obnoxious and unlikable protagonist more often than not. It's perhaps a good idea that he's not the narrator.
I'm also struck by Fitzgerald's talent as a writer. In very few words, he paints a picture of the old west more real than what I read in most so-called Western authors. And he pulls off a first person narrative with some POV tricks I don't ever recall noticing in a more modern book, adult or YA. It's a shame his adult books are out of print. He deserves to be better remembered than he is.
I'm also struck by Fitzgerald's talent as a writer. In very few words, he paints a picture of the old west more real than what I read in most so-called Western authors. And he pulls off a first person narrative with some POV tricks I don't ever recall noticing in a more modern book, adult or YA. It's a shame his adult books are out of print. He deserves to be better remembered than he is.
September 11, 2020
Last book in the series, and one I'd never read before now. The first story was quite a put-off, as Tom was more assholish than he's ever been before. But then he more or less redeems himself by putting an end to the dog-fighting and saving the day with another bunch of bandits. The end story, where Mrs Fitzgerald gives Tom a taste of his own medicine, is a nice bit of payback. Overall, 4*. Great series. I loved re-reading it for the first time in probably 25 years. Going to check out a bit of Fitzgerald's novels for adults from here.
August 16, 2019
This is the very difficult to find, final title, of a wonderful series. Compiled from Fitzgerald's notes and published after his death, it doesn't quite have the sparkle of his finished work, but for devotees of the Fitzgerald boys, the final eulogy is not to be missed. I'm still looking for a copy for my kids!
Want to start at the beginning? See,
The Great Brain, Fitzgerald, 1967
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Want to start at the beginning? See,
The Great Brain, Fitzgerald, 1967
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 21, 2025
I’m glad the series is closing as this book dampens my enthusiasm for this series re-read. The first chapter shows us JD not only getting swindled, but when he gets slightly ahead TD comes back and punishes JD out of spite. This is way more mean-spirited than the earlier entries to the series.
After reading a number of other unhappy reviews, I learned this is a posthumous fixup of the author’s rejected fragments and ideas.
I’m DNF-ing this ghoulish book.
After reading a number of other unhappy reviews, I learned this is a posthumous fixup of the author’s rejected fragments and ideas.
I’m DNF-ing this ghoulish book.
January 10, 2021
I bought the series over Christmas break because it's been years since I read these books, and found that many of them were products of their time. The last two I think are completely skippable, this is one. Ennnnnnh, for a lot of things, but including the fat kid that only speaks in rhyme, the cowboys/indians game, the way girls put a spell on boys, and probably a bunch of other things.
August 17, 2021
I loved "The Great Brain" books as a kid, so I was very excited to discover that a final 8th book had been published posthumously in the 1990s. But...this book was cobbled together from stories and notes Fitzgerald had rejected from other books, and it shows. It is not remotely up to the level of the previous 7 books- not in characters, editing, storytelling, or tone.
October 26, 2021
This would be an amazing finale to the great Brain series but the illustrations I just cannot get over. In the original seven the illustrations are amazing but in this one you get the feel that Tom and John are entirely different characters than what they were in the other seven, other than that the writing is great and it was a fun read.
January 9, 2021
A nice coda to the 7 book series. Those of us who grew up in the Fitzergald family will enjoy one last visit with Momma, Pappa, Aunt Bertha, Frankie, Swyen, John and of course, the Great Brain himself, Tom.
April 20, 2021
It wasn't BAD. I definitely wasn't a fan of the artwork in this one. It just was kind of a unsatisfactory end. Tbh...I never wanted Tom to grow up but alas he did. The characters were kinda eh but it still was a fun read. I guess I was just nostalgic.
January 23, 2025
The series is over for us now, and we are sad. We will miss the Fitzgeralds. This book was the only one I gave 4 stars because you could tell it was cobbled together posthumous, but at the end of the day, we still loved the stories in this final book.
July 13, 2025
3.5 I guess
Polly is barely in the story even though she's apparently a big part of Tom's life now. Some of the stories just don't have the same weight as before, now that he's trying not to be openly sus.
Polly is barely in the story even though she's apparently a big part of Tom's life now. Some of the stories just don't have the same weight as before, now that he's trying not to be openly sus.
December 1, 2017
Peaches and robbers.
January 11, 2018
i liked it?
March 8, 2018
I read this one aloud to my girls and we all enjoyed it. I wish our library carried more of them
October 1, 2019
A strong finish to the series. The Great Brain is entertaining and hilarious.
November 21, 2019
I never read this one as a kid; a great end to a great series
February 28, 2020
There is a mystery to solve and the Great Brain will solve it. Love these books set in Southern Utah.
June 9, 2020
Tom figuring how to win the spelling bee without making his girl angry at him is one of my favorite Great Brain shenanigans. 😁. My kids are all sad that we have reached the end of this fun series.
June 15, 2021
A good end to the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews