The Terrible Two

The Terrible Two #1

by Mac Barnett, Jory John, Kevin Cornell (Illustrator)

Miles Murphy is not happy to be moving to Yawnee Valley, a sleepy town that’s famous for one thing and one thing only: cows. In his old school, everyone knew him as the town’s best prankster, but Miles quickly discovers that Yawnee Valley already has a prankster, and a great one. If Miles is going to take the title from this mystery kid, he is going to have to raise his game.
 
It’s prankster against prankster in an epic war of trickery, until the two finally decide to join forces and pull off the biggest prank ever seen: a prank so huge that it would make the members of the International Order of Disorder proud.
 
In The Terrible Two, bestselling authors and friends Mac Barnett and Jory John have created a series that has its roots in classic middle-grade literature yet feels fresh and new at the same time.

Genres: Humor, Middle Grade, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Audiobook, Friendship

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2015

About the author

Born to non-farmers in a California farming community, Mac Barnett now lives near San Francisco. He's on the board of directors of 826LA, a nonprofit writing center for students in Los Angeles, and he founded the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review update: I quite literally have 12 year old boys lining up at the door asking for copies of this book by name, which, coming from the kinds of kids who don't remember to write down homework, really says something about the story's appeal.

My book talk for Terrible Two was minimal: I asked kids for examples of pranks, I told them that Miles Murphy would find those pranks junior league, and then I read out loud the passage towards the beginning where Miles Murphy is deciding what kind of person he wants to be at his new school and then a car appears on the steps.

*

Very few books, in my experience, have what I would consider differentiated humor. Usually either the maturity and reading levels go hand in hand, and those wacky, funny, weird titles that you can totally pass off to a fifth or sixth grader (your Dan Gutmans and Adam Rexes of the world) are a tough sell to a seventh grader who has a 5/6 reading level.

But the Terrible Two IS that book where the appeal is much broader than the grade 4-5 reading level. As an adult, I found myself enjoying the snappy and sharp humor writing inside of a fairly canned plot. I see how my more experienced readers respond to this book similarly to the way I did: I have one student who finished this book in a day and then proceeded to re-read it, just to bask in it one more time and to study the authors' crafts.

For other students, the idea of a kid who is so studious in the art of pranking is reason enough to read on.

Also, kudos to the authors for keeping the grades of these kids ambiguous. They attend a "Letters and Science Academy" instead of a middle school (or an elementary school, or a high school." My seventh graders are tired about reading about other middle schoolers.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure why this book doesn't have a solid 5.0 rating. Or at least a 4.99. This book is EXCELLENT! And I'm not just saying that because I am a huge fan of Mac Barnett and Kevin Cornell.

Miles is a new student in the town of Yawnee- a town that is mostly famous for it's cows. He hates that he had to move to this town; in his old town by the ocean, he was known as the Prankster. And on his first day of school, Miles finds out that another student already holds the title of Prankster- someone who parked the principal's car across the entrance of the school so that no one could get in. To make matters worse, Miles is buddied up with Niles, the school helper, who is terribly annoying. Miles keeps trying to pull pranks, but the other Prankster keeps foiling them. Will Miles ever earn back his reputation as a Prankster?

This book is HILARIOUS. Although I almost immediately guessed who the Yawnee Prankster was, I didn't even care. I thought it was a brilliant novel. The illustrations were hilarious and added a lot to the novel. The book itself was witty and self-aware without being over-the-top. It was truly hilarious- I actually laughed out loud at several parts, which I Never do with books! I enjoyed both the characters of both Miles and Niles- especially Niles, who took on an almost James Bond persona.

I will absolutely recommend this book to students- but not before I buy a second copy for the library- we're gonna need it!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun! I love this way more than Big Nate or Wimpy Kid, but I think it will appeal to the same audience :)

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

درسته هنوز جلد اول هستش ولی از الان می‌تونم بگم:
از بهترین فرندشیپ‌ها؟ مایلز و نایلز تا ابد!
مایلز مورفی خفن‌ترین بچه مدرسه هستش‌ اما حالا با اسباب‌کشی خونشون باید به شهری دیگه و مدرسه دیگه بره. مایلز حالا میخواد خفن مدرسه جدید هم باشه اما یه مشکلی وجود داره! مایلز متوجه میشه این مدرسه هم یه خفن داره؛ اما حالا مگه میشه دوتا خفن توی یک مکان حکمرانی کنند؟!
کتاب «‏The Terrible Two‏» از شیرین‌ترین کتاب‌های ژانر نوجوان هستش که با آرتی کیوت و داستانی بامزه‌ که با طنز خوبی هم همراه شده، ارزش وقت گذاشتن رو داره و می‌تونید با خوندش ساعات خوشی رو تجربه کنید.
امیدوارم حالا که این کتاب، یه مجموعه هستش همین روند خوبش رو تا آخر حفظ کنه.
این کتاب با اسم «دوتا خفن» با ترجمه خوب «امیرحسین دانشورکیان» از نشر «پرتقال» منتشر شده‌ که می‌تونید، بخونید و لذت ببرید.

[Zari.Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

خیلی بامزه و طنازه

[Samane · Rating 3 out of 5]

به شرافتم سوگند كه هرآنچه در توان دارم به كار خواهم گرفت تا به خوبي بد باشم، براي اختلال نه نابودي، براي گرياندن گريان ها و خنداندن خندان ها ، سوگند كه تمام وجود خويش را وقف شوخي و خنده، شيطنت و خرابكاري خواهم كرد تا ثابت كنم كه دنياي وارونه زيباتر است چرا كه من يك خرابكارم.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, quick read--great for fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and the Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life series. There are lots of jokes and pranks and facts about cows (yup...cows). Perfect for struggling and/or reluctant readers.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multi-award winning humorous middle school chapter book that will draw in even reluctant readers. The characters were mischievous makers of chaos, but I enjoyed that they were above average intelligent and creative ones with a code of honor. Also enjoyed the collaborating illustrator's comic panels randomly through out this chapter book that added to the story line.

Language: No profanity

Sensuality content: Squeaky G clean.

Source: Amazon Prime Reading Loan.

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read with my 10 year old grandson. He really enjoyed it and gave it 4.5 stars! We picked up book 2 from the library before we were even finished with this one. I can't wait to see what shenanigans Miles and Niles get into next.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than Patterson's Middle School series about Rafe, because it doesn't try too hard to be so much. There's a lot of craftsmanship here, but it doesn't show - this reads very light, funny of course, but not overly silly or crazy.

The bully, and how he is dealt with, is different than any other I've met. Instead of getting to know the families of the boys, we get to know the principal (kind of; I have to admit he's just a bit implausible). There are no diversions to mean girls, or kindly janitors, or wise grannies, just a tight focus on the adventures of the boys... that is to say, the juicy bits. Well, except for Holly; I see a lot of potential for her to be a larger character in subsequent books, which would be good.

The illustrations fit perfectly and there are just the right number of them. I love the the details that they add, like the decrees posted on the walls that say "Principal Barkin sez: ...". Think about it; surely he knows how to spell "says" so why doesn't he? And isn't his name great? And the slogan for the Maraschino Cherries on the front endpaper, hard to spell, easy to eat.

Highly recommended to everyone young at heart, every fan of April Fools' Day, everyone who was once, or has even known, a 12(?) yo boy, every fan of cows.

(Besides the character of Barkin being a bit over-the-top, I do wonder about the focus on dairy cows, and the landscaped school grounds, and the mild winter, in Wyoming. That's not what WY looks like when I drive through there. So, until I find out that I'm ignorant, this gets a solid four stars. If I do learn that the team of creators portrayed WY accurately, I will increase my rating to 4.5 stars. :)

I will definitely read the next in the series.

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book for all readers, particularly "particular ones" as Jon Scieska would call them. It is full of cow facts that seem to make no sense until the final resolution and what a resolution it is. A school story, a story about a bully who gets what he deserves (though his dad may shape up a bit sooner than seems real), a story about unlikely friends and about pranks..and oh what pranks they are This book should almost come with a cautionary statement, don't try these in your school. Light-hearted but with sweet touches about friends and how two often do a better job than one.

[Arghiiw · Rating 5 out of 5]

داستان راجب مایلز هست که به اجبار مادرش باید از شهر و مدرسه خونه دوست داشتنیش دل بکنه و بره توی "یاونی ولی" زندگی کنه.
مایلز توی شهر قبلی خفن ترین خرابکار بوده و میخواد توی شهر جدید هم همین باشه؛ اما نمیشه!
چون یه دانش اموز خرابکار دیگه به اسم نایلز همش خرابکاریاشو خنثی میکنه.
تا اینکه این دوتا به این نتیجه میرسن چرا اصلا باهم خرابکاری نکنن؟! و این میشه شروعی برای "دو تا خفن"ِ خفنمون😁😍
داستان واقعا عالیه و چون کتاب کوتاهه زیر یکی_دو ساعت تموم میشه.
ترجمه هم خیلی خوب بود من عاشق پانویس ها و توضیحات مترجم شدم از خود کتاب باحال تر بود:)
توی هر سنی باشید از خوندنش لذت میبرید پس
از دستش ندید 😉

[Mahdiye HajiHosseini · Rating 4 out of 5]

.
جدا از شخصیت کمی روی مخ مایلز واقعن باهاش حال کردم.
شوخی های تمیز و حساب شده، اشاره های جزئی ای که به خوبی استفاده شدن و البته خفن بودن نایلز واقعن لذت بخش بود.


لینک طاقچه

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fred (age 9) absolutely loved this one and zipped through it in a day.

[Negar · Rating 5 out of 5]

اگه تو بچگیم این کتاب رو می‌خوندم، احتمالا یاد می‌گرفتم چجوری از مدرسه‌رفتن لذت ببرم.

[Åmîrö ghaderi (≡^∇^≡) · Rating 4 out of 5]

بسیار بسیار جذاب و خفن 👌🏻 باز هم از نویسنده این کتاب تشکر می کنم ❤️ اکیپ و کارهای خفن مایلز و نایلز واقعا لذت بخشه 😊 ممنون میشم اگه تو کامنت ها بگین نایلز رو بیشتر دوست دارید یا مایلز ؟ 😁

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny and entertaining (for a kids book)!

Jon gave it 4 stars.

[Pari · Rating 4 out of 5]

برای نوجوانان جالب بود
محتوای طنز داشت

[Rasta Nasseri · Rating 5 out of 5]

این کتاب پر از ایده ها ی خلاقانه است کتابی است که اگر نخوانی ضرر می کنی
به هم سن های خودم یعنی از کلاس سوم تا پنجم پیش نهاد می کنم چون آن موقع است که شیطونی هاتون گل می کند
این کتاب به درد بچه هایی می خورد که عاشق شیطونی اند و لی با وجود مدرسه نمی توانند خرابکاری کنند
عالی است و حتما بخونید

[Rummanah (Books in the Spotlight) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick and entertaining read about two boys who want to be their school's biggest pranksters. Fans of Big Nate and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series would find much to enjoy in this book.

[Ma'Leik Tramble · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's pictures was sooooooooo hardcore!

[steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

من واقعا باهاش خندیدم و ازش لذت بردم

[Timur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently started to read on libby after waking up to get away from the habit of scrolling through social media early mornings.

This book was perfect for this. it's language is pretty simple, the story is fun and I really liked the Illustrations.

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey, This Wasn't Terrible At All

There are a lot of middle grade books out there that are funny. Some are clever. Some are manic. Some are silly. But very few have the kind of deadpan wit and subtle throwaway lines that you will find in this book.

The plot is antic enough. Our hero, Miles, is the new kid at school, plans to be the school's top prankster, and has to dethrone the current anonymous top prankster. Right off the bat I was concerned, because usually prankster books turn on farts, boogers, and gross out humor. I was wrong to be concerned. The actual pranks, which are sort of incidental to the larger story, are actually pretty clever. The prankster angle mostly serves to set up some reason for Miles and student X to compete, then meet, then cooperate. (And once that happens student X becomes a major satisfying character in his/her own right.)

This is really more of a new kid/new challenges/new friend comedy of middle grade manners book. Miles is a bright, observant, articulate narrator, and is fine company for the reader. He's not happy about moving to a new dead end burg, but there isn't a lot of whinging. Miles is a can-do, jump right in kind of kid. The tone of the book is consistently upbeat and even though it has some sly and cutting little bits it never seems "off" and never hits a flat note. You can toss in a lot of little zingers in a book like this if you're cheerful about it, and this book never feels sour. It helps that in addition to the main plot we have a few running secondary plots, (Principal Barkin's attempts to find the prankster, Barkin's son's inept bullying), and some very funny one-off set pieces, (the cow-centric nature of the town, Miles' Mom's conversations with Miles, deadpan comments on the action by classmate Holly, and so on).

This seems like a book that would appeal to a wide range of kid readers, both because of its premise and because the jokes work differently for different aged readers. A younger reader would get most of the story and older readers would probably pick up on more of the subtle and deadpan business. I guess in the tech world you would call this "scalable". The illustrations help. While they are uncluttered pen and ink drawings they capture a lot of the personality of the characters and energy of the narrative, which would aid younger readers and amuse older readers.

You might recognize Mac Barnett as the author of the "Brixton Brothers" series, which is a funny, affectionate reworking of the Hardy Boys style books for a younger crowd. They are terrifically entertaining books, and so it should have been no surprise that this book is, in its own way, equally as accomplished.

So, it's funny, engaging and entertaining, with a sweet and cheerful center and a very satisfying resolution. A happy find.

Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

[Razvan Zamfirescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicuiri din recenzia finala care se gaseste pe blogul meu



..........................................

Miles este nefericit. Pentru că a fost nevoit să se mute în Valea Căscatului (Yawnee Valley) și pentru că s-a despărțit de prietenii săi cei mai buni. Pentru că-n Valea Ionii nu sunt decât vaci. Pentru că e înscris la o nouă școală unde nu știe pe nimeni și unde trebuie să-și refacă numele de cel mai mare farsor al școlii. Doar că la Academia de Științe Exacte și Socio-Umane din Valea Ionii este deja un farsor. Și este mult mai spectaculos decât Miles. Cum? Păi, dacă a reușit ca-n prima zi de școală să mute mașina directorului în fața intrării din școală astfel încât toți elevii au fost nevoiți să treacă prin mașină ca să nu se închidă școala, atunci nu e un farsor cel puțin deosebit? Asta, în mintea lui Miles înseamnă clar război. Dacă reușește, mai întâi, să scape de zgâmboiul de Niles, animalul de companie al profesorilor, care se ține de el mai dihai ca râia.



La ora la care scriu articolul îmi vine să vă spun cât mai în detaliu tot ce m-a entuziasmat și mi-a plăcut la Miles, Niles, Directorul Latră, Latră junior, la vaci, la Yawnee Valley, la tot ceea ce înseamnă Cei doi teribili de fapt. Pentru că mi-a plăcut enorm ideea, felul în care este scrisă, ilustrată, ce să mai, absolut tot! Am stat o noapte în bucătărie și am râs și mi-am dat cu presupusul până la deznodământ cu privire la rivalul din umbră al lui Miles, cine va câștiga războiul farsorilor, care va fi următoarea farsă spectaculoasă și cum va dejuca adversarul planul celui ce-ncearcă să-l prindă-n plasă!

.......................................

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confidence. Mischief. Danger. Those are three things you do NOT want to see in your rival's smile.

All Miles Murphy lives and breathes are pranks. Pranking is all he knows. It's what he's a master at. When he moves to the boring town of Yawnee Valley, famous for cows-yes, COWS, he is determined to do what he does best-prank.

However, there is already a master pranker in Yawnee. Someone, dare I say it, BETTER than Miles! Miles must figure out who this pranker is and how to beat him at his game, before Miles' pranking days are over. This will not be an easy feat, but it is one Miles is eager to accomplish in order to be the king of all pranks, yet again.

You can see Jory John and Mac Barnett in the characters they've written here: hillarious, intelligent and ridiculously ridiculous. Loved it!

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to a 3.5.

I'm always impressed that the trope of pranks and pranksters persists within middle grade books. This is another one of those stories, this time about a new kid at school who was the great pranksters at his old school up against the kid who consistently outsmarts him.

This is a fun, fast read with wide middle grade appeal even if it's not too deep and feels understandably derivative. Still a good time, though, and worth a read for this age group.

[Salma Saeed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere in the distance, a cow mooed😂❤️🐄

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is our latest "on the way to school" audiobook. We got a little tired of the sappy Vanderbeekers after listening to the first 5 books pretty much consecutively, so we made a welcome pivot to the troublemakers who call themselves The Terrible Two. My kids really enjoyed this story so I kept my inner critic quiet. I'm all about stories that keep the peace in the car, and this one did the trick for all four of my kids (ranging from 7-14).

Focusing on what I enjoyed: I loved how Niles helped refine Miles as a prankster. Niles understands the honorable traditions that make pranks not only funny but purposeful, and shows Miles how to best avoid being detected. He also helps Miles understand that the target should be a deserving "goat" not just the nearest person at hand. I liked that Niles recognizes the need for some integrity in the plotline, even in a prank. I found the plot of the whole story a little ridiculous, but who am I to argue with what kids love?

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this on a family road trip. It’s laugh out loud funny at times!