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Boy/Girl Battle #6
A Spy Among the Girls
Valentine’s Day is coming up and love is in the air between Beth Malloy and Josh Hatford. When they are spotted holding hands, Josh tells his teasing brothers that he’s simply spying on the girls to see what they’re plotting next. When Caroline Malloy decides she must know what it’s like to fall in love, too, poor Wally Hatford is in for it!
Meanwhile, big sister Eddie couldn’t care less about that mushy stuff. All she cares about is her sixth-grade science fair project. But when she comes up with a great plan, Josh and Jake Hatford horn in on her project. On the day the plan goes into action, little do the boys know that Eddie has a trick up her sleeve. And with daredevil Caroline’s amazing attention-getting stunt, trouble is sure to follow. Get ready, the Malloys and Hatfords are at it again!
Meanwhile, big sister Eddie couldn’t care less about that mushy stuff. All she cares about is her sixth-grade science fair project. But when she comes up with a great plan, Josh and Jake Hatford horn in on her project. On the day the plan goes into action, little do the boys know that Eddie has a trick up her sleeve. And with daredevil Caroline’s amazing attention-getting stunt, trouble is sure to follow. Get ready, the Malloys and Hatfords are at it again!
144 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2000
24 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
245 books1,035 followersPhyllis Reynolds Naylor was born in Anderson, Indiana, US on January 4, 1933.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
Her family were strongly religious with conservative, midwestern values and most of her childhood was spent moving a lot due to her father's occupation as a salesman.
Though she grew up during the Depression and her family did not have a lot of money, Naylor stated that she never felt poor because her family owned good books. Her parents enjoyed reading stories to the children--her father would imitate the characters in Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer--and her mother read to them every evening, "almost until we were old enough to go out on dates, though we never would have admitted this to anyone."
By the time Phyllis reached fifth grade, writing books was her favorite hobby and she would rush home from school each day to write down whatever plot had been forming in her head - at sixteen her first story was published in a local church magazine.
Phyllis has written over 80 books for children and young people. One of these books, "Shiloh," was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1992, was named a Notable Children's Book by the American Library Association and was also Young Adult Choice by the International Reading Association.
Naylor gets her ideas from things that happen to her or from things she has read. "Shiloh" was inspired by a little abused dog she and her husband found. The little dog haunted her so much that she had to write a story about him to get it out of her mind.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 23, 2021
these books are literally hilarious tbhhhhh
August 5, 2017
When Caroline's older sister Beth is in love Caroline feels she must too. She chooses Wally Hatford and when he says he definitely does not like her she pulls a prank that gets both families in big trouble. Caroline is a 9 year old actor so there is lots of drama included. This was a funny exiting book.
March 4, 2019
I read this because my second grease daughter gifted it to me. I suppose the story is fine, and I understand the boy/girl tension and the appeal of a budding romance to a young audience. I was shocked, however, when one of the characters pretends to kill herself and it's laughed off as a prank. Self-help and suicide aren't funny. To see it treated so casually is disturbing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2017
This book does include the Malloy girls arguing with and disrespecting their parents about a decision they made, but other than that this book is cute and I like getting to see more involving some of the other kids besides just Caroline and Wally.
November 2, 2008
The Malloy sisters, Eddie (Edith Ann), Beth and Caroline have a love/hate relationship going on with the Hatford brothers, Wally, Jake, Josh and Peter ala the famous feud: Hatfields vs. McCoys. Beth and Josh are 'in love' even though not one of these seven kids is beyond 6th grade. Schemes are concocted, plans go awry and trouble brews when their collective heads come up with hair-brained ideas that get the whole lot into a ton of trouble. Both sets of parents forbid the siblings from having anything to do with each other...until a real live mysterious wild animal, a so-called abaguchie, threatens their neighborhood. Humor blossoms, friendships are repaired and all is well in West Virginia, well for the moment anyway.
February 7, 2018
It's the season of love, with Valentine's just around the corner. Beth Malloy and Josh Hatford are in love, to the disgust and suspicion of their siblings, so to cover things up, Josh pretends to be doing it in order to spy on the girls.
Other hijinks include a gullibility test, sightings of the abaguchie, and a final crackdown by the two families' parents, forbidding the boys and girls to see each other, in an attempt to cut down on the craziness. This fails of course, because the two lovebirds can't stand it.
Caroline drives me crazy most of the time, but her antics in order to get in on the love bug were pretty funny.
This is a great series, both to enjoy an afternoon as an adult, and for youngsters.
Other hijinks include a gullibility test, sightings of the abaguchie, and a final crackdown by the two families' parents, forbidding the boys and girls to see each other, in an attempt to cut down on the craziness. This fails of course, because the two lovebirds can't stand it.
Caroline drives me crazy most of the time, but her antics in order to get in on the love bug were pretty funny.
This is a great series, both to enjoy an afternoon as an adult, and for youngsters.
September 20, 2012
Thoroughly and completely enjoyed this series, which I read to my daughters through Nov & Dec at bedtime. Love, love, love Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for elementary aged readers. Love, love, love this series for the Brady-bunch era of hijinx between children... Love, love, love that neither the boys nor the girls are clear-case winners of the "war", though, my daughters do believe there was a winner. Whole-heartedly recommend as a family read and to all elementary-aged readers.
May 2, 2017
Best One Yet
Who says enemies can't become friends or even more? I really think this book of the boy/girl battle was the best. I think it's just funny and thoughtful, and it reminds me of when I was young. You are never too old to read a "young adult" book. I think they are so much fun.
Who says enemies can't become friends or even more? I really think this book of the boy/girl battle was the best. I think it's just funny and thoughtful, and it reminds me of when I was young. You are never too old to read a "young adult" book. I think they are so much fun.
February 24, 2011
This book is about a group of boys and girls who love to mess around.They get in trouble together.They like to hang out together.One day though this creature starts to show up in town and that's when some trouble starts for the town and the kids themselves.
November 8, 2014
Awesomest book ever
this book is a really good book with thrills and do much more I like this book because it brings back abaguchie a lot more and I am so loving this whole series because they can relate to girls and boys.
this book is a really good book with thrills and do much more I like this book because it brings back abaguchie a lot more and I am so loving this whole series because they can relate to girls and boys.
December 22, 2022
3 stars
Aww the romance between Josh and Beth ramp up. And Wally has to suffer from Caroline wanting to experience love. Eddie and Jake get into a fight for the best science fair project. Continues to be so much fun.
Aww the romance between Josh and Beth ramp up. And Wally has to suffer from Caroline wanting to experience love. Eddie and Jake get into a fight for the best science fair project. Continues to be so much fun.
February 4, 2008
this book is so cute.
June 6, 2008
Love it
November 30, 2010
What i think about this book is it was funny and a little bit boring.
But it a nice book for kids to read that are age 11,12,13 but not for people that are age 9 and 10.
But it a nice book for kids to read that are age 11,12,13 but not for people that are age 9 and 10.
May 23, 2012
Great little series for girls. Don't need to be read in order.
This time love is in the air during Valentine's Day. The girls play a hoax on the boys to find out if girls or boys are more gullible.
This time love is in the air during Valentine's Day. The girls play a hoax on the boys to find out if girls or boys are more gullible.
October 27, 2015
Fun, kids will enjoy it. I remember loving these books when I was in middle school. I started rereading s couple to see if its something my kids would enjoy or not.
March 28, 2013
I mean it was good no doubt about it. Good characters nice story and all. It just was not my favorite book in the world is all.
November 9, 2014
I really am loving the series!
April 5, 2016
Very entertaining series. This was one of the better ones (but they're all good).
March 2, 2021
2.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2013
Good book.
December 11, 2014
It was amazing!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews