Collection or Series

The Great Brain

John D. Fitzgerald,

Set in the early 1900's in Utah, this is the story of 10-year old Tom, aka The Great Brain, told by his admiring younger brother. The Great Brain is enterprising, always up to a new plan to make money, a boon to his friends and a terror to his enemies. It reflects the positive, American, can-do sense of life, with no elements of political correctness intruding. Example: A commentary on toleration approaches the problem of being bullied from a position of strength, noting that because the narrator and his brother are capable of defending themselves, they enjoy a lot of toleration, observing "It was just a question of us all learning how to fight good enough ... After all, there is nothing as tolerant and understanding as a kid you can whip."

The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald. Ten-year-old Tom D. Fitzgerald is known to everyone as The Great Brain. J.D., The Great Brain's sometimes confounded but always-admiring younger brother, tells his story. Such people as Mr. Standish, the mean schoolmaster, regret the day they came up against The Great Brain. But others, like the Jensen kids lost in Skeleton Cave, Basil, the Greek kid, or Andy, who has lost his leg and his friends, know that Tom's great brain never fails to find a way home. (Publisher's summary) (ages 7 to 10)
More Adventures of the Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald. Tom appeared to have reformed, but thankfully he is back in this second book in the Great Brain series, as clever and scheming as ever. (ages 7 to 10)
Return of the Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald. Tom Fitzgerald, alias The Great Brain, is back, struggling to stay reformed now that his friends have threatened to ostracize him if he pulls even one more swindle. But his brother J.D. knows Tom's reformation is too good to be true, and as a reformed Great Brain makes for a dull life, J.D. is not altogether unhappy – or blameless – when his brother's money-loving heart stealthily retums to business as usual. Under the watchful eyes of parents and friends, Tom has to be craftier than ever, and indeed he is. Whether he's cleverly pulling an out-and-out swindle so as not to be caught or solving a train robbery and murder, Tom's Great Brain never fails. (Publisher's summary) (ages 7 to 10)
The Great Brain Is Back by John D. Fitzgerald. Although bedazzled by pretty Polly Reagan, thirteen-year-old Tom Fitzgerald's great brain and money-loving ways haven't changed a bit. (publisher's summary) (ages 7 to 10)

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The Great Brain