The Terrible Two Get Worse: 02/28/16

The Terrible Two Get Worse by Mac Barnett and Jory John is the sequel to The Terrible Two. Niles and Miles feeling triumphant over the great cow stunt of last year decide to make this year at school even better.

Unfortunately their first prank gets Principal Barkin on permanent leave and his replacement can't be phased by pranking. Much like Nick in Frindle, Principal Barking Sr. knows the power of words to control behavior. Despite the best efforts of Niles and Miles they can't get him to acknowledge a single one of their pranks.

If the first book was all about Miles finding his place in the new school and coming head to head with a rival prankster, then book two is all about Niles, his once rival, having to cope with having everything he's worked for taken away.

Meanwhile, we get to see into the interesting family dynamic of the Barkins. Though Principal Barkin the Younger loves his job his method is completely different and more sympathetic than Principal Barkin the Elder. For a multigenerational family completely focused on being that town's elementary school principal it's also fascinating to see the Younger desperately trying to fill the void through hobbies.

I don't know if there will be a third one but if there were, I would read it. I suspect there won't be unless the pranking is taken outside the school. The Barkins now know too much about Niles and Miles.

Five stars

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