Friend or Fiend?: With the Pain and the Great One Book

What s the difference between a friend and a fiend?

Jake is so embarrassed by a reading circle blunder, he vows never to speak in class again. Abigail believes she can no longer trust one of her best friends. Their teenage cousins have turned into fiends. And on the perfect snow day, who jumps on Jake and washes his face in snow? And who rescues him?


From the Hardcover edition.

Children's Literature

The ultimate sibling duo is back for another round of true-to-life stories in this popular series by beloved author Judy Blume. The book takes its title from the first tale, in which first-grader Jake makes an error while reading aloud in class and vows to remain silent forever when his best friend joins in the laughter. Who knew the letter "r" could wreak such havoc? Both the Pain and the Great One learn to appreciate their immediate family during a disastrous visit with cousins in New York. Abigail faces issues of friendship and plagiarism, and while she thinks she knows everything, in the end, Fluzzy the cat is the only one who knows the true story of the fateful night he arrived at Jake and Abigail's house. Delightful illustrations by James Stevenson bring to life the secondary characters and capture the essence of each story without overwhelming the text. A solid choice for independent readers, kids of all ages will enjoy the new adventures of the Pain and the Great One, who like most siblings have moments of sweetness offset by streaks of meanness. Reviewer: Keri Collins Lewis