When Beany's best friend temporarily defects to the flashy new girl in school, Beany is stuck with class "meany" Kevin as her science-fair partner. Beany has a couple of "very, very, very bad" days, but in tiny increments Kevin's anti-girl, aggressive veneer begins to crack. As in previous books, Beany is a believable, sympathetic character, and this series entry is accessible, funny, and true-to-life.

Gr 2-4 In an easy-to-read format, Brill tells the story of Julius Miller, aka Bronco Charlie, and how he came to be the youngest rider on the Pony Express. Beginning readers will be fascinated with the tale of this 11-year-old who fearlessly carried the mail through the mountains and forests, in the rain and in the darkness. With dialogue and events taken from Charlie's own stories, the book is an exciting bit of history that is fun to read. Realistic oil paintings depict wolves and shadows, showing the hazards of the adventure. Anne Knickerbocker, formerly at Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX