SuitabookGirls rule!
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
- Reading
- Read a few chapters together or check in after the contest is introduced; this can help you gauge the rivalry’s tone and the money-making schemes.
- Themes
- Rivalry and teamwork: The Malloy girls and Hatford boys try to outdo one another in the fundraising contest. The rivalry is a clear part of the setup, but the outline does not show whether it is playful, hurtful or resolved through cooperation.
- Fundraising and reward: The children aim to raise money for a new children’s hospital wing; those reaching the stated target can choose between parade participation and strawberry treats. The contest links helping a hospital with a personal reward, but the story’s view of that arrangement is not clear.
- Worth knowing
- Rivalry between the two groups is central. How sharp or friendly it feels in the scenes is not clear from the plot outline.