The Terrible Two

Miles is not thrilled about moving to Yawnee Valley; it's so boring there that the most interesting thing to talk about appears to be COWS. Miles was a great prankster at his old school and has a notebook of his pranks, so he doesn't quite know what to think when the first day of school is marked by Principal Barkin's hatchback being placed at the top of the school's stairs, blocking the entry way! Barkin immediately accuses Miles, who is annoyed that he has to be in the company of Niles, the "school helper" who dogs his every step. Miles plans a huge prank-- he invites everyone to a birthday party of a cool kid who goes to another school... and doesn't exist. Sure enough, everyone talks about it, brings food and presents, and claims to have talked to Cody Burr-Tyler. Just when Miles is about to announce the prank and run off with the presents, Cody appears on stage and drives off with the presents in a limousine! The other prankster turns out to be none other than Niles, who claims that Miles is not a good prankster and offers to work with him. Miles refuses, and instead tries to outprank Niles, which fails miserably. Eventually, the two decide to work together against a common foe: Principal Barkin and his bullying son, who is running unopposed for class president.

Anything with pictures, and blurbed by Dav Pilkey and Jeff Kinney, is bound to be successful with middle grade readers, and this had enough humor to recommend it. Niles is an appealingly devious character who understands the necessity of stealth when pranking, and Miles is haplessly clueless but well meaning. The names are a bit goofy but not over the top, as are the situations. A must purchase title for middle school libraries.