A Traitor Among the Boys - (Boy/Girl Battle) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Paperback)

About the Book

After all the trouble at Christmas, the Hatford boys make a New Year's resolution to treat the Malloy girls like sisters. But who says you can't play tricks on sisters? The girls are willing to pay with homemade cookies for advance information. But which boy has loose lips?

Book Synopsis

The Hatford boys' New Year's resolution is "the girls can stay . . . but only if they play by our rules." Their mother insists that they "treat those girls as though they were your sisters." Okay, but somehow the boys' interpretation owes more to sibling rivalry than to brotherly love. The one weak link is young Peter, who doesn't understand the rivalry, openly likes the girls, and sees nothing wrong with sitting in their kitchen eating homemade cookies and answering questions about his brothers' plans. Readers will find themselves laughing out loud at the pranks, the conversations, and one unforgettably embarrassing moment. The high-flying humor is juxtaposed with the budding affection between Josh and Beth and the way all the children pull together during a blizzard. The fifth entry in Naylor's refreshing series chronicling the feud between the Hatfords and the Malloys.

From the Back Cover

After all the trouble at Christmas, the Hatford boys make a New Year's resolution to treat the Malloy girls like sisters. But who says you can't play tricks on sisters? The girls will need to stay one step ahead of the boys, and are willing to pay big-time for advance information. Homemade cookies should be all it takes to make a traitor spill the beans. But which boy has loose lips?

Caroline's horrified about sharing her birthday with her enemy Wally, but is thrilled with her role in the town play. Don't ask how Beth, Josh, and Wally get roped into it -- just wait until showtime, when Caroline pulls her wildest stunt yet! As each side wonders how far the other will go, they unexpectedly find themselves facing a blizzard and worrying about their parents' safety. That's when the lights go out!

Review Quotes

"The high-flying humor is juxtaposed with . . . the way the children pull together during a blizzard." -- Booklist

About the Author

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor knew at a very early age that she wanted to be a writer. She began her career writing short stories for magazines and has since authored more than ninety books for children. Though Mrs. Naylor grew up in Ohio, she sets many of her books in West Virginia. The boys-girls battle series is set in Buckman, West Virginia, a town modeled after Buckhannon, West Virginia, where her husband spent most of his growing-up years. Mrs. Naylor has enjoyed accolades from young readers all across the country, and she has won numerous awards. She was honored with the Newbery Medal for her novel Shiloh.

Born
January 4 in Anderson, Indiana

Previous Jobs
Clinical secretary, teacher, editorial assistant

Hobbies
Writing, reading, singing, playing the piano, hiking, swimming, theater, and snorkeling

Favorites
... foodsanything chocolate
... clothespants and shirts, or gypsy skirts
... colorsjade green and blue
... booksbooks by Southern authors and books about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary
situations

Inspirations for writing
Absolutely everything that ever happened to me and anybody else, all mixed up with imaginings!