The Great Brain

When I opened the store, I was surprised and disappointed to find that only the first three of the original seven Great Brain books are still in print. There may be no kids' books I remember more intensely and thoroughly, and when I've gone back to them since, the elements I loved are still there: the evocative setting of turn-of-the-century Utah, the humor, the tolerance and—dare I say it—morality, and, of course, the fascinating and flawed character of Tom, the Great Brain himself, who was modeled, obviously, on Tom Sawyer (as well as the author's brother), but who is so vivid a figure that when I finally turned to Twain's Tom later, he seemed a pale imitation. (Ages 7 to 11)