ME AND MY LITTLE BRAIN

by John D. Fitzgerald ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1971

When a fellow has been the victim of every confidence trick in the book, he gets to be pretty darn sharp himself. So sharp, I was positive I could step right into Tom's shoes."" Same time, same place -- turn-of-the-century Utah -- but The Great Brain has gone off to boarding school and J.D. at nine doesn't have the knack, or as he says, ""If Papa was right about a fellow profiting spiritually from failure, I'd soon become the holiest kid in the world at the rate I was going."" Deduction: ""the best way to begin to know myself was by admitting that I only had a little brain, and the best way to start being myself was to stop trying to imitate my brother Tom."" J.D. is a splendid storyteller and quite the hero in his own more corrigible right, e.g., when it comes to ""Curing Frankie's Mental Block"" with a swiftly cathartic spanking; and he's not above feeling tenderness toward that fiercely loyal four-year-old whom his parents adopt and whose life he, J.D., saves. ""Me and my little brain, with God's help. . . had put a dangerous outlaw and killer behind bars. Me and my little brain had made me the richest kid in Utah and got me a new bike. But best of all, me and my little brain had got me a younger brother who I thought was just about the greatest in the world."" What he lacks in grey matter he makes up in heart, J.D. does -- he's a ham and worthy rival to his sibling.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1971

ISBN: 1442013451

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dial

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1971

Categories: FICTION