Boy/Girl Battle [03] - Boys Against Girls

The Hatford-Malloy feud continues in this fast-paced sequel to The Boys
Start the War and The Girls Get Even (both Delacorte, 1993). Their egos
still smarting from the humiliation they suffered on Halloween at the
hands of their female neighbors, the Hatford boys try to frighten them
with tales of the abaguchie, a creature of local legend. A funny series
of plans for revenge and retaliation from both sides follows.
Ultimately, the children call a truce when they are united by a common
cause-sharing a joke at their parents' expense. Although this title sums
up the background of the story clearly, it relies on the earlier books
for characterization. The girls come across as stereotypes-an athlete, a
bookworm, and an aspiring actress-and the boys are virtually
indistinguishable from one another. Nevertheless, fans of the previous
books will enjoy this installment.

The Hartford brothers cannot imagine spending Thanksgiving dinner with
the Malloy sisters as the practical jokes and rivalries between the two
families continue.