From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-Valentine's Day is coming and love is in the air between Beth Malloy and Josh Hatford. When they are seen holding hands, Josh tells his brothers that he's simply spying on the girls to see what tricks they're plotting. Beth's younger sister Caroline wants to know what falling in love is like, and chooses Wally Hatford as the object of her affections. As for big sister Eddie, all she's interested in is her sixth-grade science project and reluctantly teams up with Josh and Jake. The result of their collaboration leads to confusion and mayhem, making for yet another entertaining and hilarious tale. Characters interact and converse on a level that young readers will appreciate. Plot development revolves around a series of misconceptions and misunderstandings about love and romance. A subplot involving a mysterious creature known as the "abaguchie" is the catalyst that tests the youngsters and brings them closer together as the brothers and sisters vow to watch out for one another. Misconceptions are resolved, apologies made, and the Hatfords and Malloys are ready for yet another adventure. This lighthearted, fast-paced story will delight fans of Naylor's earlier titles.Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NY Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 4-6. In the sixth book about the Malloy girls and their neighbors, the Hatford boys, nine-year-old Caroline Malloy decides to fall in love, to the great annoyance of her chosen victim, classmate Wally Hatford. In the meantime, Beth Malloy and Josh Hatford are in the throes of true puppy love, to the disgust of Josh's twin, Jake. Younger brother Peter enjoys the role of go-between, faithfully delivering to Beth a Valentine chocolate box--filled with candies left after a prolonged stop for a snack. Add to that a mysterious animal stalking the town, Eddie's spectacular science-experiment flop, and two police visits to the Malloy's house. Fans of the series will enjoy the controlled chaos that ensues when, once again, the Hatford and Malloy children find themselves involved in each others' plans and pranks, despite parental warnings to stay away from each other. Naylor delivers another page-turner in this humorous series, set in West Virginia. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

ANNOTATION

Are Beth and Josh really in love or just pretending to be in order to spy and continue the feud between the Malloy sisters and the Hatford brothers?

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Valentine’s Day is coming up and love is in the air between Beth Malloy and Josh Hatford. When they are spotted holding hands, Josh tells his teasing brothers that he’s simply spying on the girls to see what they’re plotting next. When Caroline Malloy decides she must know what it’s like to fall in love, too, poor Wally Hatford is in for it!

Meanwhile, big sister Eddie couldn’t care less about that mushy stuff. All she cares about is her sixth-grade science fair project. But when she comes up with a great plan, Josh and Jake Hatford horn in on her project. On the day the plan goes into action, little do the boys know that Eddie has a trick up her sleeve. And with daredevil Caroline’s amazing attention-getting stunt, trouble is sure to follow. Get ready, the Malloys and Hatfords are at it again!

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Valentine's Day is coming and love is in the air between Beth Malloy and Josh Hatford. When they are seen holding hands, Josh tells his brothers that he's simply spying on the girls to see what tricks they're plotting. Beth's younger sister Caroline wants to know what falling in love is like, and chooses Wally Hatford as the object of her affections. As for big sister Eddie, all she's interested in is her sixth-grade science project and reluctantly teams up with Josh and Jake. The result of their collaboration leads to confusion and mayhem, making for yet another entertaining and hilarious tale. Characters interact and converse on a level that young readers will appreciate. Plot development revolves around a series of misconceptions and misunderstandings about love and romance. A subplot involving a mysterious creature known as the "abaguchie" is the catalyst that tests the youngsters and brings them closer together as the brothers and sisters vow to watch out for one another. Misconceptions are resolved, apologies made, and the Hatfords and Malloys are ready for yet another adventure. This lighthearted, fast-paced story will delight fans of Naylor's earlier titles.-Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Kirkus Reviews

Nine-year-old Caroline Malloy is green with envy; her ten-year-old sister, Beth, is in love. As a budding actress, Caroline wants the experience of love or tragedy just to add to her repertoire. Fans of the series about these neighbors will roll with laughter as she attempts to force Wally Hatford to fall in love with her. When a new sweater doesn't get a wild reaction, she seeks out the juiciest valentine and signs it "Achingly yours," with rows of X's and O's. The oldest sister, Eddie, thinks only about the upcoming sixth-grade science fair; for her project, she sets out to prove that boys are more gullible than girls. She capitalizes on her town's present fear of the "abaguchie," the nickname they've given to a mysterious creature that prowls around the vicinity after dark. If Eddie claimed she'd captured the abaguchie in their garage, would more boys or girls come to see it? Ever the actress, Caroline designs a fearsome abaguchie costume and the girls hand-stuff secretive invitations in their schoolmates' pockets. Unaware of the premise, the Hatford boys are even enlisted to record the names and ages of those who attend. The results delight the girls—twice as many boys as girls show up, proving that boys are the more gullible sex. Beth's beau, Josh Hatford, tries to deny his interest in Beth to save face with his brothers, but when he enlists the help of his youngest brother, Peter, to deliver a box of Whitman's chocolates to Beth's door, the results backfire. The description of Peter deftly breaking into the box to nibble and poke away at chocolate after chocolate while the girls watch in disbelief from a safeoutpostwill make the reader's sides hurt. All in all, a terrific sequel to a long list of winners. (Fiction. 9-12)