The Great Brain Audiobook By John D. Fitzgerald cover art

The Great Brain

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The Great Brain

By: John D. Fitzgerald
Narrated by: Ron McLarty
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The Great Brain is Tom D. Fitzgerald, aged 10. The story is told by J.D., a sometimes confounded but always admiring younger brother. Such people as Mr. Standish, the mean schoolmaster, regret the day they came up against The Great Brain. But others, like the Jensen kids lost in Skeleton Cave, Basil, the Greek kid, or Andy, who has lost his leg and his friends, know that Tom's great brain never fails to find a way home.

©1967 John D. Fitzgerald (P)2002 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group Action & Adventure Historical Historical Fiction Humorous Fiction Literature & Fiction Funny Witty

Critic reviews

"The strength of [Tom McLarty's] narration comes from his storyteller's ability to build each adventure with suspense, warmth, humor, youthful indignation, and the matter-of-fact tone that Tom maintains through each crisis." (AudioFile) "A lively, funny and not infrequently touching book written with flair." (Saturday Review)
Nostalgic Childhood Stories • Entertaining Family Adventures • Excellent Narration • Compelling Moral Lessons
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I read these books as a kid and now my four kids love the Great Brain too. Highly recommend!

A classic, fun for the whole family!

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I liked the games that they played Like kick the can
And baseball was cool

Tom

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This book was a delight for our whole family (kids 8 and 10). It sparked interesting discussions on a variety of topics. The reader really made the book come to life and the story was compelling.

Great listening

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I had originally read this book when I was in grade school. listened to this book with my second-grade son and it has been fun he said, "Kids really can do anything if they just think about the problem!" Entertaining to see the problems and opportunities of a small town play out.

Great Book for All

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One of my favorite stories as a kid and fun to revisit as an adult. Perfect narrator for this story as well!

Great as a kid, fun revisiting!

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I read these books as a 9 year old and identified with both JD, and The Great Brain.
Now almost 40 years later I'm reading them as an adult and loving them all over again!

I loved these books as a kid

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enjoyed listening on long drive to Oregon from SoCal. listened again on the way home

listened twice... that good

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book is part of my series of books I remember reading as a kid, and now am rereading to view them from a different perspective. I find facinating that while the story I loved as a kid, the story that captures the essence of childhood play and wonder, is as I remembered it, as an adult I can still enjoy it, while also taking intellectual interest in how life was different back at the turn of the (last) century. We take so many things (like toilets) for granted that it gives us a new perspective to see life without them, or see them as new and marvelous. I find the change in perspective helps me find the magic in that which is around me.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Wanted to? I did! Long drive, good book....

Any additional comments?

Waiting for the rest of the series.

The magic of childhood

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Though this wasn't a terrible read, the book was just a little strange and a different read then what I normally get. I was a little baffled by the end because of the all of the all of a sudden ending and J.D helping Andy commit suicide but ahh... anyways. The story was alright and an overall funny read. 4/5 is my overall rating on this book because it was good.

Not Bad!

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These are wonderful stories of old-town America. Your kids will love them and you will too!

Excellent, old-fashioned fun

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