Mitch and Amy (School & Library Binding)

~ (Author) "Mitchell Huff's day began like any other summer day-with a squabble with his twin sister Amy..." (more)
Key Phrases: eucalyptus buds, skate board, kickball game, Alan Hibbler, Miss Colby, Bernadette Stumpf (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Probably only a parent of twins could create soconvincing a pair as nine-year-old Mitch and Amy. -- -- The Horn Book

"With humor and warmth, Mrs. Cleary explores the underlying pride, jealousy, and attachment of her twin characters." -- -- Chicago Tribune --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description

Double Trouble

Mitch and Amy both think being twins is fun, but that doesn't stop them from squabbling. Amy is good at reading. Mitch is a math whiz. Amy likes to play pretend. Mitch would rather skateboard. They never want to watch the same television show. And they always try to get the better of each other.

Then the school bully starts picking on Mitch -- and on Amy, too. Now the twins have something rotten in common: Alan Hibbler. This twosome must set aside their squabbles and band together to defeat a bully!

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• School & Library Binding: 288 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881032697
• ISBN-13: 978-0881032697
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,789,534 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I read it then, I read it now, January 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mitch and Amy (Paperback)

This was my favorite book back in third grade. It told the story of two twins, totally different, named Mitch and Amy. Mitch was good at math but was awful at reading. Amy loved to read but couldn't get multiplication. Mitch preferred riding on homemade skateboards. Amy enjoyed reading Laura Ingalls Wilder with her best friend Marla. They were in the fourth grade where "TV in school" was a big deal, and girl scouts was Amy's afterschool activity. And they were totally different nine year old kids who didn't have anything in common. Except for Alan Hibbler, class bully and a pain in the neck to both Mitch and Amy. Because of him, the two kids might as well have something in common.

I read it then and still read it; wishing even now that Bev Cleary had written a sequel - wouldn't it be funny to see where Mitch and Amy ended up? But its a good book in its own. The new covers for all her work only attract more readers -- and the book alone just still appeals to me.... and hopefully to you, too.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two versions, March 28, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Mitch and Amy (Paperback)

There are actually two versions of this book- an newer one with illustrations by Alan Tiegreen, who has been doing the illustrations for Beverly Cleary's books since the 70's, and the original, which had illustrations by George Porter. I guess Mr. Porter was the intermediate link between Tiegreen and Louis Darling, the illustrator of Mrs. Cleary's books in the 50's and early 60's. It's a matter of personal taste over which illustrations are better. I grew up reading the version with Mr. Porter's illustrations, which depicts the characters as definitely children of the 1960's. On the other hand, Mr. Tiegreen's depictions of Beverly Cleary's characters are less realistic looking, but because of their rather cartoony appearance are not as susceptible to looking as dated as those by Porter and Darling.

Beverly Cleary always took experiences from her own life to include in her books, but "Mitch & Amy" is probably the most personal of her fictional books. She, herself, was the mother of boy-girl twins and actually lived in the San Franisco setting of the book. Maybe because it was about two subjects so close to her real life, her twins and her adopted hometown, that she never did a follow-up story. Thus, "Mitch & Amy" is one of Mrs. Cleary's very few "stand-alone" books.

It's the story of a twin sister and brother, Amy and Mitchell, who live in San Francisco. Despite their shared birthday, they are seemingly exact opposites who constantly squabble with one another. However, deep-down there is a very strong bond between the two of them and each one truly understands the other. Sometimes they forget that bond. Yet when a bully targets each twin individually, the two of them bond together to help each other overcome this mutual menace.

This is a typical Cleary novel- told with her usual sense of humor and wonderful ability to capture what really matters to children. Regardless of whether the illustrations show Porter's 60's era children with their flat-top haircuts and short pants or Tiegreen's pug-nosed characters, most kids will probably enjoy reading about these two regular kids who just happen to be twins.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anyone 9-12 should read this book!, October 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mitch and Amy (Paperback)

You should read the book Mitch and Amy because it is a great book! This book is about a pair of twins(Mitch, Amy) who always fight. But then a school bully named Alan Hibbler start's bugging Mitch and then he bug's Amy too! This book is realistic and it shows that there are more important things to do than fighting. This book also will teach you lessons you'll never forget!