The Boys Start the War
Encyclopedia
The Boys Start the War is the first of many novel
s in a series of children's books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
. The series is centered on two families, the Hatfords, who have four sons, Jake, Josh, Wally, and Peter, and the Malloys, who have three daughters, Eddie, Beth, and Caroline. The names Hatford and Malloy are probably a reference to the Hatfields and McCoys
, actual West Virginia families who famously carried on a feud. The Malloys are temporarily staying in a house across the street to the Hatfords, which was once owned by a family of boys(the Bensons) who were best friends of the Hatford boys.
The Hatford boys resent the girls for taking their place, and the children of both families begin playing pranks
on each other, without letting their parents know. Subplots in the series include the children trying to capture a loose cougar that has been frightening people in the town, Caroline's overdramatic behavior and aspirations to become an actress, Josh and Beth's brief love affair, Jake and Eddie's rivalry but obvious crushes on each other. The books take place in the fictional town of Buckman, West Virginia
, which is based on the actual town of Buckhannon
.
A film, The Boys Start The War, was made based on the story.
Books in the series:
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s in a series of children's books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is an American author best known for her children and young adult fiction books. Naylor is best known for her children's-novel trilogy Shiloh , Shiloh Season and Saving Shiloh, all made into movies...
. The series is centered on two families, the Hatfords, who have four sons, Jake, Josh, Wally, and Peter, and the Malloys, who have three daughters, Eddie, Beth, and Caroline. The names Hatford and Malloy are probably a reference to the Hatfields and McCoys
Hatfield-McCoy feud
The Hatfield–McCoy feud involved two families of the West Virginia–Kentucky back country along the Tug Fork, off the Big Sandy River. The Hatfields of West Virginia were led by William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield while the McCoys of Kentucky under the leadership of Randolph "Ole Ran'l" McCoy....
, actual West Virginia families who famously carried on a feud. The Malloys are temporarily staying in a house across the street to the Hatfords, which was once owned by a family of boys(the Bensons) who were best friends of the Hatford boys.
The Hatford boys resent the girls for taking their place, and the children of both families begin playing pranks
Practical joke
A practical joke is a mischievous trick played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being fooled into handing over money or...
on each other, without letting their parents know. Subplots in the series include the children trying to capture a loose cougar that has been frightening people in the town, Caroline's overdramatic behavior and aspirations to become an actress, Josh and Beth's brief love affair, Jake and Eddie's rivalry but obvious crushes on each other. The books take place in the fictional town of Buckman, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, which is based on the actual town of Buckhannon
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Buckhannon is the only incorporated city in, and the county seat of, Upshur County, West Virginia, United States, and is located along the Buckhannon River. The population was 5,725 at the 2000 census. Buckhannon is home to West Virginia Wesleyan College and the West Virginia Strawberry Festival,...
.
A film, The Boys Start The War, was made based on the story.
Books in the series:
- The Boys Start the War
- The Girls Get EvenThe Girls Get EvenThe Girls Get Even is a children's novel by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor published by Random House, originally in 1993. The paperback is ISBN 0-440-41842-9 and it is also available as an e-book. It is part of the Boys Against Girls series. It is also issued in a double format with The Boys Start the...
- Boys Against GirlsBoys Against GirlsBoys Against Girls is the third book in a series of children's books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor which began with The Boys Start the War. It was published by Dell or Yearling Books and originally by Delacorte Press in 1994...
- The Girls' Revenge
- A Traitor Among the Boys
- A Spy Among the Girls
- The Boys Return
- The Girls Take Over
- Boys in Control
- Girls Rule
- Boys Rock
- Who Won the War?