By Jacqueline Davies

Published: 2007

Word Count: 27,392

AR Level: 4.1

AR Level: 4.0

I suggest 3rd through 6th

Sibling rivalry takes a heated twist in this classic story about a brother and sister in a battle to make the most from their lemonade sales. Family dynamics, friendship, and fun math—yes, fun math–all drive this story to an intriguing end.

Why it’s relevant

Kids surely love stories with unique situations, even maybe fantastical ones. But both of my kids enjoy a good contemporary story that uses very real life as its sole source of conflict. In this, a brother and sister relationship that has grown heated at the end of a hot summer will feel very close to home for many readers.

Why readers will like it

My son likes math. Not every kid does, but let’s face it, most of them have to deal with it on a daily basis at school. Not only is this book intriguing and full of realistic conflict, but the score for the lemonade battle is kept through the main characters learning about profit and revenue in a very fun, simple way. For math lovers, it’s a win-win. For those who are less enthusiastic about numbers and formulas, at least this book makes it accessible and interesting.

What writers need to know

This book is what I might call lower middle grade. The writing doesn’t feel overly complicated, and the relationships are portrayed in a straightforward way. Yet, plenty of nuance exists in this book, and it may be worth reading twice–first for the overt narrative, then for subtlety. This story doesn’t have a big word count–but it tells a full story.

Here’s the book on Barnes and Noble.