Gr 2-5-As summer winds down, inquisitive, impatient Cody is having trouble fitting in all her vacation plans. Fortunately, her best friend, Spencer, is coming to live with his grandmother. She won't hesitate to enlist his help, especially with spying on mysterious neighbors the Meens. Yet, when school begins, Cody's control disappears-friend-to-all Pearl joins Spencer in a duet for orchestra class, leaving Cody feeling left out, and the Meen girls live up to their name. The turn of events cause Cody to confront difficult situations such as jealousy and bullying. However, as time passes, Cody finds answers to a few of life's mysteries, such as the fact that acts of kindness can dissolve anger. Solid narration is provided by Natalie Ross as she captures the highs and lows of growing up. -VERDICT A delightful story about a charming chatterbox that will inspire young listeners' curiosity-ask, seek, and find! ["Kids who enjoy series with a standout voice will embrace this well-written offering": SLJ 4/16 web review of the Candlewick book.]-Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In this second Cody story, Cody's best friend Spencer and his parents move in next-door with his grandmother GG. Unfortunately for Spencer and Cody, they aren't the only kids in the neighborhood. New neighbors Molly and Maxie Meen the children of the mysterious Mr. Meen seem intent on living up to their last name. Will they ever be able to all get along? This sequel displays Springstubb's knack for understanding the ever-shifting questions held by readers this age as their awareness of the universe around them grows in leaps and bounds. Brimming with charm, delight, and a diverse cast of characters.--Barnes, Jennifer Copyright 2016 Booklist