The second book in the Bone series by Jeff Smith, "The Great Cow Race"carries on the saga of the Bone cousins, Smiley Bone (clueless), Fone (smart and honest), and Phoney (lying schemer) after they've been kicked out of Boneville. They've found their way to a valley where Fone is living with Grandma Ben and her grandaughter, Thorn, who Fone has a crush on. Phoney and Smiley are working for Lucius, the village Bartender, because of bad behavior, but are far from reformed--they're too busy trying to con the whole village out of their life savings by setting up a betting racket for the big cow race. The Bone cousins are also being chased by rat creatures, although they have yet to figure out why, and Thorn has a mysterious past that she is slowly starting to remember that might be the answer to everything.
This has a little something for everyone. There is humor galore, some more sophisticated, but definitely humor kids can appreciate, too. Although the Bones aren't human, their plights are very relatable. Fone's crush on Thorn and his desire for her to know, coupled with his insecurity about his looks are something that most kids (and adults) feel at some point. There can also be a moral of sorts taken from the Phoney and Smiley storyline, that cheaters never prosper, although I'm not sure kids would just think of this on their own. Overall, a fun, engaging read for tweens...and their parents!
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