In this For Better or For Worse collection, I noticed that the status quo shifts from strips that are one shot gags, to strips that are part of a longer storyline. Most of the storylines involve day-to-day events--like a yard sale, Hallowe'en, a business trip for Elly, or John injuring his foot. They're all served up with the classic Johnston sense of humor, which makes for enjoyable reading.
--J. ( )

Michael, 8, goes on a plane trip by himself to visit his grandparents in Vancouver. John drops a 25-lb. frozen turkey on his foot, breaking it, and finds out that an accident like this elicits more stifled snorts of laughter than sympathy. John's assistant, Jean becomes pregnant and quits her job. Elly goes on her first business trip alone. Just another year in the lives of a family I've come to love through this strip. ( )