The Best Halloween Ever

Written incredibly well for a children's book with such depth of detail that it left me, an adult, in awe of Robinson's skill. Inventive and fun, The Best Halloween Ever is a joyful ride with pleasant tension, a cast of fully-realized characters, and many moments that make the book sing.

Because of all the mischief the Herdmans have caused on past Halloweens, the mayor declares there will be no trick-or-treating and no candy this year; instead, there will be a Halloween celebration at the school. When the Herdmans declare they won't come, all the other kids (and parents) breathe a sigh of relief...but the Herdmans' word can't be trusted, and through stolen costumes (and a stolen kindergarten slide) and previous years' stale candy, they create an unforgettable Halloween for all.

I read Best School Year and Best Christmas Pageant as a kid but I never knew there was a Halloween one! (We listened to the audiobook in the car, and partway through the first chapter, B - who had never read any of them - asks, "Is this whole show more book a roast of the Herdmans?") show less

This is the third book in the Herdmans series.....I've not gotten my hands on the second one yet, I'm waiting until I find a vintage copy, not a reprint.

The first book....The Best Christmas Pageant Ever...was written in 1972 ....this third one was written in 2004....and the huge time jump is very apparent. The entire vibe of the book is different....nicer, more politically/socially correct....not as raunchy or crass.

Robinson made a few errors in this one....she apparently forgot that for this series to work, and the Herdmans to still be children, we still need to be in the 70s....there were elements here that were definitely inaccurate for that time period ie; no child would have been paid $8 to babysit their brother for 2 hrs in the show more early 70s...same said little brother was dressed as a Chia pet...which wasn't even invented until 1977, and didn't gain widespread popularity until the 1982 release of the Chia ram...so a child could not have been dressed in this costume in the early 70s. There are some other blunders here as well, like candy mentions that wouldn't have been popular in this time period, etc.

I just feel this story wasn't as strong or humorous as the first....which is a huge disappointment for me because Halloween being my favorite holiday, I was very excited to read this.

Overall ... a cute and entertaining read....and still a recommended read for Halloween lovers and those familiar with this series....but, doesn't meet the expectations set by the first book. show less

After creating havoc at Christmas, the Herdmans are back. This time, their previous antics lead the town to cancel Halloween since the holiday has devolved into little more than the Herdman family laying in wait to beat up and steal unsuspecting trick-or-treaters candy.

This sequel to "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is a bit of a one-joke story, spread out over the course of a hundred or so pages. The central conflict is the Herdman's have led the town to cancel Halloween, which makes all the kids upset. Then, the town hatches a plan to have Halloween at the local school so they can control what's going on and in the hopes that the Herdmans won't find out or show up.

The strength of "Christmas Pageant" was while the Herdmans were the show more antagonists of the story, they had a human side and flashes of being more than just a bunch of surly bullies. And that's not quite the case here, where the entire book is spent talking about how horrible they are. It does lead to a nice little moment at the end involving the Herdmans and years of stolen Halloween candy, but the moments leading up to it are a bit repetitive and difficult to stomach.

Had I not read "Best Christmas Pageant" I might be more inclined to like this novel. Or maybe the big problem is this book is competing with the memory of enjoying "Pageant" in my youth. show less

The first two of Robinson's "Herdman's Tales" were, in my opinion, exceptionally well written and extremely funny. This one had all the earmarks of Robinson's touch but something was lacking in the punch! My boys and I felt it was not as good as the others. Still she is a very creative writer and it will not be a complete waste of time. If you have not read any of her stories about the infamous Herdman children, this will whet your appetite for more. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, is simply superb!

The notorious Herdman kids have stirred up plenty of trouble around town by the time school has started and the adults fear what could happen on Halloween. The mayor cancels Halloween "out of concern for public safety." While it means no worrying about the Herdmans, it also means no trick-or-treating or candy for everyone else. The principal announces an all-school event to celebrate Halloween in a controlled environment. None of the students are thrilled with the sanitized event since they'd rather trick-or-treat and also because their parents are involved. But count on the Herdmans to stir the pot at the party although it's never explained why they did what they did, which wasn't all that big a deal in the end.

I loved The Best Christmas Pageant Ever when I was a kid, so it was fun to catch up on the adventures of the Herdmans! The author has a wonderful grasp on a mature child's voice and thought processes. Really cute, but not as touching as "Christmas Pageant" of course.