Henry and Beezus (Henry Huggins #2) by Beverly Cleary

★★★★½

*** Warning: This review contains spoilers! ***

Isabelle emphatically wanted to give this book 5 stars, and I probably would have given it 4 stars, so I'm compromising with 4 1/2.

The book it titled Henry and Beezus, and Beezus does have a nice supporting role, but their relationship wasn't exactly a focal point, like the way the relationship between Beezus and Ramona was a central concern in Beezus and Ramona. Scooter McCarthy is probably mentioned more often than Beezus, though Henry's relationship with Scooter is kind of about friendly one-upmanship, and perhaps not title-worthy. Going into this book, I thought maybe it would be more about Henry and Beezus planning stuff together, or getting into trouble together, but more often than not, Beezus just happened to be there, or she - and Ramona - tagged along while Henry resigned himself to their company, or at best was indifferent. Still, any time Beezus was involved, she invariable came to Henry's aid or otherwise supported him in some way. I think she was a good friend to Henry, and I wish the book had explored that friendship more, and maybe even had Henry seeking out and enjoying - or at least appreciating - her company more often.

Also, one detail at the end of the book bothered me, and I'm not sure if I missed something, or what. Henry was embarrassed to win a bunch of beauty salon coupons at a raffle, but was then quite pleased with his prize when he realized that his mother and her friends would buy the coupons off of him. The thing is, Beezus was the first to offer to buy a coupon for a free permanent wave (I love how dated the book is!) - Henry had won 2 such coupons - and she was thrilled when Henry said yes. But then later, Henry's mother and Scooter's mom offer to buy the same coupons for more money, and the implication is that they get the coupons - so Beezus is left with nothing! But the book doesn't even mention Beezus getting shafted, so it seems like that point was entirely overlooked...

Anyway, other than those two shortcomings, it really is an enjoyable book. Henry is on a quest to own a bicycle, and I love how he exhibits patience and resourcefulness as he goes about earning the money himself. Of course, Isabelle says her favorite thing about this book is that Henry gets his bike!