Norah Piehl (Children's Literature)
It is the dog days of summer, and siblings Jessie and Evan are divided about how to spend their last few days before school starts. Sometimes, his younger sister Jessie rubs Evan the wrong way, especially now that she is skipping a grade and will be in the same class as him. The two could not be more different. Jessie is great at school (especially math), but she has a hard time understanding people and sometimes makes poor social choices. Evan, on the other hand, is a master of “sweet talk” but cannot do a complicated math problem to save his life. So when the two siblings, in the wake of a hurtful argument, open rival lemonade stands to settle a bet about who can make more money, their different skills come into play in a big way. Jessie and Evan’s relationship is portrayed in a humorous but realistic way, fights and all. The novel effectively combines math (especially money), economics and marketing to make a suspenseful, subtly educational plot that goes down as easily as a cool glass of lemonade in August. 2007, Houghton Mifflin, $16.00. Ages 8 to 12.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 7))
Told from the point of view of two warring siblings, this could have been an engaging first chapter book. Unfortunately, the length makes it less likely to appeal to the intended audience. Jessie and Evan are usually good friends as well as sister and brother. But the news that bright Jessie will be skipping a grade to join Evan's fourth-grade class creates tension. Evan believes himself to be less than clever; Jessie's emotional maturity doesn't quite measure up to her intelligence. Rivalry and misunderstandings grow as the two compete to earn the most money in the waning days of summer. The plot rolls along smoothly and readers will be able to both follow the action and feel superior to both main characters as their motivations and misconceptions are clearly displayed. Indeed, a bit more subtlety in characterization might have strengthened the book's appeal. The final resolution is not entirely believable, but the emphasis on cooperation and understanding is clear. Earnest and potentially successful, but just misses the mark. 2007, Houghton Mifflin, 192p, $16.00. Category: Fiction. Ages 8 to 10. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2007)
Evan is horrified that his younger sister is skipping third grade and joining his class. In the last days of summer, they compete for who can make the most profit selling lemonade. The plot heavy-handedly works in business theory and math. However, the sibling relationship is sensitively drawn, and readers will be invested in who comes out on top. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2007, Houghton, 177pp, 16.00. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.

Leta Tillman (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 20, No. 3))
Right before school begins in the fall, Evan discovers that his younger sister, Jessie, will be in his fourth grade class. Though lacking in social skills, Jessie is especially gifted in math skills and other class work. During the summer, the teachers decided that she can skip third grade, and Jessie is worried about being accepted by the other children in the class. Evan is people-smart but struggles with his schoolwork. Normally, the siblings are quite compatible and complement each other with their different abilities. Evan is uneasy about having his “little” sister in the same class and the fact that she will do better than he will. Therefore, the lemonade war begins. They each are determined to earn more money than the other does before school begins. The competition heats up before they finally admit to each other what is really bothering them. Each chapter begins with a business-oriented definition such as “Negotiation: A method of bargaining so that you can reach an agreement.” The book concludes with a poster of “Ten Tips for Turning Lemons into Loot by Jessie and Evan.” Davies does a great job of showing the strengths and weaknesses of the siblings. He also proves how the two can have different points of view on the same situation. The results are a funny and entertaining novel with likeable characters. This will be a great book to use with reluctant readers. It will make a great addition to a fiction collection for this age group. Fiction. Grades 3-5. 2007, Houghton Mifflin, 173p., $16.00. Ages 8 to 11.