Publishers Weekly
As in their George Did It, these smartly paired collaborators offer a behind-the-public-persona look at American patriots. In zingy prose, Jurmain tells how Thomas Jefferson and John Adams “were as different as pickles and ice cream” (the former was tall, thin, and quiet; the latter short, round, and loquacious). Yet she emphasizes that the two were best friends who worked together to shape America before parting ways when Jefferson backed the Republicans and Adams the Federalists. Entertaining anecdotes about both presidents’ personal and political lives are energized by Day’s lightly caricatured watercolor cartoons, which flesh out their personalities. Day depicts some scenarios with humorous exaggeration, as when Jefferson grabs Adams’s coattails to keep him from pummeling King George, and Adams stealthily carts his possessions out of the White House on the morning of Jefferson’s inauguration. In a heartwarming denouement, the two end an 11-year silence when Adams pens a conciliatory letter to Jefferson, later admitting, “You... had as good a right to your opinion as I had to mine.” This entertaining and character-driven slice of history also offers a clear message about friendship. Ages 6–8. (Dec.)
From the Publisher
"Feisty narration paired with amusing illustrations makes light of sticky situations . . . A pleasingly lucid look at a complicated relationship."—Kirkus Reviews
"Day's watercolor-and-ink illustrations brilliantly add humor to the narrative . . . Especially for Presidents' Day or as a vehicle for discussing friendship issues, Worst of Friends is a winner."—School Library Journal
"Illustrated with charming cartoon-like drawings that convey their personalities and pastimes, this nonfiction picture book tells tales of early America-in-the-making and also makes the point that best friends can have serious disagreements that lead to years-long separations but, in the end, make up."—Children's Literature
"This entertaining and character-driven slice of history also offers a clear message about friendship."—Publisher's Weekly
Children's Literature - Cynthia Levinson
Though John Adams and Thomas Jefferson looked entirely different—Adams was short and fat, Jefferson, tall and slender—and had different personalities—Adams was a loquacious jokester and Jefferson, a shy violinist—they were best of friends. Until they were not. They not only crafted the Declaration of Independence together but also traveled to Europe after the Revolution to solicit funds for the fledgling country. However, their differing views of the office of the president drove them apart, with Adams arguing for a sovereign-like leader and Jefferson arguing for a weaker one. Their disagreements grew when Adams was elected president and Jefferson his vice-president, infuriating their Federalist and Republican Party followers. Eventually, they stopped speaking. Only in old age did they finally reconcile. Illustrated with charming cartoon-like drawings that convey their personalities and pastimes, this nonfiction picture book tells tales of early America-in-the-making and also makes the point that best friends can have serious disagreements that lead to years-long separations but, in the end, make up. Reviewer: Cynthia Levinson
School Library Journal - Audio
Gr 2–4—Suzanne Tripp Jurmain makes early American history more accessible and our founding fathers more human for young students in her book (Dutton, 2011) about the friendship and feud between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. She profiles both the differences between these two men as well as the bond that grew between them as they worked together to forge a new nation. Problems arose over the question of balance of power: Adams believed that the president should be given more power, while Jefferson feared that a president who was too powerful might damage the new government. Their dispute was exacerbated when Adams was elected president, with Jefferson as his vice president, and their opposing political parties escalated the feud to the point of violence. When Jefferson defeated Adams for the presidency in the next election, it seemed that their friendship would be doomed. The book ends on a positive note, however, as the two did reconnect through a long string of correspondences, and they died on the same day. Richard Poe expressively reads this engaging, heartwarming tale with clarity and humor. By humanizing these two friends, rivals, and leaders, students will be better able to understand this segment of American history and the intricacies of our early government.—MaryAnn Karre, Horace Mann and Thomas Jefferson Elementary Schools, Binghamton, NY
School Library Journal
Gr 2–4—Many children know about our second and third presidents, but do they know that those men had a tumultuous friendship that spanned the beginning years of the United States? Cleverly humanizing them, Jurmain demonstrates that fractious politics are not a new phenomenon in America. The two men were best friends throughout the 1770s and '80s, helping to form a new nation. Problems began around 1790 when their different ideas about how the government should work caused a fissure. In 1797, they ran against each other for office. Although Adams became president and Jefferson vice-president, they each represented a different political party. Disagreements between the Republicans and the Federalists led to anger and even violence. After Jefferson became president in 1801, the distance between them grew even larger. Late in their lives, however, a truce was reached. From 1812 to their deaths on the same day, July 4, 1826, Adams and Jefferson maintained a warm correspondence. Day's watercolor-and-ink illustrations brilliantly add humor to the narrative. The design is ambitious and effective. The cover contains elements of the American flag framing Jefferson and Adams angrily arguing. Inside, the illustrations vary between full page and divided panels. Some backgrounds are white; others are filled in with details or a simple color wash. Spreads have scenes of high dramatic emphasis. Especially for Presidents' Day or as a vehicle for discussing friendship issues, Worst of Friends is a winner.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
Kirkus Reviews
Though John Adams and Thomas Jefferson "...were as different as pickles and ice cream," they were able to work together to fight for America's independence—for a while. In the late 1770s, they developed conflicting ideas about government and aligned with opposing political parties. When John Adams was elected as the second U.S. president, Jefferson was elected vice president. This exacerbated their rocky relationship, and when Jefferson was ultimately elected president over Adams, their friendship ended. Over a decade would pass before they spoke again. The team that created George Did It (2005) now brings to light both the trials and tribulations of these two notable leaders and the turbulence of early American politics. Energetic watercolor-and-pencil drawings accurately represent the late 18th century, showing the dress, style and architecture of the period. Feisty narration paired with amusing illustrations makes light of sticky situations, as when Jefferson physically restrains an angry Adams from assaulting King George and Adams moves himself out of the White House in the dead of night. Although quotations are not specifically sourced, the selected bibliography reveals a wealth of research, including several primary sources. A pleasingly lucid look at a complicated relationship, it should prove revelatory to an audience unaccustomed to such nuance. (Informational picture book. 6-8)
