History Literature / TheGreatBrain

* {{Ponzi}}: Tom tries the beginnings of a mini Ponzi scheme in Book 8 between him and JD. The scheme involves Tom getting JD to buy whole sale soap from him, that he can then turn around and sell door to door at a markup, which, Tom predicts, he won't be able to do, because regular soap is significantly cheaper. Thus, Tom makes money as the "middle man" and JD gets stuck with a product he can't sell. JD does manage to find buyers for all his soap, and after Tom makes an attempt to sell the soap himself he takes some petty revenge on his brother by telling JD's buyers that JD over-charged them.

* {{Ponzi}}: Tom tries the beginnings of a mini Ponzi scheme in Book 8 between him and JD. The scheme involves Tom getting JD to buy whole sale soap from him, that he can then turn around and sell door to door.

Tom "TD" Fitzgerald, the titular "Great Brain", is an extremely smart child who balances his time between playing [[KidDetective detective]] and coming up with various [[ZanyScheme schemes]] to con the local kids out of their money and possessions. His brother [[AuthorAvatar John "JD" Fitzgerald]] [[FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator narrates TD's various adventures]] and spends most of his time being the ButtMonkey of the series. Other major characters include TD and JD's older brother Sweyn; their adopted brother Franky; their parents; their adoptive Aunt Bertha; their Uncle Mark (who is the town marshal), and [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a couple of dozen or so neighborhood kids and their various family members]].

* AlternateContinuity: The Great Brain books are not exactly canon with the two adult novels. Numerous details about the town and characters contradict each other between the novels and the Great Brain, and several Fitzgerald family members are completely absent from the Great Brain series.

** This is one of the main themes of the sixth book. Tom is under a suspended sentence of one year of the silent treatment, with the suspension to be revoked if Tom is found to have swindled any other kid during that time. Tom carefully frames his schemes and bets in such a way that he can argue that his victims understood what the rules of the bet were and knowingly entered into them, thus nobody can prove he was dishonest and they cannot revoke his suspended sentence. Harold Vickers, the teenaged judge who presided over Tom's trial, agrees and even points out that the victims were foolish when they agreed to the bets.

* FateWorseThanDeath: The "silent treatment", JD's family's ultimate punishment. For a period of time determined by the inflicter, you are treated as though you don't exist. It is presented as being utterly crushing, which is now known to be TruthInTelevision. However, after their first use of the silent treatment on Frankie results in him running away into the desert to be rescued by a search party, they abandon the silent treatment altogether and punish the boys by withholding allowances and imposing extra chores.

* FateWorseThanDeath: The "silent treatment", JD's family's ultimate punishment. For a period of time determined by the inflicter, you are treated as though you don't exist. It is presented as being utterly crushing.

** Cal Roberts (from ''Me and My Little Brain''), kills two guards to break out of prison and seek revenge against the judge, prosecutor, and jury foreman who convicted him (with the jury foreman being Mr. Fitzgerald). Roberts tries to lynch the judge and then [[spoiler:kidnaps four-year-old Frankie as a hostage, planning to kill him afterward.]] He even makes a dismissive WeHaveReserves comment upon hearing that several of them have been killed in a shootout.

** Parley Benson frequently brags about his exploits and adventures. His friends quickly learn that he can back up all of his boasting with action, as he is highly athletic, used to a rugged outdoor life, and is implied to be one of the few kids in town who can match Tom in a fist fight.

** Jerry Stout, the town blacksmith, and Jerry Moran, Tom's best friend at the Catholic academy. The latter could double as a HilariousInHindsight [[WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry moment]].

* WeWantOurJerkBack: After Tom reforms, JD secretly wishes for him to return to his former ways, because the reformed Tom is [[GoodIsBoring boring]].

* RealityEnsues: Tom organizes a weekly raid on the Academy kitchen because he can't stand eating the regularly-scheduled serving of liver, and soon gets caught red-handed; of course the cooks would notice food disappearing from the pantry every week.

** Cal Roberts from ''Me and My Little Brain,'' kills two guards to break out of prison and seek revenge against the judge, prosecutor, and jury foreman who convicted him (with the jury foreman being Mr. Fitzgerald). Roberts tries to lynch the judge and then [[spoiler:kidnaps four-year-old Frankie as a hostage, planning to kill him afterward.]] He even makes a dismissive WeHaveReserves comment upon hearing that several of them have been killed in a shootout.

--> ''Buzz Beeler:''' Only one thing I hate worse than gre*ser, and that's a n*gger.

* AdultsAreUseless: Played straight most of the time. While the adults aren't completely incompetent, whenever something comes up its usually up to Tom to set things right. Lampshaded in the very first book, when Tom actually gives a speech to a crowd of adults about how "when the adults failed, I knew it was up to me to suceed". Subverted somewhat with the teachers at the academy, who prove to be fairly on the ball; Sweyn even warns Tom about this during their trip to the school, and agrees to not interfere with any schemes as long as Tom accepts all responsibility when (inevitably) he gets caught.

* BuryourDisabled: Narrowly averted when Andy Anderson loses his leg to gangrene and tries to kill himself with J.D.'s help. Neither attempt is successful to begin with, but Tom walks in on the two trying to hang Andy in the barn and offers-for a fee, of course,- to teach Andy to do his chores and play games with his peg leg.