Number Four in a series; collect them all. What can I say about this collection? Probably the highlight is when the Patterson family take a vacation out to Manitoba to visit John's sister and her family on the farm. Not only do we get a whole mess o' farm jokes, but it's also the first time in the strip--for me, that is--that Ms. Johnston strikes a deeper chord. When I read those strips, I'm reminded of my own childhood trips out to visit my rural relatives--not in detail but rather in feeling. It's a quality of writing which takes For Better or For Worse above your typical comic strip.
--J. ( )

In this 4th "For Better or For Worse" collection, Michael is eight and Lizzie four, the family goes to Uncle Danny and Aunt Bev's farm for the first time, and Phil and Georgia move in together, much to Elly's dismay ("Does MOM know about this?"). Mike is bullied by Brad Luggsworth. Elly gets a paid job at the library. Michael gets a crush on Deanna and gives her a mushy valentine. I wonder if Lynn Johnston had a feeling they would marry someday? ( )