The Lemonade Wars is a five-book series by author Jacqueline Davies. The series follows the childhood and early adolescent experiences of siblings Evan and Jessie Treski. The series is known for its ability to explore the complexity of children’s and young adolescents’ emotions. Throughout the series, Evan and Jessie each have a set of skills they rely on. Evan is the people-smart one whereas Jessie struggles with understanding feelings and is more math-oriented (The Lemonade War, Jacquelinedavies.net). In the first book, The Lemonade War, Jessie and Evan find themselves at odds as they compete to see who can sell more lemonade in five days.

While The Bell Bandit reads as a standalone text, it is interesting to consider within the larger context of The Lemonade Wars series. The Bell Bandit is the third and middle book in the series. As such, it sets the stage for important turning points in overall character arcs. The Bell Bandit explores Jessie’s and Evan’s individual growth and development as they face the challenges of their grandmother’s memory loss. They each must face this new reality, and with it comes uncomfortable learning experiences and growth opportunities that will shape them for the rest of the series.