Help ID a young adult book from the plot summary

[stm177]

I remember reading a series of books when I was much younger, and I'd like to buy them for a kid relative.

In the book, a family is in California around 1900. The books focus on the two brothers. One of the brothers has a nickname -- maybe the Brain or the Ace. He's smarter than his brother, and is always running scams to make money.

For example, when he goes off to boarding school, he figures out a way to sneak off campus and buy candy. He then brings it back and sells it to the other boys in the dorm. He also builds an amusement park, and a gets to drive a train.

It's youth comedy adventure, and it's all printed text. There aren't any pictures, except for maybe the cover and a cartoon drawing at the beginning of each chapter.

[MeklorIlavator]

I believe that the older brother is called "the brain", and I think that the name is in the title, but beyond that I really don't remember anything else of note about the books.

[SurlySeraph]

The Great Brain (http://www.amazon.com/Great-Brain-John-D-Fitzgerald/dp/0142400580/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204246972&sr=1-1), perhaps? Note that it's a series. All of the ones that I read were good.

[Raistlin1040]

The Great Brain. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Brain)

[Bookman]

....I've been simu'd but....


Bow to zee bookseller!:tongue: (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?ATH=John+D%2E+Fitzgerald)

[stm177]

Yes, thats the one I remember! Thanks!