Monday, February 6, 2012

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable


BUT first the winners of the MG Mash up Giveaway:

The Cabinet of Earths goes to:

Barbara Watson

The Invisible Tower goes to:

Charlotte

cheers ladies.

I found my MMGM pick on my last book binge. I needed to get Dan Gutman's chapter book series My Weird School and found The Genius Files. While I read it this week, my girls were constantly asking about the characters and wanted to know what was happening. I wouldn't answer directly because I want them to read it. Lore is loving The Invisible Tower but she wants to read this book next before
. I can understand why, the cover is intriguing and the book doesn't disappoint.

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman
Published in 2011
Other books in this series:
Never Say Genius (#2) releases Jan 24 2012 (I must have just missed it during my binge)

Other books by this author:
My Weird School series (chapter books)
The Million Dollar series
A Baseball Card Adventure series
The Homework Machine
The Kid Who Ran for President

The Hook: Just before summer break, mysterious men attempt to kill the twins, Coke and Pepsi. Why? That's what Pep and Coke want to know. As their family travels across country the twins narrowly escape many attempts on their life and discover they are recruits for a top secret government agency TGF: The Genius Files.

Why I loved it: Adventure and characters. When the main characters are named Coke and Pepsi McDonald, do I really need to say anymore? Still, Gutman delievers relatable, lovable characters. My daughters could not get over the names, they thought it was so funny and would want me to tell them more about the kids. Plus the story is a rolling adventure and completely entertaining. Gutman also throws in lots of random facts about different places and things in America--educationally entertaining. I would recommend this to boys, girls and, more importantly, reluctant readers. The action and pacing will keep kids reading. And the best part is the second book in the series just released, so I guess I'll have to go by the bookstore this week.

Want More? Visit Dan Gutman's webpage. It has a fun Genius Files book trailer on the homepage.

So here's a deep thought for you (since the kids are genius smart and my husband and I just watched Limitless on Netflix this weekend): if you could use 100% of your brain, essentially becoming a super genius, but would be crippled by some sort of physical deformity (think Stephen Hawking), would you still do it?

Do you like my term "super genius," clearly I fit into that category (wink). I'm not going to lie, ultimate brain power and knowledge is on my wish list, I think I would take it with the deformity. My husband thinks I'm crazy. But a little crazy is a good thing, right?




11 comments:

  1. I'm thrilled to win The Cabinet of Earths. Thank you.

    Intriguing series. And no, I would not want to be a super genius--I'd be expected to have all the answers, something I've never aspired to have. :-)

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  2. Congrats to the winners! And hmmm....no on the super genius. I like working for all the answers, lol! Good question....!

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  3. Dan Gutman is a genius himself!

    I'd choose being an ordinary Joe over being a supergenius trapped in an unworkable body. I need to be able to run!

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  4. Congrats to the winners. And this sounds like a fun read. Love the character names.

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  5. I have to move around or I go nuts! So I'd have to reluctantly pass up the super genius stuff. Unless... I would become smart enough to figure out a cure!

    Dan Gutman is a writing machine. When he came to the bookstore two years ago, at that point he had written 97 books. And he's around my age. Sheesh! Guess he's up to 100 by now. He does have a nice breezy style and his books are always fast-paced, but I got tired of My Weird School after two or three books because it's just a formula. I love The Kid Who Ran For President, though, so maybe I should read these books. Thanks, Brooke!

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  6. Hadn't heard of this one...sounds like lots of fun. Mmm...brains or braun...I like learning so much, if I couldn't learn I would be bored. I'm also a very fidgety person, I have to move.

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  7. Oh, this book sounds like a lot of fun! I'll have to look for it.

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  8. This is a great MMGM pick. My son and I both loved it! :-)

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  9. This is a great MMGM pick. My son and I both loved it! :-)

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  10. hi miss brooke! id didnt hear of this book before but for sure it sound pretty cool. im putting it on my wanna read list. thanks for a cool review.
    ...smiles from lenny

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  11. Sounds like another one to add to that list of TBRs that's trailing off my desk. As to the choice between super genius and limited physical capacity, I'd have to remain in the dunce corner.

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