Determined to actually get my book review up this month...
Title: Top Secret
Author: John Reynolds Gardiner
Genre: Children's Fiction
About the book...
Nine year old Allen Brewster has a science project to do and he is determined to be the winner of the silver trophy in school science fair with the topic of human photosynthesis. Presenting his idea to his teacher, though, she finds it ridiculous and assigns him the topic of lipstick instead. Determined to avoid that subject altogether, with some encouragement from his grandpop, scientific research, a decent amount of liver, and a lot of determination to prove to everyone who says he can't do it wrong, Allen sets out to turn himself into a plant with some very interesting results.
What I think...
This is a favorite from when I was in elementary school and is still just as good every time I revisit it as an adult.
It has just the right amount of science aspects to be realistic, while at the same time being very whimsical. This is the sort of children's book that sucks you in from the first few pages with Allen letting you know he's not actually supposed to be telling this story (it is "top secret"), but he's going to do it anyway, which sets you up for what to expect from his character. His persistent determination to prove to everyone who continues to tell him human photosynthesis is impossible despite his turning green, getting aphids, and starting to grow roots, is both heartwarming and hilarious.
I think one of the things I really appreciate about this book is that Gardiner's portrayal of Allen comes across as being very realistic. Allen very much responds to things like a child would rather than thinking about or approaching things from an adult perspective. He has a reasonable response to liver, thinks and responds to thinks with a child's rational, and is actively learning and acknowledges it, which makes him all the more endearing.
Marc Simmont was the perfect illustrator for this. Though there are relatively few illustrations each one captures the characters and the story perfectly and really adds to the overall charm of this book!
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| Got to add the liver! |
To sum it all up...
A quirky children's book about a boy determined people can photosynthesize that's sure to bring a smile to your afternoon!♥