SCIENCE FAIR

Eighth-grader Toby Harbinger and his outcast friends would look forward to the science fair if it were a fair competition. However, every year the rich (and obviously brainless) kids submit wonderful projects they had about as much to do with as they did the creation of the Parthenon, and one of them always wins. Toby discovers how they’re doing it, but no one will believe him. Suddenly, someone is framing him for cheating. He’s suspended, then grounded, then arrested for terrorism. There’s more going on at this year’s science fair than anyone (except Toby and his friends) knows: Turns out fixing the fair might just save the country! Barry and Pearson, co-authors of numerous Peter Pan–based novels (Cave of the Dark Wind, 2007, etc.), turn their attention to our reality (sort of) with laugh-out-loud results. A wildly unbelievable page-turner that’s all the more fun for its over-the-top silliness, this is Carl Hiaasen’s Hoot (2002) on suspect mushrooms. The short chapters plus the promise of a sequel will please reluctant readers as well as those seeking laughs, suspense and floating amphibians. (Science fiction. 10-14)