Dave Barry is a comic genius, and this book, written together with the co-author of Peter and the Shadow Thieves, is a laugh-out-loud masterpiece. It all centers around a science fair in a middle school where the rich, spoiled-rotten kids who always get their way, normally win the prize. This time the prize is bigger than ever, and so the rich kids cheat by getting their parents to bring home top-secret, classified technology from work, and endanger civilization as we know it to use in their projects, made for them by a local genius who is willing to do anything for a price. Unfortunately, they are all being manipulated by a mysterious person from a foreign country who fully intends to send the U.S.A. back into the stone age with this science fair.The main character and middle-school every-boy, Toby, is a character that anyone can love and identify with. No one takes him seriously. Other kids make fun of him relentlessly. He has a friend named Micah, better known by his nickname, "Mucus", who intends to levitate a frog. He has a girlfriend named Tamara who sees the holes in every plan he makes and points them out at the worst possible times. He has already committed some grievous errors that he deeply regrets, but cannot change. Like I said, just like me. (Although my friend levitated eggs at the science fair and I had no girlfriends.) You will love this book if you love to laugh... in fact, you will love it if you only like to laugh a wee little bit. Heck, you'll laugh even if it kills you to do so. After helping to run our middle school's 5th annual science fair, I was obligated to read this book. For all science teachers and school administrators, this book is a must read. It is truly a cautionary tale of anything and everything that could go horribly wrong and impact national security. Bravo to Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, who are at it again! I love reading about the middle school students who find themselves reluctantly taking on bullies, the rich kids, the overbearing teachers and administrators, the clueless parents, the overly ambitious parents, the befuddled authorities, and bewildered "tourists". All that and a ton of Starbucks, a confused frog, a very scary owl and spider, lots of Diet Coke, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile. There is lots more to discover. You need to read the book.
What do You think about Science Fair (2008)?
I love this book! It's so funny how those dudes r obsessed with Star Wars!
—SookieQuinn
Funny but intense. A book that can make you laugh out loud!
—Spiaust
Just didn't grab my interest enough to finish it.
—kellybeans3
