Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist: Frantastic Voyage by Jim Benton Grades 3-4 112 pages Aladdin April 2006 Paperback     Hold on for a laugh-out-loud adventure! Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist, has developed a doomsday device, but her dog accidentally ate it. As time ticks to an explosive eternity, Franny concocts a mad scheme to retrieve the deadly contraption. Although there are astronomical odds against her succeeding, this junior whiz kid adds a little fizz to fix things. The results are absolutely explosive. Author Jim Benton not only has a sense of humor; he also has a true sense of what young readers like in a story. The plot is fast-paced and the characters are realistic enough to be funny. The humor is written to appeal to the target audience, which means that burping and wedgies may grace these pages. But it’s all in the name of fun, and this book excels in that. Franny’s love of science steers the story, while her michievous nature provides a unique twist. In a completely cool way, she is a hero to her readers. Her intelligence gives her power over situations and allows her to think of highly creative solutions. The offbeat use of science to control her environment makes her one interesting kid. Frantastic Voyage is perfect: long enough to accommodate a compelling story, yet short enough to read in an afternoon. Most noteworthy are the illustrations on every page. In an age where young readers are accustomed to visual cues, these drawings add that element while also promoting reading skills. The hilarious and hi-tech high jinks of Franny K. Stein will keep preteens reading and laughing for hours!       web reviews   Joyce Handzo/2006 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)