The Triple Chocolate Brownie Genius. Deborah Sherman. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2007. 151 pp., pbk., $11.95. ISBN 978-1-55455-035-7. Subject Heading: Science fiction. Grades 5-7 / Ages 10-12. Review by Jane Bridle. *** /4

excerpt:

Triple chocolate brownie delight. The cause of all my problems. Would an apple have made me the most hated guy at J.R. Wilcott Middle School? I doubt it. Would a muffin have put me in danger of being the first impeached school president? No way. A slice of pie, an orange, or even a butterscotch chocolate vanilla swirl pudding would have worked. Anything but triple chocolate brownies. With one bite, my life as the most popular president of J.R. Wilcott was over.

Smart but lazy underachiever Michael Wise decides to run for school president in an effort to evade math class by attending school council meetings. When he devours a chocolate brownie accidentally embedded with a nanochip loaded with knowledge and culture, he becomes a “brainiac” to the astonishment of his family, friends and teachers.

     In a complete turnaround, Michael wakes up one morning to whip up a gourmet breakfast for his family, solve a sophisticated math theorem and translate his French dialogue with a flawless accent in Swahili, Gaelic and Mandarin. His math teacher, Mr. Papernick, is so astounded by his new star pupil that he decides to raise the bar for the rest of the class and piles on the homework.

     Michael consequently becomes “Mr. Unpopular” and the soon-to-be-impeached president of the school. When Mike’s loyal friends cook up several ways to try to deactivate the chip and get him back to normal, hilarity ensues.

     Adults will get a chuckle if reading this book aloud, and slackers and overachievers alike will relish the humour in this novel aimed at middle school students.

     Deborah Sherman, who is also a teacher, captures the contemporary dialogue of “tweens” and creates some memorable characters in her first book for children.

Recommended.

Jane Bridle is a librarian at Winnipeg Public Library in Winnipeg, MB.

NEXT REVIEW |TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - November 23, 2007.