Popular Clone

Gr 4–7—Fisher Bas is a middle school genius. The son of Nobel Prize-winning parents, the geeky 12-year-old spends his days avoiding the school bullies that he refers to as the Vikings. The friendless kid dreams of hiding out at home and playing video games, working in his lab, and snacking on Cheetos. Then one day, after a particularly terrible week at school, Fisher steals a touch of his mother's experimental Advanced Growth Hormone (AGH) and clones himself. Fisher Two is sent off to attend school and does all the things Fisher hates. But things quickly spiral out of control as Two becomes popular at school, bringing attention to himself and Fisher. Ultimately, Two is kidnapped by a mad scientist who wants to steal Mrs. Bas's formula, and Fisher must embark on a daring plan to save his clone and the AGH. This is an over-the-top, action-packed, adventure with wacky humor and outrageous science that should appeal to listeners looking for some zany fun. Joshua Swanson's narration of M. E. Castle's novel (EgmontUSA, 2012) is excellent, providing just the right tone for the story and giving the characters unique voices that suit their personalities. His reading will quickly pull in listeners and keep them hanging on until the wildly explosive conclusion.—Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT