The McVentures of Me, Morgan McFactoid

November 15, 2015
Morgan McCracken combats bullying by using his head instead of his fists. When this fails him, he runs. Why is he getting bullied? Partly because he's a redhead. Also, he's one of those 13-year-olds who has already developed facial hair. And he prefers hanging out in his garage attic, his McFactory, where he does his thinking, dreaming, and inventing, rather than hanging out with other people. Except, maybe, the girl across the street, Robin Reynolds. When his bully problem pales in comparison to his family's money problems, Morgan tries to think of an invention that could solve all his problems. An anti-hair-growth formula seems like it might do the trick. He'd no longer get teased for having a five o'clock shadow, and he'd make enough money to keep his family from losing their house. But none of his chemical solutions do anything except give him rashes. And then something happens that makes Morgan's anti-hair-growth solution work...only not the way he planned. Television writer and producer Waxman offers a mix of pitch-perfect dialogue and wild scenarios. The chase scenes, romance, and corporate finagling seem a tad too unrealistic, even in a book dependent on unlikely events, while Morgan is an odd combination of naivete and worldliness. Despite these drawbacks, kids will find the book entertaining. An antic-filled romp through the trials and tribulations of a young inventor's exciting life. (Fiction. 9-13)

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March 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-Thirteen-year-old Morgan McCracken is out of the ordinary. He has red hair and 203 freckles. He is also an inventor/genius whose brain is loaded with data he calls "McFactoids." And he is the only boy in middle school who shaves. Needless to say, he is the prime target of the school bully. Morgan tries to invent a potion that will solve his hair problem and make him rich and famous at the same time. In his tricked-out lab, known as his "McFactory," he inadvertently invents a potion that temporarily grows hair on just about everything. He enlists the help of his secret crush and the girl next door, Robin. This whimsical story moves at a brisk pace, and the writing is clever. Waxman integrates enjoyable science facts into the prose, such as "the muscle that lets the human eye blink is the fastest muscle in your body. It allows you to blink five times a second. I bet you're trying it right now." Beyond the goofy premise and interesting STEM ties, it's the defined message of self-acceptance that sets this story apart. Morgan eventually discovers that science is not the answer to every situation. Kids will root for Morgan as he makes tough choices. VERDICT A solid purchase; ideal for reluctant readers and those interested in science.-Sada Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

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