The Smartest Kid in the Universe

Starred review from September 1, 2020
Grades 5-7 *Starred Review* In a novel that less gifted writers would have spun into two at least, Grabenstein pits a trio of seventh graders against a new principal (leadingly named Mrs. Malvolio ) who is conniving with her tycoon uncle to get the shabby school shut down in order to replace it with a high-rise?and also to dig up the hoard of pirate treasure buried beneath it. Of the young folk, one is a budding wheeler-dealer in the game to provide comic banter and references to old TV detective shows, one belongs to a Latinx family that has been secretly guarding the treasure for centuries, and the third, Jake McQuade, is a total slacker who unknowingly downs an entire jar of what he thinks are jellybeans but are actually experimental knowledge- and intellect-enhancing pills. In the ensuing set of moves and counter-moves, the three team up to sweep a set of Quiz Bowl tournaments that give them bully pulpits to promote the value of their school and of public education in general while the bad guys try to scotch their efforts with laxative-laced brownies, planted evidence of cheating, and other ploys. The author crafts a conscientiously diverse cast for his multistranded crowd-pleaser and slips in snatches of dialogue in Spanish along with buckets of random facts and trivia.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Grabenstein is the author of the best-selling Mr. Lemoncello series, and this new volume, packed with wacky hijinks, will appeal to his legions of fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

September 15, 2020
A seventh grade slacker experiences a synaptic growth spurt. Grabenstein returns with another fact-filled, puzzle-packed, multigenre romp. This new series stars Jake McQuade, a freckled White 12-year-old who'd rather play video games and schmooze than exert himself in the classroom or on the basketball court. Everything changes when Jake accidentally chows down a scientist's jar of jelly beans imbued with Ingestible Knowledge, sending his IQ sky-high. Accompanied by brainiac buddies Grace Garcia, a Cuban American girl with a secret connection to Riverview Middle School, and Kojo Shelton, a Black science geek and aspiring detective, Jake soon finds himself navigating previously unimaginable scenarios. Sometimes the stakes are local: say, the Riverview Pirates' Quiz Bowl competitions. Sometimes they're a bit larger, like working with the Pentagon on military intelligence or cracking an interstate robbery on behalf of the FBI. All the while, malevolent school principal Patricia Malvolio is scheming with her uncle, real estate tycoon Heath Huxley, to bulldoze the school and erect a condominium, a project funded by a pirate treasure. Can Jake and his pals save their school--or is his brain blast bound to burn out? As always, Grabenstein's cast is more defined by caricature than characterization, and the collective is far stronger than any of its constituent parts. High-paced humor offsets nerdy digressions while light commentary on public education and academic effort lends a veneer of thoughtfulness. Clever, concise, and compelling. (puzzles) (Humor. 9-13)

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Starred review from October 1, 2020

Gr 3-6-Jake McQuade, a seventh grader at Riverview Middle School, doesn't consider himself to be lazy, just "exertion challenged." Jake's best friend is Kojo Shelton, a science geek who enjoys quoting old detective shows like Kojak. Jake has a crush on Grace, a smart girl whose family immigrated from Cuba. Jake's sister, Emma, is in fourth grade and attends a Spanish immersion school, leaving Jake dismayed that he can neither help Emma with her homework nor converse with Grace in Spanish. Jake and Emma's mom is the events coordinator at a hotel downtown, and when Jake goes there and eats a bowl of jelly beans, he unknowingly ingests absent-minded researcher Haazim Farooqi's career-long scientific experiment. Having eaten all of Farooqui's research into Ingestible Knowledge (IK), Jake instantly becomes the titular smartest kid in the universe. At first, no one knows why Jake suddenly spouts random knowledge about everything-from the history of Cheerios to the Philippines and its 7,641 islands-but he still doesn't understand Spanish. Farooqi dubs Jake "Subject One" and wants to study his newfound intelligence, but both are afraid to reveal what has happened as they aren't sure if/when/how it may evaporate. Meanwhile, Principal Malvolio wants Riverview Middle School closed down so she can sell the property to her uncle Heath the real-estate tycoon. When Riverview's dream team of Grace, Kojo, and Jake team up for the Quiz Bowl, their trifecta is challenged by Malvolio and Heath Huxley, whose nefarious plans involve digging up long buried treasure underneath the school, which technically belongs to Grace's ancestors. For the smart and heroic trio, it becomes a race against time to try to save the school, win the Quiz Bowl, find the buried treasure, and unearth the sinister motives of the evil duo. VERDICT Grabenstein delivers once again to his target middle-grade audience with a book that will appeal to even the most reluctant readers. There's something for everyone, from adventure to angst as well as puzzles and trivia. This introduction to a new series will leave readers ready for the next installment.-Michele Shaw, formerly at Quail Run Elem. Sch., San Ramon, CA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 5, 2020
After seventh grader Jake McQuade, a dedicated slacker, gobbles a jar full of jellybeans, he discovers that they were an experiment to convey “Ingestible Knowledge.” Thanks to an unprecedented combination of ingredients, he’s now crammed full of amazing new facts, figures, and trivia. His new knowledge assists him in joining the school’s quiz bowl team, searching for a legendary lost pirate treasure, and being recruited by the U.S. government to solve top-secret cases. It may also help save dilapidated Riverview Middle School from closure as part of the principal’s shady land development scheme. With this fast-paced romp, Grabenstein (the Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series) delivers a heartfelt, tongue-in-cheek tale packed with trivia. Jake, who is white; his Kojak-quoting best friend Kojo Shelton, who is Black; and his crush, academic-minded Grace Garcia, who is Latinx, make for an entertaining trio, facing off against rival quiz bowl teams and corrupt school administrators with equal aplomb. Episodic in feel, this amusing adventure also works as a humorous love letter to public education and dedicated teachers. Ages 8–12.