Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist: Frantastic Voyage (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist: Frantastic Voyage Loretta Gaffney Benton, Jim Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist: Frantastic Voyage. Simon, 2005 [112p] ISBN 1-4169-0229-5$14.95 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 2-5 Franny K. Stein is a mad scientist with a problem—her lab assistant, Igor (who actually is only part lab; he's also part beagle, part spaniel and "possibly part some kind of weasly thing") has swallowed her Doomsday Device and, in the process of swallowing it, activated it. Now Franny must retrieve the device from Igor's stomach before it explodes and destroys the world. After considering her options—shoot Igor to the moon? Encase him in a concrete block? Perform emergency surgery?—Franny concludes that the only place to deactivate the device is inside—inside the dog, that is. Donning a special suit for protection against Igor's gastric juices, Franny shrinks herself small enough to enter through the dog's nose, embarking upon a journey through floating pieces of undigested food in Igor's stomach to disable the bomb. This fifth installment in Franny's ongoing mad-science adventures (beginning with Franny K. Stein: Lunch Walks among Us, BCCB 12/03) delivers all the brainy, action-packed, organic-substance-fueled fun fans of the series have come to expect. Aficionados of Captain Underpants and budding young scientists will enjoy the gadget-fueled journey through a dog's stomach, and Franny, fearless explorer of boogery dog noses, provides the perfect heroine for girls and boys who enjoy their grossout humor with a side of science. Final illustrations not seen. Copyright © 2006 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois