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I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President (by Josh Lieb)

common sense media says

Daily Show producer delivers pranks and yuks.

parents & educators say
See all 10 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that they'll find lots of pranks against students and teachers in this book, as well as plenty of sarcastic quips and negative words for others. But that's the brand of humor in this first kids book by one of the Daily Show executive producers, and in the end the book and the evil genius-main character show some heart.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: Though the book is mostly negative with regard to how other students, teachers, and Oliver's parents are characterized, it is clear that Oliver is just looking for approval from his father and his good heart wins out in the end.
Positive role models: Oliver is truly an evil genius. He uses money and intimidation to pull strings behind the scenes, but pretends to be slow in public. When he describes other people, it is always in a derisive way. Tatiana is a bully with a sweet side, befriending and dominating Oliver. Oliver's mother is portrayed as dumb and it's hard for Oliver to even admit that he loves her. His father is self-involved and unimpressed with the family. Teachers are either desperate to be popular and easily controlled, or ignorant and shrill. Sheldrake, the hired face of Oliver's empire, is a recovering alcoholic and the lone voice of reason and fatherly advice in Oliver's ear, though Oliver completely intimidates and humiliates him.
Violence: Lots of pranks directed at students and teachers and meant to be funny: darts that give gas, chemicals that give colds and rashes, a threatening dog, the air let out of tires, and violent dodgeball. Plus a kidnapping where a kid is strung up to play a Guitar Hero-like video game and a bomb dentonates but no one is hurt.
Sex: Liz has "developed early" and the book mentions that this is one reason she is the Most Popular Girl in School.
Language: A lot of mostly mild language is used ("fatso," "jumbo," "stupid," "dork," "turd," "crap," "butthead," and "boobs"), as well as a couple of instances of stronger words like "damn," "ass," and "slut." "Slut" is used in passing when the book talks about the fact that Liz has developed early, but she has escaped the negative label that is sometimes applied to girls like her.
Consumerism: Some brands are briefly mentioned: ChapStick, Fruit Roll-Ups, Fluffernutter,7-Eleven, Big Gulp, Rolls Royce, Elmer's glue, and No Frills market.  Captain Beefheart figures prominently as Oliver's favorite musician. Oliver plays a video game similar to Guitar Hero, but it is not called by any name. Other bands, such as the Jonas Brothers, Cream, and Lynyrd Skynyrd are mentioned.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: One teacher smokes cigarettes, but it is clear that smoking is supremely uncool. Sheldrake is a recovering alcoholic and attends AA.
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More on I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about father/son relationships. Oliver could have anything he wanted, but why was this election so important to him?
  • Why do you think Oliver didn't want "Daddy" to know the truth about his life as an evil genius?
  • Do you think Oliver hated "Daddy" as much as he said he did?
  • What was Oliver's motivation for trying to win the election?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Oliver is a 12-year-old genius and one of the richest people in the world. He lives undercover as a below-average student with his air-headed, coddling mother and self-involved father. When he's still a baby, Oliver sees that his father will only love him if he's intelligent. He doesn't want his intellect to be the feather in his father's filial cap, so he pretends to be dim and ridiculous. When his father fondly reminisces about his own election to the office of class president, Oliver decides to rob his father of his good memories by showing him that any idiot can become class president. Oliver proceeds to use intimidation, money, and blackmail in order to try to win the election.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
I AM A GENIUS OF UNSPEAKABLE EVIL AND I WANT TO BE YOUR CLASS PRESIDENT is funny and outlandish. Kids will love the dynamics of Oliver's double life as a tough, successful billionaire and a chubby, hapless dimwit. At the heart of it, Oliver just wants his father's love, but on his own terms, not as a reward for his supreme intelligence.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Josh Lieb
Publisher: Penguin Group
Publication date: October 13, 2009
Number of pages: 304
Hardcover price: $15.99
Read Aloud: 10
Read Alone: 10
This review was written by Abby Aldrich
 
 

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Review I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President

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Most useful reviews by all members

uhya
teen, 13 years old
9
 
so funny mixed with mild language
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (5)
everest108
teen, 13 years old
12
 
super funny
funny book, quick read.
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (3)
Texx
teen, 15 years old
11
 
probably a tweens book any older than 14 should probably be reading something a little bit mor mature
Its an okay book but not a noticeable favorite.
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (4)
Zenon Dextra
kid, 13 years old
10
 
It is a great book, can't figure out how it ends, though
Liked it. I read it when i was 11 and for some reason,even though i read the end =ing, i have no idea what happens. I have tried reading it over again, but for some reason, my head doesn't register what I'm reading.
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Zach314159
teen, 14 years old
10
 
NOTE:
Borrow it. Do not buy it. I read it in two days.
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (3)
tetones
kid, 11 years old
10
 
It is a really great book about a boy with a cover.
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (4)
parents
adult
11
 
Not worth anyone's time when there are so many great books on the shelves!
Story about an awful child without a moral conscience. Our entire family was listening to this book on tape and after listening to more than 2/3's everyone from the 13 year old to the 9 year, felt compelled to turn it off. Evil is really not attractive.
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (2)
BrainChild101
teen, 14 years old
11
 
Laughable, Teen-Oriented Fun!
A great book for tweens and teens with very crude tween-oriented humor. Mild language, but nothing too bad. Not good role models, but a great (and fun) read. Pictures are hilarious! The third richest man on earth is... a twelve year old boy! He is a genius who humors himsef by acting flat out stupid. He hires a man to be his cover, and has his own empire. He can get anything he wants... but how about a school election?
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Mrs. Larson
educator and parent of 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , and 15 year old
11
 
I think boys of this age will find it quite humorous. It reminds me of a non-fantasy Artemis Fowl. The ending was a bit disappointing in how blunt it was. Wish the language wasn't there. There are better out there, but there are also worse if you're trying to engage a reluctant reader.
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avidcritc
teen, 17 years old
10
 
not believable enough
I have no problem reading books geared to ten year olds, but I found that the huge suspension of disbelief required for this one distracted me from the story. The fact that Oliver is a billionaire is barely explained, and not at all convincingly. Artemis Fowl comes to mind as an example of the opposite end of the spectrum. Eoin Colfer pulled off the twelve-year-old-millionaire-genius thing very well. Josh Lieb, not so much.
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