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Science Fair

(2008, Fiction - Humor, Written by Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Both hilarious and fast-paced -- a great vacation read.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Toby risks a lot to keep the terrorists from winning, even when no one believes him and it lands him in deeper and deeper trouble. Some of the humor comes from the depiction of a fake third-world country, but the authors make the country's traditions and government so silly, it's hard to take offense. Toby sells one of his dad's Star Wars keepsakes behind his back to buy himself a computer, but he definitely pays the price for this. Depicts parents of affluent kids as willing to do anything -- especially cheating -- and get anything -- like top-secret technology -- to help their spoiled kids win the science fair; not one of the ME (manor estates) kids is remotely nice.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Plenty of chase scenes involving middle schoolers, the FBI, and crazed Star Wars fans, both on foot and in cars. A terrorist plot involves creating widespread panic through power outages across the country, with the end goal of disabling the U.S. government.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Diet Coke, Mentos, an iPhone, the Wienermobile, Barbie, and Star Wars all play roles in the story, plus there are plenty of mentions of Starbucks and Google. Two bumbling spies get credit cards from the home shopping channel and buy up as much stuff as they can, even if they don't know what it is.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    A mention by one stressed dad that he needs a drink.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Science Fair

Parents need to know that this story involves a terrorist plot to cause widespread panic through power outages -- the motives are silly ones, however, and not revealed until close to the end. A fake third-world country is also depicted in a very silly manor -- both its government and customs. The main character, Toby, makes some bad calls -- like selling his dad's Star Wars stuff behind his back to buy a computer -- but in the end he tirelessly tries to save the country, even though no one will believe him. The affluent kids at his school are all depicted in a negative light, cheating on their science fair projects and getting their parents to acquire top-secret technology to complete them. There are plenty of chases and escapes, none too scary, and many products play prominent roles in the story like the iPhone, Diet Coke, and Mentos.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Toby's decisions. Why do you think it was so hard to tell his parents that he sold their Star Wars stuff, yet he came forward when he knew there was cheating -- and worse -- going on at the science fair? What would have been easier for you? What do you think about Sternabite's decision every year to help kids cheat on the science fair? How did he make up for it? Do you think all those gadgets he created could actually work in real life?
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