Mission Unstoppable
Mission Unstoppable
Dan Gutman
Harper, 2011
293 pages
Grades 4-7
Adventure/Mystery
The Genius Files series #1
Twins Coke and Pepsi finish off their seventh grade school year with a jump off a cliff and the burning of their school. They are being recruited for the “Genius Files”: a group of highly intelligent kids that are to be specially trained to combat the forces of evil. Meanwhile, the bad guys are trying to capture them for nefarious purposes. Leaving in an RV to go on a cross country trip from California to Washington DC, the twins make a smooth get-away, only to receive mysterious coded notes and dangers along the way. Are they being followed? Coke and Pepsi must use their ingenuity, every ounce of strength, and twin power to escape their evil pursuers. What is the truth behind the Genius Files? Will Coke and Pepsi manage to keep themselves and their parents safe? And, most of all, will they make it to DC in time for Aunt Judy’s wedding? Some secrets are revealed and some are left dangling, leading readers to the next installment in the five book series Never Say Genius.
Dan Gutman knows how to write books that kids will read. This particular series opener has one of the best book beginnings that I have ever read: opening with the kids about to jump off a cliff, immediately grabbing the reader. From there the action never flags and our heroes leap from one dangerous situation to another, all while exploring interesting and quirky sites along the cross-country trip. Sometimes the situations go a bit over the top and certainly are a bit unrealistic, but kids will love it all. The characters are not particularly developed and the scenarios go a little “Scooby-Doo”, but that’s the glory of this book. Reluctant readers will actually gobble it up and jump right into the next series installment. I am looking for books about America to use in conjunction with America250 and thought this cross-country trip may be just the ticket. It turns out to not be what I am looking for. It goes a bit violent and may scare younger readers, making it more appropriate for older elementary or those desensitized from videogames. Looking at my old notes, I actually read this story when it came out, but didn’t retain it at all, proving that it is not a great work of art and is not written for an adult audience. It is a great choice for young fans of James Ponti or Stuart Gibbs or really anyone who is looking for a fast-paced read packed with surprises.