Book Review: The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

✰✰✰½ The author of the My Weird School books introduces us to a new action-packed adventure featuring the McDonald twins, Coke and Pepsi. The brilliant twins are part of a select group of kids known as Young American Geniuses (YAGs for short). As part of the government program called The Genius Files (TGF), the country's smartest kids have been tapped to solve the world's problems. The secret assignments offer excitement, danger, travel, and the promise of a million dollars for each twin when they turn 21...provided they survive.

When Coke and Pepsi's wacky parents decide to take a family road trip from California to Washington D.C. in a rented RV, things really start to get interesting. In between visiting quirky tourist attractions, being chased by evil bowler hat dudes, and almost being killed by their health teacher, the twins must complete their first mission. With guidance from their mentors, Mya and Bones, and twins eventually face a showdown with Dr. Herman Warsaw, the creator of TGF.

Follow the McDonald family as they travel across the United States stopping along the way to visit a museum dedicated to Pez, the Singing Sand Dunes, the SPAM museum, and two large balls of twine. Will the twins be successful on their first mission? Only time will tell as they continue to run from the bowler dudes, face many obstacles, and escape death more than once.

The Bottom Line: Packed with action, The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable is an exciting read for kids in middle school. The book is filled with interesting sidebars, ciphers, trivia, and directions for mapping out the twins' trip online. It's great fun for everyone. Enthusiastically recommended for readers, especially boys, interested in adventure and action. The adventure is sure to continue in the next book.

Details: The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman. The ARC paperback edition was published by HarperCollins Publishers in 2011. 304 p. ISBN: 978-0-06-182764-8
Note: I received a complimentary Advance Reader's Edition from HarperCollins Publishers in exchange for a review. This was made possible by the Early Reviewer program at LibraryThing.