Gene Beck is a smart kid. He's a member of the Science Club, a group of equally smart kids. He thinks that the worst thing that could happen in the world is his annual humiliation at the hands of bully Bobby Hatcher during his school's fitness tests. That is, until two talking maple trees show up in his backyard claiming to be the Greek gods Zeus and Apollo and try to recruit him and fellow Science Club members to save a world all the way across the galaxy.

That's a little weird even for Gene to believe until his dog accidentally activates the devise that deposits the Science Club on the planet Azuna with only days to save the planet -- and themselves -- from an oncoming meteor. Unfortunately for Azuna, they have no idea how to do that.

The Science Club Kids & the Fabulous Phrenosan Wormhole Device is a smart, entertaining adventure story with lots of science (and science fiction) for those who might not be so enthralled by wand-wielding. Packed with humor and pop-culture references, it's fun and funny. My only concern is that the science involved might be a little advanced for the target audience, and quite a lot of time is spent explaining physics, which does tend to slow the story a bit. Still, kids who don't grasp the concepts initially may do so on second or third readings, or may choose to skip the explanations altogether and get on with the fun parts.

- Rambles
written by Laurie Thayer
published 7 February 2004