The Genius Files (#1): Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

Title: The Genius Files (#1):  Mission Unstoppable

Author: Dan Gutman

Read by:  Michael Goldstrom

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Length: Approximately 6 hours

Source: Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

My sons read The Genius Files (#1):  Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman a few years ago for the library Youth Book Club and they loved it.  Ever since they read it, my now 11-year old son Daniel has wanted to visit the location of the book’s climax, The House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin.  I had visited The House on the Rock as a college student nineteen years ago, but I’m the only one in my family who had seen it.  We let Daniel plan our summer vacation this year and visiting The House on the Rock was high on the list.  As we drove to the Wisconsin Dells area and back, we listed to The Genius Files (#1):  Mission Unstoppable.

Coke and Pepsi McDonald are twins and very bright.  They are recruited to a secret organization, The Genius Files, but they also are now being chased and almost killed by mysterious men in bowler hats as well as by one of their teachers, Mrs. Higgins.  The summer family vacation is renting an RV and driving it from California to Washington DC for their estranged Aunt’s wedding.  Mrs. McDonald runs a blog about unique destinations so they have plenty of interesting stops along the way including visiting the Pez Museum and the largest ball of twine.  Mr. McDonald gets a destination as well when he races the rented RV across the salt flats, which was my husband’s favorite part of the book. Why are people trying to kill the twins?  What are the mysterious genius files?  Will they make it to the wedding?

The climax of the book takes place at the The House on the Rock.  We listened to this part of the audiobook right after we had visited and it was spot on with the description . . . although it took us so long to get around the House that we questioned the timing of the characters as they made their way around the house.  It was extra thrilling for Daniel (and for all of us) to listen to the book and having it fit with a place he had just visited.

If you haven’t visited The House on the Rock, it’s one of the most interesting and peculiar places you could visit.  Alex Jordan Jr was an eccentric man who built a party house around a unique rock structure in the 1950’s.  It became a tourist destination and Jordan Jr kept adding on and building a collection of unique items.  It is a LARGE collection and very unique.  My kids really liked all of the musical items and looking at everything, but I think we were all numb by the end as there was so much to take in.  My husband Ben and I decided we wished we could have hung out with Alex Jordan Jr in the 1950’s at one of his get togethers in the original house.  It sounds like a good time.

Overall, I highly recommend The Genius File series as an audiobook for the entire family to listen to on road trips.  We’ve listened to the series before and we have loved it.  It’s full of action and humor. It’s highly entertaining.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick was Daniel’s Library Youth Book Club book for December.  Daniel (10 years old) told me it was giant, and he “forgot” to check it out when he left book club.  I went back to the library to check it out and was distressed by the size of the book.  Then I got home and realized that the book has text, but the vast majority of the book is made up by intricate illustrations that further the story.  Once Daniel realized we could get through one hundred pages in an evening, he was onboard.  When we started reading, he was swept into the story.   

Hugo is an orphan who keeps the clocks at the train station after his Uncle’s disappearance so that he will have a place to stay.  He’s also a thief who is intrigued by parts. His father was a clockmaker and had an automaton that they were trying to fix.   Hugo is intrigued when he finds a toymaker that makes items using the complex parts that he recognizes.  Who is the toymaker and what secrets does he hide?

Daniel and I loved the story, but we were also intrigued that the story ended up involving the story of Georges Melies, a pioneer in early film making.  Daniel especially liked that part and discussing it at book club.  He really liked that the automaton was real!

Overall, The Invention of Hugo Cabret was a truly fascinating story that combined history, engineering, mystery, adventure, and great illustrations.  It was enjoyable for both kid and adult.

Book Source:  Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Rump was Daniel’s Library Youth Book Club book for November.  I’ll admit Daniel really was intrigued with this book as he thought the title was hilarious and would laugh each time he said rump.  Rump is a great fantasy tale that tells the backstory of Rumpelstiltskin from his point of view.  We were both intrigued by the story, but Daniel started taking the book and reading it without me to see how it ended.  I also enjoyed that the afterward by the author at the end was discuss names and how kids are picked on for their names or assumptions are made about them because of their names.   She was picked on for her name, Liesl, and decided to use this to write Rump, a story where names are very significant.  I thought that was intriguing.

Overall, Rump is a fun look at the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin and how one never can really make assumptions about someone because of their name.

Book Source:  The Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!