Sonderbooks Book Review of Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist: Lunch Walks Among Us

Reviewed December 20, 2003.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York, 2003. 102 pages.
Available at Sembach Library (JF BEN).

My 9-year-old read this book and told me I should read it. This is an easy-reading chapter book in the style of the Captain Underpants books (but with a little less potty humor). It’s delightfully silly.

Franny K. Stein is a little girl mad scientist. She has trouble making friends at her new school. Her new teacher wisely suggests that Franny view making friends as an experiment. Franny figures out a way to transform herself into a completely different person, who’s just like everyone else.

Then something terrible happens. Into the trash can where several students had put nasty lunch leftovers, one kid accidentally poured in some unstable industrial waste. Of course, the result is a Giant Monstrous Fiend who takes off with their teacher. (I love the silliness!)

As a mild-mannered little girl student, Franny is powerless to help. She is forced to reveal herself for who she is and create her own Lunch-Meat Creature to save the day.

Now that they know who she really is, Franny’s sure that the other students won’t like her any more. Here’s a delightful and fresh twist on the old “Just Be Yourself” message.

Reviews of other Franny K. Stein books:
Attack of the 50-ft. Cupid
The Invisible Fran
The Fran That Time Forgot
Frantastic Voyage

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Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund

***Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist*

Lunch Walks Among Us

by Jim Benton