The New York Times Book Review - Monica Edinger
Experiencing life in another person's shoes is a familiar motif in children's books. In Mary Rodgers's Freaky Friday, a mother and daughter switch bodies for a day, developing greater empathy for each other as a result. But here the change is permanent. Grandpa Melvin isn't suddenly going to go back to his adult self; he is going to grow up and old all over again. Yet not, we can see, in the same way. Even as he helps Ellie recognize they are kindred spirits, bonded by their love of science, she helps him reconsider his priorities…Youth, old age, life, death, love, possibilities and—oh yes—goldfish all come together in this warm, witty and wise novel.
From the Publisher
Publishers Weekly starred review, May 26, 2014:
“This is top-notch middle-grade fiction with a meaty dilemma, humor, and an ending that leaves room for the possibility of a sequel. “
Booklist starred review, July 1, 2014:
"A great choice for book groups and class discussions as well as individual reading."
New York Times Books Review, August 24, 2014:
"“Youth, old age, life, death, love, possibilities, and – oh yes – goldfish all come together in this warm, witty and wise novel.”
The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, September 2014:
"Holm’s writing is crisp, accessible, and well paced, and her enthusiasm for science and its impact emerges clearly and consistently but not overbearingly, with clear, appreciative nods to the world of theater and its purpose in our lives. Indeed, this novel explores weighty elements of human existence with a light touch, allowing readers to engage with the issues at multiple levels; an excellent appendix of recommended readings encourages exploration and dialogue. This novel would make an ideal classroom read aloud, particularly to expose students to the rich and rewarding STEM fields."
SEPTEMBER 2014 - AudioFile
Georgette Perna’s deft narration enhances Holm’s story of a generation gap gone haywire. How do you cope when your grandfather turns up as a teenager who becomes your babysitter and draws you into a daring B and E of his former science lab? Perna voices 12-year-old Ellie’s wacky adventures with glee. Her tones contrast well with the voice of Ellie’s exasperated mother, who doles out life lessons to her previously 70-year-old father, Melvin, now a teen. Even better is Perna’s delivery of Melvin’s mixed persona of adolescent know-it-all and senior curmudgeon. Perna’s exuberant storytelling takes the edge off the author’s slight didacticism about the wonders, and evils, of science. D.P.D. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2014-06-01
What would it be like if your grandfather turned up in your house as a 13-year-old boy?For sixth-grader Ellie, this leads to a recognition of the importance of the cycle of life and the discovery of her own passion for science. After her scientist grandfather finds a way to regain his youth, he’s denied access to his lab and must come to live with Ellie and her mother. Although he looks young, his intellect and attitudes haven’t changed. He still tells Ellie’s mother what to wear and when to come home, and he loathes middle school even more than Ellie does. There’s plenty of opportunity for humor in this fish-out-of-water story and also a lesson on the perils as well as the pluses of scientific discovery. Divorced parents, a goth friend and a longed-for cellphone birthday present are among the familiar details setting this story firmly in the present day, like Holm’s Year Told Through Stuff series, rather than in the past, like her three Newbery Honor–winning historical novels. The author demonstrates understanding of and sympathy for the awkwardness of those middle school years. But she also gets in a plug for the excitement of science, following it up with an author’s note and suggestions for further exploration, mostly on the Web.Appealing and thought-provoking, with an ending that suggests endless possibilities. (Science fiction. 10-14)
