Top Secret

by John Reynolds Gardiner

Book Overview

Fans of Jennifer Holm's The Fourteenth Goldfish will fall in love with this humorous story about one boy's school science project that goes terribly wrong. Perfect for STEM curricula.
Despite the disapproval of his parents and his formidable science teacher, nine-year-old Allen is determined to do his school science project on human photosynthesis--turning sunlight into food for humans.
Everyone laughs at his outrageous scheme...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316303631
• ISBN13: 9780316303637
• Release Date: October 1995
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.1" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A Fond Childhood Memory

I'm twenty-four years old, and I vividly recall reading this book when I was in elementary school. Obviously, it made a lasting impression. I'm pleased to see that the title remains available after so many years (demonstrating the typical endurance of an excellent children's story), and I highly recommend it to any parent who wishes to stimulate his/her child's imagination.

A fast paced, funny book!

When Allen Brewster, a fourth grader, decides to discover human photosynthesis for his school science project, his irritable teacher, Miss Green, calls his idea ridiculous and assigns a lipstick project instead. His parents are kind but unsupportive, but Allen is undeterred, especially when his tender and wise grandfather encourages him to pursue his research. Allen discovers that the biggest difference between hemoglobin and chlorophyll is that the former contains iron while the latter contains magnesium, so he decides to ingest foods that contain high levels of magnesium. He mixes salt water from an aquarium with peanut butter, Coco-Puffs, raw liver, and Mexican refried beans, runs the mixture through a blender, and drinks it. (Kids, don't try this at home!) After tinkering with his formula, he discovers that his skin has turned green, his taste buds have disappeared, he doesn't need to eat, and he craves sunlight. But then Allen faces numerous new obstacles. No one but his grandfather believes that he has discovered human photosynthesis. He gets aphids and starts sprouting roots. His crabby teacher ejects him from class and tells him not to come back until he looks like a normal human being. And once the government confirms that Allen has succeeded in discovering human photosynthesis, his project is classified as top secret, because it is a threat to national security! Will Allen ever be permitted to return to school? What will he do about the science fair? Will his nasty teacher ever get her comeuppance? This fast paced, funny book is very amusing, engaging, and highly recommended for reluctant readers.

The best book ever!!!!!

This book was so good. I love to read, and it kept me in suspence the whole story, untill it ended. I wish there were more books like it in the world. It has comedey, but it seems like it almost could really happen when you read it. I love this book and would order it all over again if I could.

Top Sercert by John Gardiner

crazy! Exciting! The book was exciting because something was always happening.It is a story about a boy,Allen Brewster, who wants to do a science project on human phytosynesis.His teacher, Miss.Green doesen't like his idea and makes him do his project on lipstick. He figures he will do his project on human phytosynesis top secert. When he figures out the way to human phytosynesis but when he tells people no one belives him.his faces tons of adventures on the way like getting the president and growing roots. The book made me never what to stop ;it was exciting.I liked all the problems in the book.If he did one thing another problem always came up.It was an on going adventure.Getting sick is one thing but getting bugs is an another story. In conclusion this is one of the best books I ever read. I hope you read it too.

Must read book

This book is the best book I have ever read yet being of age 14. I read this book at 9 and i have been looking for it since i read it and moved away from the libraiy that i checked it out of. I love the grandfathers speech on the apple and how some parts are hidden and some parts are right infront of you and that you don't need all the parts to see what it is.. SSo if you are thinking of getting this book Just go ahead and get it it will be the best 10 dallars spent.