The Smartest Kid in the Universe, Book 1 - by Chris Grabenstein (Paperback)

About the Book

When seventh-grader Jake McQuade mistakes the world's first ingestible knowledge pills for jelly beans, he suddenly knows all about physics and geometry and can speak Swahili (though Spanish would be a lot more useful)--but his sort-of girlfriend Grace thinks they can use his new found brilliance to save their middle school from the new principal, who is conspiring to get it shut down.

Book Synopsis

NOMINATED FOR MULTIPLE STATE AWARDS!

"Chris Grabenstein just might be the smartest writer for kids in the universe." --James Patterson

Meet the Smartest Kid in the Universe in this fun-packed series from the New York Times Bestselling Author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library!

Twelve-year-old Jake's middle school is about to be shut down. Jake and his friends know their school's worth saving-if they could only figure out how! When Jake spies a bowl of jellybeans at the hotel where his mom works, he eats them. But uh-oh--those weren't just jellybeans, one of the scientists at his mom's conference is in the process of developing the first ingestible information pills. And THAT'S what Jake ate.

Before long, Jake is the smartest kid in the universe. But the pills haven't been tested yet. And when word gets out about this new genius, people want him. The government. The mega corporations. Not all of them are nice! Can Jake navigate all the ins and outs of his newfound geniusdom (not to mention the ins and outs of middle school!) AND use his smarts to figure out how to save his school? (Hint-it will take someone smart enough to decipher an almost forgotten pirate legend!) It turns out, sometimes even the smartest kid has a lot to learn! Don't miss the next Smartest Kid in the Universe books--Genius Camp and Evil Genius!

Review Quotes

Here's what people are saying about The Smartest Kid in the Universe

"Clever, fast-paced and incredibly funny--Chris Grabenstein has done it again." --Stuart Gibbs, New York Times bestselling author of Spy School

"It's pure jelly-bean-enhanced entertainment and a perfect escape. . . . A rollicking good time." --The New York Times

"Grabenstein is the author of the best-selling Mr. Lemoncello series, and this new volume, packed with wacky hijinks, will appeal to his legions of fans." --Booklist, starred review

"Grabenstein delivers once again...with a book that will appeal to even the most reluctant readers." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Grabenstein returns with another fact-filled, puzzle-packed, multigenre romp. High-paced humor. . . . Clever, concise, and compelling." --Kirkus Reviews

"This amusing adventure also works as a humorous love letter to public education and dedicated teachers." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

CHRIS GRABENSTEIN is the New York Times bestselling author of the Mr. Lemoncello and the Welcome to Wonderland series, as well as the coauthor of many page-turners with James Patterson, including the Max Einstein series, and of Shine! cowritten with Chris's wife J.J. Grabenstein. Chris lives in New York City. Visit Chris at ChrisGrabenstein.com and on Twitter at @CGrabenstein.