The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable - Dan Gutman

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable
Dan Gutman
Harper Collins
Browse Inside
ISBN 9780061827655

In this book we follow 12 year old geniuses Coke and Pepsi McDonald as their family journeys across the country for a relative's wedding. Why, you might ask, would we care to follow a family as it RV's across the country? In part because Coke and Pepsi are not ordinary children; they have been selected to be part of the Genius Files, a secret government project to tap into the unconventional brilliance of youth to solve the world's problems. But something is afoot; strange men in bowler hats are trying to kill the children. They have allies trying to help them, Mya and Bones, two adults who are part of the project. The children keep being left cryptic ciphers and are trying to solve the problems.

So the family travels 3000 miles across the continent, visiting such places as the Donner Party Memorial, a museum of PEZ memorabilia, and the world's largest ball of twine (or at least both cities claiming that distinction). The book is a fun and exciting read, but will also provide a lot of history and lore for the readers. It also includes side bars with directions to Google the sites being visited and the road directions from site to site. So it will be fun, informative and educational all at the same time.

It is a well written book, with fun main characters, and interesting supporting cast and a stunning plot twist. It was an enjoyable read, and I eagerly anticipate the next volume in the series. Hopefully they will be available soon.

(Note: I received an electronic galley of this book through NetGalley, courtesy of Harper Collins. The book was read on my Kobo eReader. As per my general disclaimer, free books have no impact on my review.)