Book Review - The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman follows the McDonald family on their cross-country summer road trip. This isn't just your normal run-of-the-mill road trip, however. The McDonald's twins, Coke and Pepsi, become tangled in a secret organization that lands them in several dangerous circumstances.

Gutman's book is fast paced with one plot twist after the other, and filled to the brim with educational tidbits about America. The Genius Files is half adventure, half encyclopedia of random facts, and sure to delight young readers with a love of fact over fiction. To add even more logical flair, Gutman sprinkles a few cyphers throughout the story, and gives opportunity for the reader to figure them out before revealing the code. Throughout the McDonald's trip across the country, Gutman instructs the reader how to access Google maps to chart their trip. A great way to interact with a reader that has a desire for knowledge over getting lost in a fantasy.

Although the story has its faults: plot holes, little character building, and unrealistic dialogue made it difficult for me to connect to the story; I can see how The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable will appeal to my struggling readers--especially my boys that have a difficult time finding a story that delights their need for humor, adventure, and logic.