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Mad Science Institute (2011)

by Sechin Tower(Favorite Author)

3.71 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0984850708 (ISBN13: 9780984850709)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Sechin Tower

series

Mad Science Institute

review 1: I like the idea of this book — a YA story premised on science rather than magic, with smart, young adult heroes, passionate about learning and discovery who find themselves in an environment where they can pursue their interests. It reminded me a bit of another book I read and reviewed not long ago, Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks. There should be more stories in settings like this.The plot of this one is the classic ‘good guys versus bad guys bent on taking over the world.’ The pacing is good, with discoveries and events leading incrementally to a satisfying and logical conclusion.I was less taken with the characters.The star of the story, Sophia "Soap" Lazarcheck, is a 16-year-old science geek, brilliant but socially awkward. Her ability to invent and build truly am... moreazing gizmos is offset by a lack of appreciation for how these inventions might go wrong. Explosions and fires tend to be the result. For the most part, I found her an endearing character, but my ability to suspend disbelief was breached in her first encounter with the antagonist. She was far too trusting of this mysterious and clearly untrustworthy voice on the phone, and I could not accept how easily she sold him the key code for her new, and otherwise impregnable, school.Her cousin, Dean, is the character that most failed for me. He plays the part of the well-muscled and well-intentioned but intellectually uncomplicated knight in shining armor. He’s not quite dimwitted enough to be a comic character, but I found him far too simple to be either likeable or believable in his role in this story.The mysterious antagonist, always in the background and pulling the strings of his minions, is a recognizable James Bond type villain. The biker gang that serves as his muscle is a group of unwashed, uneducated, and thoroughly unpleasant individuals. They were not inept enough to be funny but too (unjustly) stereotypical to be believable. (I’ve known a few bikers, and most were nice people.)The chapters with Soap providing the point of view are written in first person. The other chapters are written in third. This can be a bit jarring when you’re reading. I would have preferred third person throughout, with chapter or scene breaks for changes in POV. Otherwise, the book is well written, although I did spot a few typos. The ending is set up for a sequel.The book is an enjoyable departure from more common magical or mystical YA stories, and I can recommend it as a quick, light read.
review 2: I was happily surprised with this book! Soap is as queer as her inventions, and her life just got queerer when she is offered a full scholarship at the Mechanical Science Institute (the unofficial but more popular name being the Mad Science Institute). The school is located in a weirdly named town of Bugswallow, Minesotta. There, Soap adds to the grand total number of MSI students: 3 ! Soap tries to fit in with the other two geniuses Viktor and Nikki, even as she discovers the big & secret experiments kept in the bowels of MSI. Soap's story inevitably collides with that of his cousin Dean, who happens to be the newly appointed Dean of MSI. Dean, a firefighter, knows he is the most unsuitable choice, but it is the last request made by his fiance and former Dean of MSI Denise McKenzie. With McKenzie's untimely demise, Dean feels honor bound to her will, and he is also resolved to uncover the real cause of her death. Little do Dean and Soap suspect that they are both victims of the whims of an evil professor who wants to revert the world back to its pre-industrial stage, gain monopoly on electricity, and ultimately become its emperor. Despite the heavy and serious situations the characters are in, there's an ever present humor in the story. I think this is brought about by Soap's insane inventions and her hilarious attempts at social interactions, not to mention big tough guy Dean who can do clumsy really well. I can't help but empathize with Dean being lost on the scientific and technical aspect of the book. I feel that Soap's Guide to Technology was written not only for her cousin but for me, too. Brilliant technique by the author to explain the technology involved but has mercifully excluded from the story. I am thankful that I did not have to read through all those techy stuff, but instead given the choice and opportunity to understand more when all is said and done. The result: fun and stress-free reading. less

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