Despite the disapproval of his parents and his formidable science teacher, nine-year-old Allen determines to do his science project on human photosynthesis.
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About the Author
John Reynolds Gardiner was born on December 6, 1944 in Los Angeles, California. Gardiner was told in high school that his grammar and spelling were so poor that he would never do well in college English. He didn't even read his first novel until he was 19. Gardiner also has a Masters Degree in Engineering from the University of California in Los Angeles. He has written a number of other books as well, including Stone Fox and General Butterfingers.
Marc Simont is an artist, political cartoonist, and illustrator of more than a hundred children's books. Simont and his wife live in West Cornwall, Connecticut.
Marc Simont is an artist, political cartoonist, and illustrator of more than a hundred children's books. Simont and his wife live in West Cornwall, Connecticut.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Molly Grue
Format:Turtleback
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.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Kaitlyn
Format:Paperback
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.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By DAKKAK
Format:Paperback
This book was an extraordinary book about a kid named Allen Brewster. First, he had to go to school. Then his teacher Miss Greene makes her class do a science project for the science fair. Meanwhile Miss Greene makes Allen do it on lipstick because she thinks human photosythesis is imposible even though she has no reason why it's imposible. The next day Allen goes to the library to reasearch on human photosythesis and he discovers the ingredients to turning himself into a plant. He goes home and mixes the ingredients and drinks the formula. Next he wakes up and his skin is green. After that his mom takes him to school and Miss Greene thinks Allen has sray paint on. The they call his mom and Allen can't go back to school until he's not green. His mom said,"he could walk home." When he's walking home he passes by the newspaper building and tells the guy about him being a plant because his parents don't belive him only his grandpop does and he wants to prove to his parents that he is a plant. Now the presedint comes and he is trying to stop world starvation. And Allen's human photosythesis works to stop that. If you want to find out more you have to read TOP SECRET.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read aloud book
For years I have read this book to my fifth grade students. It is a delightful story about a boy and his grandfather - their belief in his dreams and the comical way he proves his... Read more
Published 11 months ago by J K
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Childhood Throwback
I read this book when I was a child and now as I approach 28 not only do I still remember it, I just bought it for someone else my age! Read more
Published on May 17, 2011 by ann marie digregorio
5.0 out of 5 stars
my favorite
I have been reading this book aloud to my classes for 20 years! It is so well written and it keeps the students guessing about what will happen next. Read more
Published on May 30, 2009 by Barbara J. Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
top secret
This is a great book for a read aloud. My students loved it and it fits in perfectly with our plant life science unit
Published on November 23, 2008 by C. J. Annese
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top Secret
Top secret
Will j.
Bush
Tschosik
Top secret is a good book about a boy named Alien who is assigned a science project on lipstick. Read more
Will j.
Bush
Tschosik
Top secret is a good book about a boy named Alien who is assigned a science project on lipstick. Read more
Published on March 22, 2007
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top Secret
Top secret
Top secret is a good book about a boy named Allen who is assigned a science project on lipstick. But he wants to do it on photosynthesis. Read more
Top secret is a good book about a boy named Allen who is assigned a science project on lipstick. But he wants to do it on photosynthesis. Read more
Published on March 19, 2007
4.0 out of 5 stars
top secret
TOP SECRET
Hi my name is London. I am reading Top Secret by John Reyndds. The reason I picked this book is because it's funny when he turns green. Read more
Hi my name is London. I am reading Top Secret by John Reyndds. The reason I picked this book is because it's funny when he turns green. Read more
Published on March 16, 2007
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top Secret
Top secret
Top secret is a good book about a boy named Alien who is assigned a science project on lipstick. But he wants to do it on photosynthesis. Read more
Top secret is a good book about a boy named Alien who is assigned a science project on lipstick. But he wants to do it on photosynthesis. Read more
Published on March 16, 2007
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fond memories
I was trying to think of an interestig way to introduce photosynthesis to my students. I remembered Top Secret, which I read in elementary school myself. Read more
Published on December 10, 2006 by M. Poland
5.0 out of 5 stars
"What if the roots had taken hold?"
A perfect story which I found really entertaining. I read it over a period of three days when I was a little tyke. I think this was the first kiddie novel I ever read. Read more
Published on March 5, 2006 by Film Noir Fedora
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