The premise is really interesting, and the book series is a great way to present science to kids in an exciting fictionalized way. The one thing that drives me nuts though is how Thudd always (always!) speaks in baby-talk. I end up altering that when reading out loud to my kids. ( )

This is not my favorite piece of science fiction, but it would work well as a beginning science fiction series. Andrew Lost shrinks his cousin and himself and must navigate the world as miniscule speck on his dog's nose. It's one of those series that doesn't wrap itself up at the conclusion of the first book, so the series has to be read in order. The annoying sidekick machine called THUDD spits out endless information to aid them, but he speaks a rudimentary caveman-like version of English that can get tiresome quickly. All in all, you can learn a lot from THUDD if you can tolerate a talking encyclopedia with a limited vocabulary, and the many twists and turns of the adventure will keep you occupied. The series would be right for a younger crowd. ( )

This book contains the characteristics of all three genres (Science Fiction/Modern Fantasy/Informational) because it first has technology that goes beyond the advances of our time and stretches the laws of science, secondly has informational facts throughout the entire book, and thirdly makes a completely unbelievable plot believable through the well described details it contains. I liked how the Greenburg introduced each of the characters in the book at the very beginning before the story even started. This provides the reader with a firm foundation and understanding of each of the characters making it easier for Greenburg the make the plot more complex without confusing young readers.
Level: Primary & Intermediate