This is the third book in the ‘Marty Chan Mystery Series’ written by local author Marty Chan. An investigation into a stolen bicycle leads Marty and best friend Remi to the new elementary teacher, a mysterious man named ‘Mr. E’. Add in a kid-friendly love triangle between Marty, Remi and another friend, Trina, and you get a fun-filled book that does an excellent job of capturing the spirit of pre-teen children. One of my favourite lines is when Chan`s character, in response to something his father tells him while working at the family convenience store, says, “Was I his son or his stock boy?”. The second book in this series, ‘The Mystery of the Graffiti Ghoul’ was nominated for the 2007 Arthur Ellis Award, while the first book, ‘The Mystery of the Frozen Brains’, was the winner of the 2005 City of Edmonton Book Award. ( )

I decided to stretch my book review wings a little and try my hand at reviewing a childrens' book. I received The Mystery Of The Mad Science Teacher by Marty Chan from Mini Book Expo and I'm glad I received the opportunity to review the book. So, here goes:

At first, the fact that the main character has the same name as the author threw me, but after a while I got used to it. Or more likely, I lost myself in the story and found myself chuckling at a child's application of adult terms to his non-adult world. For example, Marty loves to watch detective shows and so he attempts to conduct his investigation into Trina's bicycle theft the way it's done on tv: Stake outs, reports, interrogations, and even an attempt at gathering fingerprints. On one stake out, Marty even thinks like one of those old-time detectives: "As I waited, time became a caterpillar inching along a highway to a rest stop called Trouble. I closed my eyes and waited for the ride to end." Refreshing!

Marty Chan the author even provides some "lessons learned on the playground" type scenarios which I think everyone (adults included of course) can relate to in some way or another. Ida's situation provides an excellent example and really, kind of a semi-unusual example: Ida is a juvenile diabetic and like Marty, Trina, and Remi is in the fifth grade. Ida doesn't want others to see her as the "sick" kid, but doesn't want anyone to get close to her. Ida recognizes the reality of her diabetes while her father cannot. Frustrated with her father Ida screams at him:

[. . .] The only time you ever spend with me is when it's time for my tests and shots.

I want you to get better.

Dad, I have to take these stupid insulin shots for the rest of my life. That's not getting better. That's a prison sentence [. . .]

Read in context, I found Ida's venting powerful and heartbreaking. But the book does end on a happy note and the overall tone of the book is light and funny. And if you're into hockey, you will love all the street hockey scenes and references to Canadian hockey teams (cool.)

I enjoyed reading The Mystery Of The Mad Science Teacher. Chan has a gift for writing how children think and express themselves. It's also a gift that draws the reader into the story and into Marty, Trina, Ida, and Remi's world. ( )

This is the third book written by Marty Chan. First was The Mystery of the Frozen Brains, and second was The Mystery of the Graffiti Ghoul. Marty and Remi, who both like Trina Brewster, team up when Trina's bike is stolen. The evidence leads to several people including Eric Johnson, their science teacher - Mr. E, and Ida, Mr. E's daughter. Marty's investigation is complicated by the fact that Remi doesn't know that Marty likes Trina, so Remi enlists Marty's help in letting Trina know that Remi likes her. When a note, written by Marty on behalf of Remi is correctly identified by Trina as Marty's, the cat is out of the bag, and Marty convinces Trina to keep their feelings a secret from Remi. Of course, all of this is revealed at the end, and initially everyone is mad at Marty, but it does work out. I've enjoyed all three books by Marty Chan. This would be a useful series to have for grade five or six reluctant readers who like mysteries. ( )