Top Secret

By John Reynolds Gardiner

1984

First Published

3.96

Average Rating

110

Number of Pages

3H21M

Audio Length

Fans of Jennifer Holm's The Fourteenth Goldfish will fall in love with this humorous story about one boy's school science project that goes terribly wrong. Perfect for STEM curricula. Despite the disapproval of his parents and his formidable science teacher, nine-year-old Allen is determined to do his school science project on human photosynthesis—turning sunlight into food for humans. Everyone laughs at his outrageous scheme until Allen turns green, sprouts roots, and develops an overwhelming desire to soak up the sun. He's turning into a plant and no one believes him—no one, that is, except the President of the United States. Can Allen protect his top secret discovery and ace his science project without being a threat to national security?

Avg Rating

3.96

Number of Ratings

528

5 STARS

36%

4 STARS

34%

3 STARS

24%

2 STARS

1 STARS

goodreads

Author

John Reynolds Gardiner

Author · 5 books

John Reynolds Gardiner was an American author and engineer. Born in Los Angeles, California, he earned his master's degree from UCLA. He was a successful engineer before working on his first children's book. Always creative, in his younger years he ran Num Num Novelties, home to such originals as the aquarium tie. He lived in West Germany and Central America, and taught writing workshops around the world. In Idaho he heard of a legend on which he based his first book, Stone Fox. Gardiner also edited children's stories for television. He lived out his final years with his wife, Gloria, in California and died of complications from pancreatitis at a hospital in Anaheim, California. He is survived by three daughters, Carrie, Alicia, and Danielle.