Vernon Bright and the End of the World

This is the story of boy scientist Vernon Bright's latest attempt to score a triumph over the Establishment, specifically the sadistic PE teacher Mr Hardman who has challenged Bright to prove than brains are better than brawn in a weight-lifting contest. Bright's friend John Watt has been selected by Hardman to take part in the annual boys-versus-staff basketball match, on account of Watt being useless at basketball and the fact that the staff like to win. Elmley School is like that and young readers may well recognize some of the other team members from their own school experience: Mr Allen (science and sarcasm), Mr Grimshaw (maths and moaning), Mr George (social science and shouting), Mr Peters (design technology and detentions), Mr Jones (PE and picking on people) and Mr Robinson (computers and condescension). Anyway, it's not a lot to look forward to so Vernon Bright visits his friend Dodgy Dave, supplier of ex- (and not so ex-) military goods for some essential equipment to create his latest good idea. Things get slightly out of hand: without giving away the plot, suffice it to say that alien technology, spies and sheer bad luck conspire leave the entire planet in peril. The two authors (who are also responsible for the Mad Myths series) clearly enjoy the antics of their creation and are completely in tune with the wacky workings of schoolboy humour. Scientific principles are imaginatively woven into the plot which strides along with plenty to chortle at along the way. Ages 10-13 (Kirkus UK)