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Zac Power: Classic #1
Poison Island
Find Formula for Solution X
Dr. Drastic
Featured SpyPad Turbo Deluxe
Danger 6.7
Zac Power is on a mission to the world's most dangerous island. He has to track down Dr. Drastic, an evil mad scientist, in a jungle is full of quicksand, piranhas, and poison frogs. No sweat! When you come from a family of spies, you do this sort of thing millions of times before the age of twelve.
But this time is different. Something goes terribly wrong and Zac's geeky older brother gets kidnapped. Now, Zac only has 24 hours to find the formula for solution X and stop Dr. Drastic…before his brother gets fed to a volcano!
Dr. Drastic
Featured SpyPad Turbo Deluxe
Danger 6.7
Zac Power is on a mission to the world's most dangerous island. He has to track down Dr. Drastic, an evil mad scientist, in a jungle is full of quicksand, piranhas, and poison frogs. No sweat! When you come from a family of spies, you do this sort of thing millions of times before the age of twelve.
But this time is different. Something goes terribly wrong and Zac's geeky older brother gets kidnapped. Now, Zac only has 24 hours to find the formula for solution X and stop Dr. Drastic…before his brother gets fed to a volcano!
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
38 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
H.I. Larry
124 books30 followersAfter three years, it is finally time to lift the lid on the secret identity of the Zac Power series’ best-selling author, H.I. Larry.
Zac Power’s world of adventure and espionage has been immensely successful, with around fifty exciting stories published and over a million copies sold in Australia alone. The ‘H.I. Larry’ pseudonym was used to keep the series consistent (and boringly, ensure that all Zac Power books are catalogued and shelved together!), and readers have long been intrigued by Larry’s secret identity.
The voracious reader demand for more Zac stories required a large writing team comprised of several brilliant Australian authors – many of whom have gone on to create their own fiction. Because of the success of the Zac Power series, and these authors’ rising profiles, Chris Morphew, Hilary Badger and Meredith Badger are now available to speak about their work on the Zac Power series.
Source: http://chrismorphew.com/2009/09/03/li...
Zac Power’s world of adventure and espionage has been immensely successful, with around fifty exciting stories published and over a million copies sold in Australia alone. The ‘H.I. Larry’ pseudonym was used to keep the series consistent (and boringly, ensure that all Zac Power books are catalogued and shelved together!), and readers have long been intrigued by Larry’s secret identity.
The voracious reader demand for more Zac stories required a large writing team comprised of several brilliant Australian authors – many of whom have gone on to create their own fiction. Because of the success of the Zac Power series, and these authors’ rising profiles, Chris Morphew, Hilary Badger and Meredith Badger are now available to speak about their work on the Zac Power series.
Source: http://chrismorphew.com/2009/09/03/li...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 14, 2025
The plot was a little predictable
February 15, 2012
Best book when I was about 8
August 25, 2025
A lot of this book makes no sense. In no particular order:
- Zak’s parents’ lack of care for Zac and his brother on a dangerous island.
- the world’s nonchalance towards a cure-all potion.
- the villain’s reasons for everything.
- trampoline socks that can propel a person through quicksand?
- having one minute to save the world but actually having a whole day? Actually, the whole time thing is way off.
- drinking random potions without knowing what they do is just dangerous to teach kids. Also, why did the side effects of the potion go away so quickly? And if he had taken the healing potion, how would he have known?
Yes it’s easy to read for young kids, but treat them with respect. They’re smarter than this group of authors gives them credit for.
- Zak’s parents’ lack of care for Zac and his brother on a dangerous island.
- the world’s nonchalance towards a cure-all potion.
- the villain’s reasons for everything.
- trampoline socks that can propel a person through quicksand?
- having one minute to save the world but actually having a whole day? Actually, the whole time thing is way off.
- drinking random potions without knowing what they do is just dangerous to teach kids. Also, why did the side effects of the potion go away so quickly? And if he had taken the healing potion, how would he have known?
Yes it’s easy to read for young kids, but treat them with respect. They’re smarter than this group of authors gives them credit for.
October 2, 2021
Zac and his family are spies but their lives as such, to Zac’s dismay, are completely top secret. His friends think they’re on a family vacation, but instead his next 24 hours is a mission to recover a new cure-all-diseases formula. Zac faces trap doors, parachuting out of a plane, poisoned darts, booby traps, quick sand, volcanoes and more. Add to that, he has to save his brother Leon, who was captured, from being killed.
This is a lower elementary book filled with all the spy gear and action a kid could want. Transitions are fast and actions and problems are resolved just as quickly. There just isn’t enough time to get bored!
This is a lower elementary book filled with all the spy gear and action a kid could want. Transitions are fast and actions and problems are resolved just as quickly. There just isn’t enough time to get bored!
April 11, 2022
Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed this. It is great for the target audience, and a wonderful example of 'the' narrative structure kids that each need to learn to understand and write.
But...
The story literally involves a kid obtaining a replicatable cure for every disease on Earth, as well as confirmation that 'evil' is a disease. So... um... that's... pretty irreversible, right? He can now just throw the chemical at every bad guy and win, and no-one will ever get very sick again.
There are no stakes for the other books in the series...
But...
The story literally involves a kid obtaining a replicatable cure for every disease on Earth, as well as confirmation that 'evil' is a disease. So... um... that's... pretty irreversible, right? He can now just throw the chemical at every bad guy and win, and no-one will ever get very sick again.
There are no stakes for the other books in the series...
July 20, 2018
I probably would have enjoyed this book if I was six years old, but it was not very fun for me to read. I finished Poison Island in about fifteen minutes, and I got a bit bored during the book.
Read
September 16, 2018want to read bookread
September 28, 2018
Olisin ehkä mieluummin lukenut kirjan kaikesta siitä, mikä oli leikattu pois kirjasta. Aika kului sellaisina hyppäyksinä, että tästä on ollut pakko leikata pois sivujuoni jos toinenkin.
October 25, 2021
Another great novel for youngsters just starting out with reading. Exciting, interesting and with language that poses enough of a challenge to teach, without causing a ‘too-hard’ attitude.
November 27, 2022
Zack is on a mission on a dangerous Island.
October 9, 2023
Is it unrealistic? Yes, but it’s also meant for kids and I enjoyed the nostalgia of re-reading a childhood fav.
Read
August 22, 2024I read this book myself.
Eight years old.
Eight years old.
July 29, 2016
Streng geheim – Mission erhalten am Sonntag 23:59 Uhr.
Der böse Dr. Drastic hat das sogenannte X-Wasser erfunden. Das ist ein Heilmittel für alle Krankheiten, die es je gegeben hat. Aus unseren Quellen haben wir erfahren, dass Dr. Drastic das X-Wasser in einem streng geheimen Labor irgendwo auf der Giftfrosch-Insel herstellt.
Deine Mission:
- Finde das Heimlabor
- Beschaffe die Formel für das X-Wasser
- Bring sie bis Montag 24 Uhr unversehrt zur Einsatzzentrale
Der zwölfjährige Zack Power ist Geheimagent für GED (Geheimer Ermittlungsdienst). Streng genommen sind alle in Zacks Familie Geheimagenten: Der Vater, die Mutter und der ältere, nerdive Bruder Leon. Die Familie springt über der Giftfroschinsel ab, um die Mission zu erledigen, aber den Eltern kommt ein anderer Auftrag entgegen, Leon wird gleich am Anfang gefangen genommen und nun ist es an Zack allein, die Welt zu retten.
Was für ein Haufen gequirlten Schwachsinns, der hier abgeliefert wird. Fangen wir mal mit diesem Hurra Patriotismus an. Klar, Geheimdienste sind gut und cool und natürlich ist Kinderarbeit in potentiell gefählichen Mission absolut OK, wenn es um die Sicherheit des Landes geht *würg*.
Als wäre das nicht schon schlimm genug, ist das Buch so voller Logikfehler, dass das Lesen zur Qual wird. Fangen wir damit an, dass die Mission ein Zeitlimit hat. Warum genau 24 Stunden? Nur damit Zack noch den Hund Gassi führen kann, der es sich seit über 24 Stunden verheben muss? Wer führt den Hund in der Zwischenzeit aus?
Zudem, die ganze Mission ist fragwürdig. Dr. Drastic will die Formel an den Meistbietenden verkaufen, das ist doch OK. Soll die USA/Australische Regierung eben dafür zahlen. Aber nein, man will sie lieber klauen, als legal zu erwerben und so den Wissenschaftler um seinen Lohn bringen, als wenn Chemikalien und Labore keinen Unterhalt kosten würden. Die ganzen Voraussetzungen dieser Mission sind moralisch mehr als fragwürdig. Stehlen statt kaufen als heldenhaft zu bezeichnen, das kann nur Amerikanern/Australiern in den Sinn kommen. Naja, 5 eyes ist 5 eyes, alles ein und die selbe Soße.
Dann lässt Zack seinen Bruder im Stich. Früher hieß es noch, keiner bleibt zurück, hier nun „Was auch immer passiert, der Agent muss stets seine Mission erfüllen. Mitleid ist fehl am Platz, genauso wie Angst.“ (S. 32). Eine moralisch widerwärtige Einstellung, die zur heutigen Ellenbogengesellschaft passt. Einem Kind sollte man so einen Schund nicht zu lesen geben.
Es wird aber noch schlimmer. Die Logikfehler häufen sich. Zack lenkt mitten im Dschungel die Wachen damit ab, dass er mit seinem SpyPad einen Snackverkäufer simuliert, und diese rausrennen und nach diesem suchen. Er ist aber in der Höhle, der Klang kommt aus der Höhle und nicht von vor der Höhle, der Mensch hört aber räumlich. Warum rennen sie raus, wenn der Rufen in der Höhle ertönt?
Wenn man Steine mit Schall zertrümmert, ist das so laut, dass der Feind einen von weitem hört, wie doof kann man noch sein?
Und wenn man Bosheit als heilbare Krankheit einstuft, müsste man all diese Psychopathen, die derzeitig die Welt regieren ins Krankenhaus packen und heilen können.
Schlimm auch Zacks Selbstversuche. Schnell mal unbekannte Formeln zusammenmixen (seltsam dass ihn dabei keiner erwischer) und dann mal im Selbstversuch runterkippen und dabei mischen (Seiteneffekte? Wer käme denn auf so eine Idee). Bei Dr. Drastic jedoch scheint eine externe Anwendung bereits zu funktionieren. Was nun, Schlucken, Spritzen oder sich damit Eincremen?
Das Buch ist zudem noch in Schriftgröße 18 gedruckt. Da ist manche Leseprobe länger und ausführlicher. Das ist nicht einmal eine Kurzgeschichte.
Fazit: Kinder sind nicht so doof, wie manche Autoren glauben. Ich würde diesen Haufen gequirlten Quarks nicht einmal einem Sechsjährigen zumuten.
Der Autor ist übrigens ein Pseudonym für drei australische Autoren: Chris Morphew, Hilary Badger and Meredith Badger
Der böse Dr. Drastic hat das sogenannte X-Wasser erfunden. Das ist ein Heilmittel für alle Krankheiten, die es je gegeben hat. Aus unseren Quellen haben wir erfahren, dass Dr. Drastic das X-Wasser in einem streng geheimen Labor irgendwo auf der Giftfrosch-Insel herstellt.
Deine Mission:
- Finde das Heimlabor
- Beschaffe die Formel für das X-Wasser
- Bring sie bis Montag 24 Uhr unversehrt zur Einsatzzentrale
Der zwölfjährige Zack Power ist Geheimagent für GED (Geheimer Ermittlungsdienst). Streng genommen sind alle in Zacks Familie Geheimagenten: Der Vater, die Mutter und der ältere, nerdive Bruder Leon. Die Familie springt über der Giftfroschinsel ab, um die Mission zu erledigen, aber den Eltern kommt ein anderer Auftrag entgegen, Leon wird gleich am Anfang gefangen genommen und nun ist es an Zack allein, die Welt zu retten.
Was für ein Haufen gequirlten Schwachsinns, der hier abgeliefert wird. Fangen wir mal mit diesem Hurra Patriotismus an. Klar, Geheimdienste sind gut und cool und natürlich ist Kinderarbeit in potentiell gefählichen Mission absolut OK, wenn es um die Sicherheit des Landes geht *würg*.
Als wäre das nicht schon schlimm genug, ist das Buch so voller Logikfehler, dass das Lesen zur Qual wird. Fangen wir damit an, dass die Mission ein Zeitlimit hat. Warum genau 24 Stunden? Nur damit Zack noch den Hund Gassi führen kann, der es sich seit über 24 Stunden verheben muss? Wer führt den Hund in der Zwischenzeit aus?
Zudem, die ganze Mission ist fragwürdig. Dr. Drastic will die Formel an den Meistbietenden verkaufen, das ist doch OK. Soll die USA/Australische Regierung eben dafür zahlen. Aber nein, man will sie lieber klauen, als legal zu erwerben und so den Wissenschaftler um seinen Lohn bringen, als wenn Chemikalien und Labore keinen Unterhalt kosten würden. Die ganzen Voraussetzungen dieser Mission sind moralisch mehr als fragwürdig. Stehlen statt kaufen als heldenhaft zu bezeichnen, das kann nur Amerikanern/Australiern in den Sinn kommen. Naja, 5 eyes ist 5 eyes, alles ein und die selbe Soße.
Dann lässt Zack seinen Bruder im Stich. Früher hieß es noch, keiner bleibt zurück, hier nun „Was auch immer passiert, der Agent muss stets seine Mission erfüllen. Mitleid ist fehl am Platz, genauso wie Angst.“ (S. 32). Eine moralisch widerwärtige Einstellung, die zur heutigen Ellenbogengesellschaft passt. Einem Kind sollte man so einen Schund nicht zu lesen geben.
Es wird aber noch schlimmer. Die Logikfehler häufen sich. Zack lenkt mitten im Dschungel die Wachen damit ab, dass er mit seinem SpyPad einen Snackverkäufer simuliert, und diese rausrennen und nach diesem suchen. Er ist aber in der Höhle, der Klang kommt aus der Höhle und nicht von vor der Höhle, der Mensch hört aber räumlich. Warum rennen sie raus, wenn der Rufen in der Höhle ertönt?
Wenn man Steine mit Schall zertrümmert, ist das so laut, dass der Feind einen von weitem hört, wie doof kann man noch sein?
Und wenn man Bosheit als heilbare Krankheit einstuft, müsste man all diese Psychopathen, die derzeitig die Welt regieren ins Krankenhaus packen und heilen können.
Schlimm auch Zacks Selbstversuche. Schnell mal unbekannte Formeln zusammenmixen (seltsam dass ihn dabei keiner erwischer) und dann mal im Selbstversuch runterkippen und dabei mischen (Seiteneffekte? Wer käme denn auf so eine Idee). Bei Dr. Drastic jedoch scheint eine externe Anwendung bereits zu funktionieren. Was nun, Schlucken, Spritzen oder sich damit Eincremen?
Das Buch ist zudem noch in Schriftgröße 18 gedruckt. Da ist manche Leseprobe länger und ausführlicher. Das ist nicht einmal eine Kurzgeschichte.
Fazit: Kinder sind nicht so doof, wie manche Autoren glauben. Ich würde diesen Haufen gequirlten Quarks nicht einmal einem Sechsjährigen zumuten.
Der Autor ist übrigens ein Pseudonym für drei australische Autoren: Chris Morphew, Hilary Badger and Meredith Badger
April 22, 2009
Zac Power has been my 2nd grade daughter's favorite series this year. It's full of action and adventure, new toys and gadgets, evil guys and exciting missions.
Zac Power's family works for the G.I.B.: the Government Investigation Bureau. Zac, his mom and dad, and his brother Leon all work to help solve international crimes in death-defying missions. In this episode, the first of four published in the U.S., Zac must track down Dr. Drastic, an evil mad scientist, before he sells Solution X to the world's government. What is Solution X? Well, you boil the poison from poison dart frogs, add a few secret ingredients, and you have a super secret cure for every type of disease that ever existed. And he is going to blackmail the world's governments, charging them one million dollars each for the recipe!
The writing is clear, action-packed stuff:
"Zac took a flying leap out of the airlock and into the black night.
A split second later, Zac was falling at 200 miles an hour. Wind rushed past him. It roared in his ears. It sucked his cheeks back hard against his skull.
Zac tugged his rip cord and his parchute opened.
Whoosh!"
This book will appeal to 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders who love action and adventure, but want a shorter book. I think it would be fantastic for reluctant readers. Sometimes the vocabulary is a bit advanced with Zac's crazy gadgets (book two is all about an amphibious submersible vehicle). But the story and adventure will carry them through.
Also check out the website for more gadget info: www.zacpower.com It's great for kids to explore.
This series was originally published in Australia, but is slowly being released in the U.S.
Zac Power's family works for the G.I.B.: the Government Investigation Bureau. Zac, his mom and dad, and his brother Leon all work to help solve international crimes in death-defying missions. In this episode, the first of four published in the U.S., Zac must track down Dr. Drastic, an evil mad scientist, before he sells Solution X to the world's government. What is Solution X? Well, you boil the poison from poison dart frogs, add a few secret ingredients, and you have a super secret cure for every type of disease that ever existed. And he is going to blackmail the world's governments, charging them one million dollars each for the recipe!
The writing is clear, action-packed stuff:
"Zac took a flying leap out of the airlock and into the black night.
A split second later, Zac was falling at 200 miles an hour. Wind rushed past him. It roared in his ears. It sucked his cheeks back hard against his skull.
Zac tugged his rip cord and his parchute opened.
Whoosh!"
This book will appeal to 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders who love action and adventure, but want a shorter book. I think it would be fantastic for reluctant readers. Sometimes the vocabulary is a bit advanced with Zac's crazy gadgets (book two is all about an amphibious submersible vehicle). But the story and adventure will carry them through.
Also check out the website for more gadget info: www.zacpower.com It's great for kids to explore.
This series was originally published in Australia, but is slowly being released in the U.S.
January 2, 2012
Gadgets, gizmos, and secret adventure... who doesn't love a good spy story? Where 007 and Alex Rider thrill older readers, Zac Power now brings the fun home to a whole new set of early readers just starting out chapter books. Young boys will love the fast-paced, funny antics with pictures and graphic novel-styled Zap! and Wow! exclamations. In Poison Island, Zac must rescue his brother and save the world from a mad scientist who developed poison Formula X. All that's left is to discover the missing secret ingredient... (Yup, there's just a touch of elementary chemistry thrown in - always a plus for this Science teacher.)
March 4, 2017
"Myrkkysaari" (Sanoma Magazines, 2012) aloittaa 12-vuotiaasta teiniagentista Zac Powerista (hah hah)kertovan kirjasarjan, jonka takana on yhteisen pseudonyymin taakse kätkeytyvä monipäinen kirjoittajajoukko.
Sarjan avausosassa ollaan trooppisella saarella, jossa Zac yrittää saada käsiinsä ilkeän tohtorin laatiman lääkekaavan. Seikkailun aikana joudutaan varomaan piraijoja, purkautumaisillaan olevaa tulivuorta, myrkyllisiä sammakoita ja kahta tyhmää tohtorin apulaista. Kaikki kliseet ovat siis käytössä.
Lopputulos on sanalla sanoen kamalaa roskaa, mutta luullakseni ne kuuluisat vähän lukevat pojat voisivat tästä innostua, joten kaipa tätä voi kakkos- ja kolmosluokkalaisille vinkata.
Sarjan avausosassa ollaan trooppisella saarella, jossa Zac yrittää saada käsiinsä ilkeän tohtorin laatiman lääkekaavan. Seikkailun aikana joudutaan varomaan piraijoja, purkautumaisillaan olevaa tulivuorta, myrkyllisiä sammakoita ja kahta tyhmää tohtorin apulaista. Kaikki kliseet ovat siis käytössä.
Lopputulos on sanalla sanoen kamalaa roskaa, mutta luullakseni ne kuuluisat vähän lukevat pojat voisivat tästä innostua, joten kaipa tätä voi kakkos- ja kolmosluokkalaisille vinkata.
April 28, 2015
It about kids name Zac power he is a spy,and he is on a mission with his family,but he
to go by himself his mother,and father went looking. Around they have to find a evil scientist the evil scientist have make something call solution x. It allowed to heal anything but the scientist want money for it so Zac went with his brother to find it Zac brother got caught by the scientist bodyguard.Zac run and fell into quicksand he was stuck he punched him up with his bouncing sheo he went into a cave there was that have flesh eating. fish it was fake Zac jump into the water there was a door he open it it was the scientist lear. You have to find out what happen.
to go by himself his mother,and father went looking. Around they have to find a evil scientist the evil scientist have make something call solution x. It allowed to heal anything but the scientist want money for it so Zac went with his brother to find it Zac brother got caught by the scientist bodyguard.Zac run and fell into quicksand he was stuck he punched him up with his bouncing sheo he went into a cave there was that have flesh eating. fish it was fake Zac jump into the water there was a door he open it it was the scientist lear. You have to find out what happen.
November 17, 2011
Another book in the zac power series. In this book Zac is in the jungle on a lone island looking for a poisonous and dangerous chemical that could destroy the world in the hands of evil.with the island surrounded by guards,infiltrating the secret lair will not be as easy as he first thought.
I like this book because it is a book that relates to children of my age and has a cool scense of being a undercover operative trying to save the world.It also is not a large book and dose not take a long time to read instead it is short and keeps you hooked and makes you want to read the next story.
I like this book because it is a book that relates to children of my age and has a cool scense of being a undercover operative trying to save the world.It also is not a large book and dose not take a long time to read instead it is short and keeps you hooked and makes you want to read the next story.
September 24, 2012
Screening for my 7.5 year old before he reads the book so this is a "Mom" review looking for inappropriate things. :)
What's in there:
*The only thing I disagreed with in this book was that Zac's solution to find the Solution X was to mix up recipes with poison in them and try them. I just discussed with my son to ensure that he should never taste something if he doesn't know what is in it.
Overall, a fun spy adventure story!
What's in there:
*The only thing I disagreed with in this book was that Zac's solution to find the Solution X was to mix up recipes with poison in them and try them. I just discussed with my son to ensure that he should never taste something if he doesn't know what is in it.
Overall, a fun spy adventure story!
October 29, 2012
Tämä on kyllä kohtuullisen järkyttävää kuraa jatkuvine päälauseineen. Mikään ei hätkäytä päähenkilöä, joka joutuu näennäisesti uhkaavien ja potentiaalisesti mielenkiintoisten tilanteiden armoille. Kirjailija kuvaa tätä kaikkea ulkopuolisen tyynesti jättäen lukijan hyvinkin yksin säälimään Zac Poweria, jonka tarinat on saatu laimennettua näin tehokkaasti.
Miksi pienille ei kirjoiteta kunnon toimintaa?
Miksi pienille ei kirjoiteta kunnon toimintaa?
February 21, 2010
Zac Power is a cocky little guy, he is on a mission with his family against the nefarious Dr. Drastic. When his brother is kidnapped the stakes go up and Zac comes to understand the talents his brother brings to the team.
March 2, 2011
Think Spy Kids for early chapter book readers. Will read second book to see if the book evolves some (in terms of writing and character development) and can see some kids really enjoying this type of book,
February 19, 2014
Good. I'm reading these to my almost four year old son. He had to have these at the library and seems to love them. I'm not sure why, but he'll sit through the whole thing being read in one sitting so I can't complain too much. It beats playing hot wheels for hours or crashing monster trucks! :-)
April 22, 2015
I really like poison island I think it is fun and easy to read. I think you would have fun reading it. It is an interesting book that catches your eye when I saw it I knew I wanted to read it. I think you will also GOODBYE.
May 30, 2009
It was so good, I read it twice before taking it back to the library.
September 20, 2010
Even smart alec, older brothers that are computer geeks can be captured.
Read
October 28, 2010Terrific
October 29, 2010
Sorry, this one was not for me. One dimensional characters, ludicrous problems and solutions, simplistic prose. Come on, there have got to be better action/adventure books than this.
April 21, 2011
This is an action packed book. Any child who likes adventure will enjoy this book. The end of each chapter leaves you wondering what will happen next. It is an exciting story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews