This is proof that the latest fad in kids' lit has likely run its course, at least in terms of decent stuff being written. This is a variation of the treasure hunt theme, at least in this book, which is the start of a series. The basic idea is a good one. A scientist and his two kids are captured trying to free a bird from one of the piles of garbage that have gotten everywhere in the future. So I suppose in that sense, it is a dystrophia, meant for the younger crowd. There is one corporation that somehow has assumed governmental powers and enforces the rules to a ridiculous degree with absurd penalties for the smallest infraction. So the scientist, who has gotten into trouble before, is put under home arrest. The two kids, particularly, the girl, who idolizes their dad, are determined to free him. A long time ago, while working with another scientist, they came up with a formula to convert trash to organic soil, plants, trees, etc. But the two had feared the huge corporation turning this into a weapon and agreed to split up and never combine their halves of the formula they have discovered. The two kids go on a not particularly difficult hunt and promptly find their dad's old partner who no one else has been able to find. He utterly refuses to contribute his half of the formula so they could create a continent that wouldn't be ruled by the corporation. Two seconds later, he says ok. They eventually make the formula and make a continent where they happily live ever after, for a few days. They look up and see pink animals approaching: the next book is now set up. The animals are clearly owned by their arch nemesis, a schoolmate of the girl, who has a thing for pink. On to the next book!
The problems with this book are just numerous. I don't like either of the main characters. The girl, whose name I can't recall, is a junior version of her dad, always does things without thinking them through, and thinks that because her intentions are pure, the methods, however crooked, must also be pure. The boy, Rickie, is of course, just the opposite. He is too cautious, thinks things through to an excruciating degree, is a goodie goodie and plans on being perfect so he can take over the family business. He is devastated when he gets into trouble with above corporation. Both characters are caricatures. The baddie is even worse. She is the secret CEO of her Dad's corporation. The thing that qualifies her for CEO status is absolute disregard of anything but her own wishes. If she wants it, she'll get it. She is the classic mean girl, humiliating others constantly because she can. Her name is Vesuvia. Her henchman is treated terribly by Vesuvia and turns on her because Vesuvia doesn't say "please" to her and betrays her to the governmental corporation. She wants to make her own continent for much the same reasons as the good guys but have everything be pink and plastic. I'm not too sure how that is supposed to be accomplished with a chemical formula that turns trash to organic matter but never mind, that is her aim. All the characters are two dimensional, although the computer bird that is supposed to give them school quizzes is rather cute. So is the other scientist's cat, Niels Bohr. I refuse to call this science fiction since there is absolutely no attempt to show scientific principles for anything. The author is clearly hoping to spark kids' interest with methods such as naming the cat after a famous scientist. The plot is ridiculous. The kids are Hardy Boys caricatures, where they can do anything, apparently because they decide to. Actually, mentioning the Hardy boys isn't fair because the science in those books was decently thought out and explained. I will check to see how popular this series has the potential to be and buy accordingly but this is really awful writing even for a series with no greater intent than the old Stratemeyer Syndicate. But at least those books respected the characters and plots enough to represent them properly. Nancy Drew's Dad is a lawyer which gives her the background for many of her exploits. The same thing is true for the Hardy Boys. There is no such respect shown here. Dad is a joke. How someone so scattered brained and inability to focus is supposed to have turned out half of a formula no one else can reproduce is never explained. Mr. Drew is clearly represented as a man who thoroughly knows his business.
This author has good intentions but utterly fails to carry out his aims to interest the readers in science.