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The Genius Files #5
License to Thrill
The wackiest road trip in history has reached its final destination...
But Coke and Pepsi McDonald aren't in the clear just yet! Before they reach the finish line, the twins will be abducted by aliens, trapped with a venomous snake, pushed through a deadly turbine, and thrown into a volcano.
Craziest of all, their parents might finally believe them!
Will the twins make it back home to California in one piece, or will they fall off the top of the Golden Gate Bridge? It's all coming to an end with this fifth book in the Genius Files series. You'll have to read it to believe it!
But Coke and Pepsi McDonald aren't in the clear just yet! Before they reach the finish line, the twins will be abducted by aliens, trapped with a venomous snake, pushed through a deadly turbine, and thrown into a volcano.
Craziest of all, their parents might finally believe them!
Will the twins make it back home to California in one piece, or will they fall off the top of the Golden Gate Bridge? It's all coming to an end with this fifth book in the Genius Files series. You'll have to read it to believe it!
251 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2015
192 people are currently reading
805 people want to read
About the author
Dan Gutman
358 books1,033 followersThe author of over 80 books in a little over a decade of writing, Dan Gutman has written on topics from computers to baseball. Beginning his freelance career as a nonfiction author dealing mostly with sports for adults and young readers, Gutman has concentrated on juvenile fiction since 1995. His most popular titles include the time-travel sports book Honus and Me and its sequels, and a clutch of baseball books, including The Green Monster from Left Field. From hopeful and very youthful presidential candidates to stunt men, nothing is off limits in Gutman's fertile imagination. As he noted on his author Web site, since writing his first novel, They Came from Centerfield, in 1994, he has been hooked on fiction. "It was fun to write, kids loved it, and I discovered how incredibly rewarding it is to take a blank page and turn it into a WORLD."
Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.
Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
April 5, 2015
What I Thought- This was a marvelous conclusion to the Genius Files. Mr. Gutman knows how to pull the reader into a story, and then completely throw you off your guard. Mr. Gutman has narrated the story in a funny way, he tells you right from the beginning that Coke will get thrown into a volcano (which actually happens in Chapter Twenty). Mr. Gutman injects a lot of humor into his stories. I really enjoy his writing style. It is helpful to read the other Genius Files books before reading this one, but not necessary, as Mr. Gutman pretty much brings the reader up to speed. Coke and Pepsi have changed a lot from the first book to this one, and it really shows – I like that their personalities developed over the series. There are pictures throughout the book of real-life places that the characters went to – some of which I’ve been to (but some not) which are a nice addition to the book. This was a thrilling fifth book in the series!
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
May 22, 2023
Loved the ending to this series. My son is already rereading them.
December 2, 2015
This was the last book in The Genius Files and it was a great wrap up. I did predict the ending but overall it was very enjoyable. It was a very easy read and it's good for anyone looking for a lot of humor with action.
February 26, 2015
License to Thrill by Dan Gutman is the 5th and final book in the Genius files series. The series has been telling the story of a cross country trip where two siblings Pepsi and Coke have been chased by a psychopath and his minions, and had been almost killed in countless strange ways.
I think the writing style is unique in that it is very Guardians of the Galaxy style. That means it is very true to reality, and very straight forward, not adding any useless parts to the story, just telling it in a honest way. It’s funny, because I thought this type of writing was good AND bad. It was funny, but sometimes left me confused or annoyed(he lied about part of the book at one point). So he may have overused it. Finally, I think would like to compare this to a book called Accidental Adventure. This book is almost the opposite of the book I am reviewing, both have a brother and sister go on an adventure, but in AA, they are unmotivated and just want to watch tv, but in the other book they almost enjoy it, even though they will probably die.
I would recommend this book to anyone as long as you have read at least books 1-3.
I think the writing style is unique in that it is very Guardians of the Galaxy style. That means it is very true to reality, and very straight forward, not adding any useless parts to the story, just telling it in a honest way. It’s funny, because I thought this type of writing was good AND bad. It was funny, but sometimes left me confused or annoyed(he lied about part of the book at one point). So he may have overused it. Finally, I think would like to compare this to a book called Accidental Adventure. This book is almost the opposite of the book I am reviewing, both have a brother and sister go on an adventure, but in AA, they are unmotivated and just want to watch tv, but in the other book they almost enjoy it, even though they will probably die.
I would recommend this book to anyone as long as you have read at least books 1-3.
August 20, 2015
I read The Genius Files License to Thrill by Dan Gutman. The genre of the book was Adventure one of my favorite genres. Also I really like the author because I have also read some of his other books before, one is Million Dollar Putt. Anyway there were two kids named Coke and Pepsi, Pep for short it all started with a man named Dr. Warsaw, but I don't want to spoil it for you so read the book. I really suggest it if you love adventures it is a great book that you will have to get in to.
March 14, 2018
Lucy and I finished this series...we really enjoyed it!
February 1, 2016
The scary adventures of Coke and Pepsi will intrigue you! The Genius Files License To Thrill by Dan Gutman is a great realistic fiction book that has lots of real facts and places throughout the book.
Coke and Pepsi McDonald are twins. The twins mom is writing a book called Amazing but True, and she needs more information for her book. Mrs.Mcdonald thought it would be cool if she saw all the stuff that's going into her book, so her company gave her family a free trip around the country to explore things for her book. It sounds all good, at least for the parents. Around the time of the beginning of the trip the twins got invited into a secret program called the Genius Files that has all of the smart kids in the world. This sounds great until the creator of the program Dr. Warshaw goes crazy and tries to kill everyone in the program. Coke and Pepsi are the only kids left in the program, and that's where the story begins. Coke and Pepsi are chased around the country by crazy bowler doods, aliens, there crazy health teacher Mrs. Higgens, Archie, Fake Elvis, and lots more people. Every historic landmark they go to there are people trying to kill them. When they tell their parents that people are trying to kill them they don’t believe it. They think the twins are just making things up. For example on page 73 it says “It was and alien space ship and we went to check it out and we got sucked up and then it took off and the aliens were really ugly and we went to the moon. “How do you come up with this stuff? Dr. Mcdonald said”
Someone who would enjoy reading this book is someone who likes action and adventure. This book is a great book with lots of real facts and information. The question that you have to answer is will Coke and Pepsi’s parents finally believe them?
Coke and Pepsi McDonald are twins. The twins mom is writing a book called Amazing but True, and she needs more information for her book. Mrs.Mcdonald thought it would be cool if she saw all the stuff that's going into her book, so her company gave her family a free trip around the country to explore things for her book. It sounds all good, at least for the parents. Around the time of the beginning of the trip the twins got invited into a secret program called the Genius Files that has all of the smart kids in the world. This sounds great until the creator of the program Dr. Warshaw goes crazy and tries to kill everyone in the program. Coke and Pepsi are the only kids left in the program, and that's where the story begins. Coke and Pepsi are chased around the country by crazy bowler doods, aliens, there crazy health teacher Mrs. Higgens, Archie, Fake Elvis, and lots more people. Every historic landmark they go to there are people trying to kill them. When they tell their parents that people are trying to kill them they don’t believe it. They think the twins are just making things up. For example on page 73 it says “It was and alien space ship and we went to check it out and we got sucked up and then it took off and the aliens were really ugly and we went to the moon. “How do you come up with this stuff? Dr. Mcdonald said”
Someone who would enjoy reading this book is someone who likes action and adventure. This book is a great book with lots of real facts and information. The question that you have to answer is will Coke and Pepsi’s parents finally believe them?
September 21, 2016
PERSONAL RESPONSE:
I enjoyed the Genius Files License to Thrill by Dan Gutman because the book was leaving me hanging on what was going to happen. I also liked how the author taught me about landmarks and historical events in the context of the book in a fun way. If i was not aware of the twin towers attacks previously to reading this book I would think it was fictional. I liked how he didn’t tell me what happened until later chapters, because he jumped to another related topic or something happened all of a sudden and took him off topic. I liked how for the most part everything that happened could really have occurred, but some of the events were a little out there.
PLOT:
The main events in the story were about Coke and Pepsi and people led by Dr. Warsaw trying to kill them. Dr. Warsaw started the program after 9/11, because he thought smart kids could save the world. The kids in the program had no choice but to be in the program or die at the start of it. At the end of the book Dr. Warsaw ended the program, and he wanted to kill all of the kids in it to keep the program a secret. They told their parents every time someone tried to kill them, but the parents just thought the kids were joking around and making up stories. In the end the parents believed them, but the parents were so mind blown by all that happened right under their noses.
RECOMMENDATION:
I would recommend the Genius Files License to Thrill to 5th through 10th grade girls and boys because the two main characters are a boy and a girl. The material would be too childish for those beyond high school. I also think it might be hard for younger kids to understand because of the point of view and how he changes the topic often.
December 21, 2024
I read each of these books in quick succession a while ago. The first book was great, the second good, the third tolerable, and they plunged downwards from there. This was likely the result of each book being nothing more than a copy-and-paste of the previous, with slightly different events and places. Right down to the dialogue, the opening, and the parent’s stupid reactions, there was no deviation besides switching out settings, like filling in the same Mad Libs page again and again until it loses its humor.
Everything, from the villains to the parent’s personalities to the kid’s names was stupid and unrealistic. Before you say it’s written for children, I was a child within the target audience as of my reading it, and even then I despised every element of the last few books and easily spotted the ridiculousness of each consecutive book. Some authors, like J K Rowling, know how to respect their audience and actually write to their level instead of this book, which seems to assume children are dumb and won’t notice stilted dialogue, flat, unrealistic, scraps of characters, an abundance of illogical scenes, and over-the-top cartoony villains. Not to mention, if my memories are correct, at least one actual curse word in the final book and oddly graphic descriptions of violence—not ridiculously so or anything, but gratingly abrupt when compared to the rest of the childish book.
I am not explicitly saying the writing is bad; my memories are too hazy to speak of that well, either positively or negatively. No, it’s the obvious laziness in the writing that brought an end to my brief liking of these. Bad writing can be learned from; lazy writing is inexcusable. As I said before (ironically), every book is a repeat, excluding the stupid ending of the fifth book in which, if my memory serves, , but don’t actually add anything to the lackluster plot. This is absurd and utterly out-of-the-blue, not to mention out of keeping with the rest of the series, which is mostly seated in reality, with unbelievable circumstances but not magical or supernatural occurrences of any sort, except perhaps the fact that our main characters actually survive any of the dangers they are faced with.
Characters:
I don’t usually separate my reviews into segments like this, but I have too much to say about this author’s flat, silly, unrealistic view of a ‘character’. Not one so-called character in this series has anything close to character development—how could they, when they’re already barely more than a name, and a painfully scripted list of adjectives and ridiculous talents? I hate to use the word unrealistic yet again, but that is, above all, what I would describe this series as.
Our main characters, Coke and Pepsi McDonald, are obnoxious, dumb children with extraordinarily stupid names who regularly lie to their parents and, naturally, the parents accept whatever their children say because apparently they are nothing more than cardboard cutouts put in place of parents when creating actual, responsible adults was far too difficult. Coke and Pepsi are touted as geniuses throughout the series, even in the title itself, but show no trace of any intelligence past their age, and perhaps not even that. I believe they were 12 or 13 in the books and, as someone who is very familiar with that age group, no 12 or 13 year old would ever act with the level of stupidity and obliviousness that these so-called heroes do.
The side characters, whose names are Maya and Bones if I recall correctly, frustrated me more than the twins, somehow. First off, Coke and Pepsi greeted them the exact. same. way. every. time. they. met. Talk about lack of originality! The author couldn’t even come up with a variation of words or circumstances! They appeared out of nowhere to have copy-and-pasted conversations with Coke and Pepsi a few times each book and vanished without a trace. If your character can be replaced by a drone that brings them ‘useful’ things, it’s not a good character.
The parents: as I stated previously, the parents are oblivious, stereotypical, stupid, ridiculous, gullible cardboard cutouts of people because it appears the author presumed it would be too much trouble to have actual parents in his story who actually have thoughts and sentience and the ability to freaking notice their children going missing for hours at a time and do something about it. I found myself putting in my own parents in multiple circumstances, considering what they would have done in that situation. I do believe this series wouldn’t have made it past a single book had the parents been anywhere close to real people.
The villains: these are the most hazy in my memory, probably because they could be interchanged with a picture of a cackling comic book villain and a voice box spouting stereotypical villains phrases. I don’t even remember how many there were—two? Three? More? None? I just cannot.
Writing middle-grade, or elementary level, or whatever this is supposed to be, should not be easier than writing YA or regular novels. Just because your readers are younger does not mean lazy writing, half-formed characters, and less than mediocre storytelling can be tolerated. I believe this is meant as a middle-grade novel, but it reads much, much younger, to an audience presumed to be stupid. A book has never riled me up this much, because at least other books that are ‘bad’ in my opinion failed in matters of pacing, plot, dry/dull writing, or any number of other things. This is just pretentious, condescending, and asinine, without a hint of subtlety throughout the entire thing. As an aspiring writer, I try to write things that will match my reader’s comprehension and understanding, instead of thrusting any piece of junk at them to make money. With other books, I can appreciate how someone could enjoy it—for instance, the Hobbit, a book that many people in my family and close circle of friends adore. I don’t like it, finding the writing to be dull and plodding, but it is a classic, and I can see why someone could enjoy it, even though I do not. Not here. If the author made no effort, why should the reader bother with such stupidity?
This is not a must-read, should-read or even a good-to-read book. It’s insulting to children to present this to them when there are hundreds of books at the same level that actually respect their reader instead of the absolute condescension and laziness that defines this series.
Everything, from the villains to the parent’s personalities to the kid’s names was stupid and unrealistic. Before you say it’s written for children, I was a child within the target audience as of my reading it, and even then I despised every element of the last few books and easily spotted the ridiculousness of each consecutive book. Some authors, like J K Rowling, know how to respect their audience and actually write to their level instead of this book, which seems to assume children are dumb and won’t notice stilted dialogue, flat, unrealistic, scraps of characters, an abundance of illogical scenes, and over-the-top cartoony villains. Not to mention, if my memories are correct, at least one actual curse word in the final book and oddly graphic descriptions of violence—not ridiculously so or anything, but gratingly abrupt when compared to the rest of the childish book.
I am not explicitly saying the writing is bad; my memories are too hazy to speak of that well, either positively or negatively. No, it’s the obvious laziness in the writing that brought an end to my brief liking of these. Bad writing can be learned from; lazy writing is inexcusable. As I said before (ironically), every book is a repeat, excluding the stupid ending of the fifth book in which, if my memory serves, , but don’t actually add anything to the lackluster plot. This is absurd and utterly out-of-the-blue, not to mention out of keeping with the rest of the series, which is mostly seated in reality, with unbelievable circumstances but not magical or supernatural occurrences of any sort, except perhaps the fact that our main characters actually survive any of the dangers they are faced with.
Characters:
I don’t usually separate my reviews into segments like this, but I have too much to say about this author’s flat, silly, unrealistic view of a ‘character’. Not one so-called character in this series has anything close to character development—how could they, when they’re already barely more than a name, and a painfully scripted list of adjectives and ridiculous talents? I hate to use the word unrealistic yet again, but that is, above all, what I would describe this series as.
Our main characters, Coke and Pepsi McDonald, are obnoxious, dumb children with extraordinarily stupid names who regularly lie to their parents and, naturally, the parents accept whatever their children say because apparently they are nothing more than cardboard cutouts put in place of parents when creating actual, responsible adults was far too difficult. Coke and Pepsi are touted as geniuses throughout the series, even in the title itself, but show no trace of any intelligence past their age, and perhaps not even that. I believe they were 12 or 13 in the books and, as someone who is very familiar with that age group, no 12 or 13 year old would ever act with the level of stupidity and obliviousness that these so-called heroes do.
The side characters, whose names are Maya and Bones if I recall correctly, frustrated me more than the twins, somehow. First off, Coke and Pepsi greeted them the exact. same. way. every. time. they. met. Talk about lack of originality! The author couldn’t even come up with a variation of words or circumstances! They appeared out of nowhere to have copy-and-pasted conversations with Coke and Pepsi a few times each book and vanished without a trace. If your character can be replaced by a drone that brings them ‘useful’ things, it’s not a good character.
The parents: as I stated previously, the parents are oblivious, stereotypical, stupid, ridiculous, gullible cardboard cutouts of people because it appears the author presumed it would be too much trouble to have actual parents in his story who actually have thoughts and sentience and the ability to freaking notice their children going missing for hours at a time and do something about it. I found myself putting in my own parents in multiple circumstances, considering what they would have done in that situation. I do believe this series wouldn’t have made it past a single book had the parents been anywhere close to real people.
The villains: these are the most hazy in my memory, probably because they could be interchanged with a picture of a cackling comic book villain and a voice box spouting stereotypical villains phrases. I don’t even remember how many there were—two? Three? More? None? I just cannot.
Writing middle-grade, or elementary level, or whatever this is supposed to be, should not be easier than writing YA or regular novels. Just because your readers are younger does not mean lazy writing, half-formed characters, and less than mediocre storytelling can be tolerated. I believe this is meant as a middle-grade novel, but it reads much, much younger, to an audience presumed to be stupid. A book has never riled me up this much, because at least other books that are ‘bad’ in my opinion failed in matters of pacing, plot, dry/dull writing, or any number of other things. This is just pretentious, condescending, and asinine, without a hint of subtlety throughout the entire thing. As an aspiring writer, I try to write things that will match my reader’s comprehension and understanding, instead of thrusting any piece of junk at them to make money. With other books, I can appreciate how someone could enjoy it—for instance, the Hobbit, a book that many people in my family and close circle of friends adore. I don’t like it, finding the writing to be dull and plodding, but it is a classic, and I can see why someone could enjoy it, even though I do not. Not here. If the author made no effort, why should the reader bother with such stupidity?
This is not a must-read, should-read or even a good-to-read book. It’s insulting to children to present this to them when there are hundreds of books at the same level that actually respect their reader instead of the absolute condescension and laziness that defines this series.
May 2, 2015
License to Thrill (The Genius Files Book 5) by Dan Gutman follows Coke and Pepsi McDonald as they finish their summer vacation trip and return home with their parents. As with the other four books in the series, Coke and Pep get caught in some impossibly unbelievable scenarios: an alien abduction, a venomous snake attack, a volcano, and the Hoover Dam water turbines. But, hey, it is fiction after all. And that is the appeal of the book; that and the full throttle humor, of course.
As Coke and Pepsi think their way out of each catastrophe, readers wait with bated breath to see how they do it, because, of course, they survive. They have to. They are the ones who will save the world from whatever disastrous event Dr. Warsaw has planned in the cipher clues he leaves Coke and Pepsi. Sometimes, their escapes can be chalked up fiction writing and admitted author license, other times character anger issues. Either way, the resolutions are fun.
This is a great series to read for fun and for planning your next vacation. Learn where to visit strange museums and tourist attractions across the U.S. and how to avoid dangerous, potentially life threatening accidents.
As Coke and Pepsi think their way out of each catastrophe, readers wait with bated breath to see how they do it, because, of course, they survive. They have to. They are the ones who will save the world from whatever disastrous event Dr. Warsaw has planned in the cipher clues he leaves Coke and Pepsi. Sometimes, their escapes can be chalked up fiction writing and admitted author license, other times character anger issues. Either way, the resolutions are fun.
This is a great series to read for fun and for planning your next vacation. Learn where to visit strange museums and tourist attractions across the U.S. and how to avoid dangerous, potentially life threatening accidents.
February 1, 2016
The book, Genius Files License to Thrill, was an amazing book. The McDonald twins start out in Texas. Well,they were in Texas, but in a UFO in Texas. After the alien's scan the twins brains, they get back on to their daily dangerous life. On their way back to California, they are driving through the scorching hot desert and their car breaks down. Then the most crazy thing happens! Their worst enemy comes to save them. On their way back home, they encounter Dr. Warsaw with his microscopic but deadly bomb. But, Dr. Warsaw is standing on the Golden State Bridge with thousands of other people. With the twins life's in jeopardy, what will they do? Find out when you read Genius Files License to Thrill.
July 24, 2015
The book was so good that I finished it really quick. My sister got the book before me and she still has not finished it. I am a typically fast reader and I can still analyze a book and summerize and anylize the book when I finish it in 1 day to 3 days but this one was special and if my mom asked me to summerize the book I would still tell her about it. The reason this is is because this was a funny, fun, adventurous book to read I recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it before
July 30, 2015
My son read shared this book with me. We have enjoyed traveling with Coke and Pep and seeing them develop into a team that knows each others strengths and weaknesses. It is also nice to see them working out their problems rather than relying on others to save them. There are plenty of thrills, a new villain or two and a final confrontation that takes out Dr. Warsaw for good (or does it)? Read and enjoy planning your own trip around the country to see the sights and visit strange locations!
February 19, 2015
I loved this book so much! This is probably my favorite book. The previous book had a huge cliff hanger when the twins got abducted by aliens. I loved all these books probably my favorite series of books ever.
October 24, 2023
Just a little to silly for me.
July 7, 2024
This reminds me of Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, but no magic (I think). Similar to Alcatraz, the first book of this series I found was also the last one (oops), but unlike with Alcatraz, I read it anyway rather than hunt down the first books.
It's not that it's impossible to follow, though obviously this book spoils things that happen in the prior books, but I found myself not that invested in the outcome, ESPECIALLY since it STARTS with . That sort of sets a certain tone for the rest of the book, doesn't it? Yet the rest seemed slightly anticlimactic after that, especially having only a rushed recap to start with. Sure, I could have tried to absorb what the recap said, but as the narrator points out in the next chapter, it doesn't matter (and where it does, there's a "reminder" note).
Well, okay, TECHNICALLY the narrator just says there aren't any character descriptions because you, the reader, would just forget anyway, and also what they look like isn't as important. Same thing; the past details, where relevant, are just mentioned "again", so it's not like I'm REALLY missing anything. Okay, I'm missing history and investment in the characters, I guess, but that's going to happen when starting with the LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES.
Other than the problem of starting at the end, I didn't like a few things (noting only out of fairness for purposes of review rather than malice):
- learning the felt forced, like something to be gotten out of the way rather than a compelling plot point in itself
- actually, that entire thing could have been cut without affecting the story, other than making it a bit shorter than expected, and it would have kept a mostly-believable tone vs. suddenly switching genres
- one of the ciphers has a typo (surprised this wasn't cut and pasted for the follow-up)
- the bit about their mom trying to swipe snacks from the buffet, then putting them back: UNHYGENIC (also, what buffet serves food that can be taken out of the restaurant, other than like whole fruits... okay, THOSE might be fine to put back)
I did like the ciphers, though, which I could mostly solve in my head (the second one lacked crucial information to make it solvable), and it doesn't seem like a bad series. I just couldn't be bothered to find the first books before reading. It's fine; should I find the other books, it's not like what happens in this one will really change how those pan out, other than I'll already know some of the villains. I mean, the ending was already pretty predictable, based on what their dad says.
Recommended... after reading the prior books, haha. Not like you couldn't still enjoy this one by itself, but it's a bit of a curve.
Edit to add: Forgot to mention, I would've taken issue with the fact they're a family of four taking a cross-country road trip in a FERRARI, but apparently there ARE four-seater Ferraris... also, this DOES actually become a point of contention in the story, so if I thought it was a terrible idea, I GUESS THEY DID, TOO. At least I'm not wondering if I missed some context that made the Ferrari a good decision! (I did not.)
It's not that it's impossible to follow, though obviously this book spoils things that happen in the prior books, but I found myself not that invested in the outcome, ESPECIALLY since it STARTS with . That sort of sets a certain tone for the rest of the book, doesn't it? Yet the rest seemed slightly anticlimactic after that, especially having only a rushed recap to start with. Sure, I could have tried to absorb what the recap said, but as the narrator points out in the next chapter, it doesn't matter (and where it does, there's a "reminder" note).
Well, okay, TECHNICALLY the narrator just says there aren't any character descriptions because you, the reader, would just forget anyway, and also what they look like isn't as important. Same thing; the past details, where relevant, are just mentioned "again", so it's not like I'm REALLY missing anything. Okay, I'm missing history and investment in the characters, I guess, but that's going to happen when starting with the LAST BOOK IN THE SERIES.
Other than the problem of starting at the end, I didn't like a few things (noting only out of fairness for purposes of review rather than malice):
- learning the felt forced, like something to be gotten out of the way rather than a compelling plot point in itself
- actually, that entire thing could have been cut without affecting the story, other than making it a bit shorter than expected, and it would have kept a mostly-believable tone vs. suddenly switching genres
- one of the ciphers has a typo (surprised this wasn't cut and pasted for the follow-up)
- the bit about their mom trying to swipe snacks from the buffet, then putting them back: UNHYGENIC (also, what buffet serves food that can be taken out of the restaurant, other than like whole fruits... okay, THOSE might be fine to put back)
I did like the ciphers, though, which I could mostly solve in my head (the second one lacked crucial information to make it solvable), and it doesn't seem like a bad series. I just couldn't be bothered to find the first books before reading. It's fine; should I find the other books, it's not like what happens in this one will really change how those pan out, other than I'll already know some of the villains. I mean, the ending was already pretty predictable, based on what their dad says.
Recommended... after reading the prior books, haha. Not like you couldn't still enjoy this one by itself, but it's a bit of a curve.
Edit to add: Forgot to mention, I would've taken issue with the fact they're a family of four taking a cross-country road trip in a FERRARI, but apparently there ARE four-seater Ferraris... also, this DOES actually become a point of contention in the story, so if I thought it was a terrible idea, I GUESS THEY DID, TOO. At least I'm not wondering if I missed some context that made the Ferrari a good decision! (I did not.)
May 29, 2019
I'm just gonna write my review for books 2-5 in this, cause i'm too lazy to go through and write a review for each one.
My first huge issue with this series, is that the kids' parents don't believe them when they try to tell them what happened. Yes, the things that happened to them are highly improbable. So when one of the parents hears an inane story such as they one they tell, it's naturally right for them to assume they're just joking. But after about the 5th time they've said something that seems ridiculous to them, the parents should actually start to take things seriously.
My second issue with this series, is that it was so repetitive. They basically did the same thing over and over (go to some tourist trap or museum, meet the person who's trying to kill you with some really unrealistic trap, find some ridiculous way to escape said trap, leave aforementioned place, tell the parents exactly what happened to which they don't believe them, find some cipher, decode said cipher, get ambushed by Bones and Mya, and rinse and repeat).
Overall, the book was just too easy to predict, and while there were some inherently obvious issues throughout the series, it was still relatively enjoyable to read.
My first huge issue with this series, is that the kids' parents don't believe them when they try to tell them what happened. Yes, the things that happened to them are highly improbable. So when one of the parents hears an inane story such as they one they tell, it's naturally right for them to assume they're just joking. But after about the 5th time they've said something that seems ridiculous to them, the parents should actually start to take things seriously.
My second issue with this series, is that it was so repetitive. They basically did the same thing over and over (go to some tourist trap or museum, meet the person who's trying to kill you with some really unrealistic trap, find some ridiculous way to escape said trap, leave aforementioned place, tell the parents exactly what happened to which they don't believe them, find some cipher, decode said cipher, get ambushed by Bones and Mya, and rinse and repeat).
Overall, the book was just too easy to predict, and while there were some inherently obvious issues throughout the series, it was still relatively enjoyable to read.
January 3, 2017
First of all, don't let my low rating scare you away. I know I am not the target audience for this book, which is probably middle-elementary school boys. My third-grade son enjoyed this series quite a bit, and I credit these books with helping to get him interested in longer chapter books.
That said, it's just too silly and outrageous for my liking! In this book, we deviate a bit from the familiar cross-country trip during which Coke and Pep fend off Dr. Warsaw and his henchmen. Instead, the first few chapters pick up where the last book left off - with Coke and Pep being abducted by aliens! At least it provided some context for the author to impart a bunch of science and space-related facts.
The book does give us a conclusion, though maybe I'd stop short of calling it satisfying.
That said, it's just too silly and outrageous for my liking! In this book, we deviate a bit from the familiar cross-country trip during which Coke and Pep fend off Dr. Warsaw and his henchmen. Instead, the first few chapters pick up where the last book left off - with Coke and Pep being abducted by aliens! At least it provided some context for the author to impart a bunch of science and space-related facts.
The book does give us a conclusion, though maybe I'd stop short of calling it satisfying.
September 16, 2022
Ok, I’m clearly not expecting a literary masterpiece from this book, but it pissed me off enough that I felt compelled to write a review. I’ve been reading this series with my 9 year old son and found the first one funny and enjoyable. Things definitely got repetitive in books 2-4, but they were still fine. But damn, Gutman was just phoning it in with this last one. Coke and Pep were placed in yet another deadly situation, but instead of saving themselves through ingenuity (or luck), Gutman cuts away and basically says, “I can’t explain how they survived this situation. They should have died. But hey, you found this book on the fiction shelf.” Yikes!!
September 22, 2017
I loved this book because it has gadgets. I'd recommend this book to readers of all ages that like gadgets. If you like spy books then you will love this book because it has gadgets like spy books.in the end dr. Warsaw dies. Gutman continues to do what he does best entertain readers. This is the last book so I can't make a cliff hanger question.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2020
RealRate - 4.5/5
The first few chapters of the story were just boring in my opinion, but as the novel kept going, it definitely was funny, and most of all, action-packed. The ending was another reason why I raised the rating because I just loved how it was written. This story was clever, witty, and I recommend the series to everyone!
The first few chapters of the story were just boring in my opinion, but as the novel kept going, it definitely was funny, and most of all, action-packed. The ending was another reason why I raised the rating because I just loved how it was written. This story was clever, witty, and I recommend the series to everyone!
September 11, 2017
I came across this middle school series because I was looking for fiction about RV travel. (There isn't much!) It turned out to be quite hilarious, actually. A plus was the travelogue dimension since all the weird places the family visits while criss-crossing the U.S. are real.
November 5, 2017
All good things must come to an end, just like book series. The Genius Files series did not let me down and neither did this last book. I thought it was tense, and nerve-racking, just like the first books. So i highly recommend this book and this series.
November 23, 2016
It was good
Thank you for the wonderful reading, mr gutman! Your books are always fun, short reads which engage the reader. :)
Thank you for the wonderful reading, mr gutman! Your books are always fun, short reads which engage the reader. :)
August 4, 2017
Fantastic ending!!
October 23, 2017
I thought it was an awesome book. I think this was the best out of the 5. You should read it too
November 12, 2018
So good!
June 10, 2020
one of the best series, not gonna lie
August 11, 2020
Love this series & this author! Great book! What a great adventure!
December 18, 2020
Me and my class love these books so much I recommend them
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