Top Secret

by John Reynolds Gardiner, Marc Simont (Illustrator)

Despite the disapproval of his parents and his formidable science teacher, nine-year-old Allen determines to do his science project on human photosynthesis.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fantasy, Young Adult, Chapter Books

110 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Michael Vlieger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second reading. I originally read it in grade school and it was the first book I stayed up late with a flashlight just to finish. Just as good the second time, even if I didn't need a flashlight.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to my science kids every year. It touches on several science concepts that leads into specific topics in my science classroom as well as a few life skills. The kids love the book and usually don't want me to stop reading for the day.

In the beginning of the story the boy has to decide on a topic for his science fair project. Thus begins the struggle of him vs the teacher. He thinks he has the best possible topic and the teacher does not. Even though the teacher assigns him a different topic, he proceeds to do his on "Human Photosynthesis." After researching the topic of photosynthesis, he develops a concoction he feels surely will create human photosynthesis. He is his only guinea pig and the adventure begins. It is a story with him (and his grandpa) against everyone else. You will just need to read the book to find out how even the president of the USA gets involved.

Several class discussion both science related and about life can come about from this book. Thus it is an excellent read aloud and resource for critical thinking.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, I’ve read Top Secret by John Reynolds Gardiner more than once, and I have found plenty of good and positive things to say about it. For one thing, the main protagonist, Allen Brewster, sure is pretty neat, as well as highly well-written, too.

And if I had to choose my favorite parts in the book, I’d pick these ones:

“Son, listen to me.” My dad took hold of both my shoulders. “Do your project on lipstick as Miss Green wants you to. Do something you know you can do.”
“Hogwash!” said a voice.
We all turned to see Grandpop standing in the doorway. “Let the boy find out for himself what he can and cannot do.”
“But what Allen is talking about is impossible,” insisted my father.
“It’s not impossible,” I said. “I don’t care what anybody says. I’m going to do it. I’m going to solve the mystery of human photosynthesis.” (p. 17-18)

There are kids at our school with brown skin and kids with black skin, but I knew that a kid with green skin would just be too much. (p. 48)

Can you believe it? I had a project that was sure to win the silver trophy, not to mention Miss Green would probably get voted best science teacher, and what happens? She won’t even listen to me.
I also had another problem. Miss Green had told me not to come back until I had washed off the green paint. Except it wasn’t green paint, and I didn’t know how to change myself back. (p. 52)

I handed Miss Green the pill.
She held it in her hand for a long time, just looking at it. “Don’t you realize, Allen,” she said, “how important this discovery is? I’ve waited twenty years to find someone like you in my class. I’m not going to keep quiet about this. I’m going to tell everyone I know. I’m going to scream it from the rooftops!”
“You’re wasting your time,” I laughed. “No one will believe you. And anyway, the President’s advisor said that it would be bad for the country.”
“Phooey!” said Miss Green. “The truth must not be silenced. You shouldn’t have told them in the first place.”
“What other choice did I have? No one else would listen to me.”
“Simply write it down, Allen. Let the future be your judge. Not the present.” (p. 105-106)

Basically, I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes science, botany or both, and I give it five stars as well (although ten stars would be even better). 🪴🪴

[Enrique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un niño descubre la fotosíntesis humana. Me habría gustado que el libro tuviera un poco más de base científica, aunque no es el mensaje principal del libro. El mensaje del libro, como yo lo he entendido, es que a veces la verdad es imposible de defender, por uno u otro motivo.

Leído a mis hijas. Les ha gustado cuando la profesora le ha dicho al niño que llevaba veinte años esperando tener un estudiante como él, y que el niño fuera tan listo y trabajador. "La gente debe inventar."

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember loving this story about a boy who wants to discover human photosynthesis for his fourth grade science project. No one believes he can do it...but he starts experimenting on himself. His skin turns green, he gets aphids, and starts growing roots. Soon, the government is interested in his project. Seems like Allen may be on to something...

[Jessie Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. My son and I wish that there were more Allen Brewster books to read.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allen Brewster is certain he has uncovered the secret to human photosynthesis, even if his teacher and his own parents don't believe him. More science fiction than science, this story is far-fetched, but there's some great stuff in here about the scientific method and the spirit of discovery.

Originally published in 1984, this chapter book does use some outdated terms (such as "neat" instead of "cool" and "grammar school" instead of "elementary school"). But if you can get past that, the story is just as fun and relevant today as it was when first published.

[Chrissy Shea Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to stay ahead of a 7th grade science class I am working with. It’s about photosynthesis and the idea that a kid discovers how to create human photosynthesis. I like the idea of combining science with chapter book reading but I’m not sure what I think of this book. Not a lot is taught about photosynthesis after the first few chapters and the gender stereotyping language is a bit outdated (1984; HE is the president, HE is the scientist, etc). It also doesn’t provide a good stance for psychology as a science and I can’t imagine how this will fly, even with 7th graders, in today’s political climate.

[Fredrik deBoer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favorite from my youth, the bizarrely generic title and cover image belie a fun little romp about a boy who wants to learn his to photosynthesize. A good one for kids in that "adults just don't understand" phase and a fast, eager read.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how this book would hold up, but I really enjoyed this book when I was a kid. I probably read it when it was released in 1987.

[AnnieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was much better than I thought it would be. The imagination of the small boy and how adults and the government can squash a great idea just because they can't see into the future or worse the greater good.

B.D. Wong is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators. I was worried because I also like him as an actor and it seems that I can either love a narrator or an actor, not a narrating actor.

Trust me.

[Jake.l]

I think this book is really good because I like the way that the author put the ways what that thing means and how it's explained. This book is written by John Reynolds . I rate this book three stars .

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite books as a child - the impetus for numerous experiments, attempts at creating a super plant growth formula... which generally consisted mostly of toothpaste.

[Anne K. Pott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember this book from my childhood and just had to try it again! It was very much like I remembered it...very fun and kind of nerdy. :)

[Sadie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Literature selection committee book. Cute quick story about a science project. Only thing is that I had a hard time believing that the main character was only in 4th grade.

[Kiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book back in middle school and it made quite an impression. Over time, I forgot the title of the book and the name of the author, but what stuck with me was the vivid passion of a boy inventor and the image of him standing in mud, soaking in the pleasure of pulling up nutrients through little rootlets that his feet developed.... after he'd turned himself into a photosynthetic human. :)

Recently I did some searching, figured out the title, and listened to it as an audiobook. Definitely a fun story! The science doesn't hold up, and the adult figures are pretty one-dimensional, but it is still captivating. I love protagonist Allen's willingness to ask "what if?" and "why not?" It is also so charming to see how he runs to the library as the source of all knowledge for his investigation. He follows in some interesting footprints by using himself as his first test subject. Definitely a hero's journey!

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allen Brewster is a fourth grader who comes up with the ides of "human photosynthesis" for his school science project. Everyone, except his grandpa, thinks that it is an outrageous idea. After some research, he uses himself as his guinea pig and begins turning into a plant, only problem is no one believes him, but then the U.S. Government gets involved!
I chose this book because it was a fun story line with real scientific vocabulary.
This is a fiction book meant for 3rd grade and beyond.
This book would be a great introduction to a science unit, specifically if the students were doing a study on plants. It touches not only on science, but on life skills as well. It would be a great read aloud with students, making them use critical thinking skills, and fun for all!

[Kirsten Simkiss · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this when I was quite young and rather loved it. But now, as an adult, I find myself insulted by how ridiculous the science is in this book. Drinking liver smoothies will not turn you into a plant. That's not how that works. Also, the kid does not in any way, shape, or form use the scientific method, so it can't even be used as a teaching book about why the scientific method is important. Overall, I would recommend this to kids who are really good as suspending belief or too young to know much about real science, which is the age at which I read it. I would have given it probably four stars as a kid and 1 star as an adult. For this, I'll meet in the middle and give it 2 stars.

[Autumn Bundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves science and suspenseful novels. This book is about a science fair project that goes horribly wrong. Even though a student, Allen Brewster, was told to do a science project over lipstick, his stubborn personality pushes him to do the thing that he was told not to. Instead, he does the science project over human photosynthesis. He becomes the
examinee and things drastically change. Will his science project win the silver trophy that he dreams of or will his project threaten the lives of others? You'll have to read to find out in this adventurous book.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many mixed feelings on this book. On one hand, I learned a lot about scientific method, photosynthesis, and whole lot else that made a lot of these STEM skills...interesting? So yay for the author doing a good job here. The plot itself was...strange. Kid discovers human photosynthesis and somehow the American government gets involved. There were shades of a A Bad Case of Stripes and a lot of conspiracy and plain old 'grown-ups not listening' here. But in the end, you know something? I did kind of like this book.

[Nessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was a bit shocked that this book was printed. The main character stumbles upon photosynthesis for humans and then has to escape shadowy secret agents who want to take him away. But it's okay because he throws his hated teacher under the bus instead. And this is supposed to teach children some sort of moral lesson? Don't trust the government and it's okay to throw people you don't like to the wolves to 'save yourself'? I don't think so. I originally bought this for my friend's child, but had to read through it after buying it to see if it was suitable. It was not. Hard pass.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun story about a boy and his science project. I love stories like this that push kids to believe they can do amazing things. It's these childhood dreams that, if allowed to blossom, result in incredible accomplishments and discoveries. The greatest advances in history were made by people who didn't believe things couldn't be done. As kids grow up they have too many people telling them that things can't be done or that the child themselves is incapable, it's wonderful to read something like this that may plant the right seeds.

[Maria Tegtmeier · Rating 3 out of 5]

We were assigned this book to review for Middle School readers to be used in a science class. I think I would have liked it more had I been reading it with the intent for Elementary school readers. It was ok. I did enjoy the ending.

[Amisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one I read with my kid that I fished out from the pile I had read as a child. No idea why this book stayed with me all these years and I remember it so vividly. It was a good book with good lessons. I’m glad I thought of it.

[Tisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange plot line, but somehow it all worked.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook.
Very entertaining book. I loved the grandfather's support of the boy and his advice on how to make his scientific discovery.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boy named Allen wants to dicover human Photothysis But Miss Green wants him to do his project on lipstick.So one night.

[Percy Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book as a 4th grader and now i'm a communist

[Divina · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 for nostalgia

[sweetchillisauce]

this book popped into my head today, read it in second or third grade maybe. crazy.