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I Stole My Genius Sister's Brain
Perfect for fans of Pamela Butchart and David Solomons, this is a new hilarious adventure from the creative team behind the bestselling I Swapped My Brother On The Internet.
Keith has entered the Junior Mega Brain quiz and he's determined to win. The problem is – he's not really a genius. Even worse, his sister Minerva actually is, and Keith will have to go head to head against her.
Keith needs to get super smart and fast! Could he just steal Min's brain? Or will some awesome inventions, sneezing rabbits and fearsome flapjacks be the genius way to victory?
Keith has entered the Junior Mega Brain quiz and he's determined to win. The problem is – he's not really a genius. Even worse, his sister Minerva actually is, and Keith will have to go head to head against her.
Keith needs to get super smart and fast! Could he just steal Min's brain? Or will some awesome inventions, sneezing rabbits and fearsome flapjacks be the genius way to victory?
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
22 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 13, 2024
Fun, silly, and good if you want a good funny read with hilarious pictures.
September 18, 2020
A delightful book about a creative boy who wants to get his genius sister’s brain. Full of humour.
So far I am just LOVING Jo Simmons books. It started with I Swapped My Brother On The Internet and then My Parents Cancelled My Birthday. And now there is this book, I was so happy and I was eager to see what would happen. Because that title sure promises something.
Meet Keith, an 11-year old boy who is not so much of a genius, not like his sister anyway, but he has some other things going on. He loves experimenting. He loves inventing. He wants to go to an Invention Fair in Paris. He loves having fun, playing, and just having a good life. I liked Keith from the start. OK, his inventions are often just disgusting as freak (come on a toenail in an old sausage… EWWW), but I love how he keeps trying. And I could definitely understand how he wanted to take over his sister’s brain. Though he mostly just wants to do it so he gets enough money for his trip to Paris as his parents are refusing constantly.
His sister, Min (Minerva), is a supergenius. She knows everything, multiple languages, Chinese opera (which to Keith sounds like someone is wailing), and more. Her parents drag her all over the place and at first I thought Min was OK with that.. but we do find out a bit more about Min and I started really liking her. I actually felt sorry for her.
I had a big laugh how he tried to get his sister’s brain. From inventions to hypnosis. I had expected a bit more of it though, since it is the title, but in the end it was just a small piece of the book.
Because Keith goes for another route and it was a route that was just the best. It was totally Keith. And I love how he owned it. How he didn’t mind that people laughed, instead made them laugh. I loved the fans, I loved the bunnies (sneezing which explains the bunnies on the back of the cover with tissues).
Big big plus points to Keith Sr. (yes, all the guys in Keith’s family are called Keith). He and his parrot were just topnotch characters!
I do hope the parents chill a bit more. It was just not fun how they treated Keith and his interests. How they focused 100% on Min.. but when their other kid wants something they treat him like poop and ignore him. It seems that at the end they did learn something, but I wonder if it is enough. I am crossing my fingers and say yes, yes, they learned and after summer Min can be a normal (apparently) 13-14 year old without the constant pressure of studying, quizzes, and other things. Even a genius needs to play and relax.
The book also has plenty of fun and hilarious illustrations. Can I just say that I love the hair and how it was drawn? It had a life of its own.
All in all, with the exception of the parents this was a hilarious, laugh out loud, invention-filled, book about siblings. I loved it! I would recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
So far I am just LOVING Jo Simmons books. It started with I Swapped My Brother On The Internet and then My Parents Cancelled My Birthday. And now there is this book, I was so happy and I was eager to see what would happen. Because that title sure promises something.
Meet Keith, an 11-year old boy who is not so much of a genius, not like his sister anyway, but he has some other things going on. He loves experimenting. He loves inventing. He wants to go to an Invention Fair in Paris. He loves having fun, playing, and just having a good life. I liked Keith from the start. OK, his inventions are often just disgusting as freak (come on a toenail in an old sausage… EWWW), but I love how he keeps trying. And I could definitely understand how he wanted to take over his sister’s brain. Though he mostly just wants to do it so he gets enough money for his trip to Paris as his parents are refusing constantly.
His sister, Min (Minerva), is a supergenius. She knows everything, multiple languages, Chinese opera (which to Keith sounds like someone is wailing), and more. Her parents drag her all over the place and at first I thought Min was OK with that.. but we do find out a bit more about Min and I started really liking her. I actually felt sorry for her.
I had a big laugh how he tried to get his sister’s brain. From inventions to hypnosis. I had expected a bit more of it though, since it is the title, but in the end it was just a small piece of the book.
Because Keith goes for another route and it was a route that was just the best. It was totally Keith. And I love how he owned it. How he didn’t mind that people laughed, instead made them laugh. I loved the fans, I loved the bunnies (sneezing which explains the bunnies on the back of the cover with tissues).
Big big plus points to Keith Sr. (yes, all the guys in Keith’s family are called Keith). He and his parrot were just topnotch characters!
I do hope the parents chill a bit more. It was just not fun how they treated Keith and his interests. How they focused 100% on Min.. but when their other kid wants something they treat him like poop and ignore him. It seems that at the end they did learn something, but I wonder if it is enough. I am crossing my fingers and say yes, yes, they learned and after summer Min can be a normal (apparently) 13-14 year old without the constant pressure of studying, quizzes, and other things. Even a genius needs to play and relax.
The book also has plenty of fun and hilarious illustrations. Can I just say that I love the hair and how it was drawn? It had a life of its own.
All in all, with the exception of the parents this was a hilarious, laugh out loud, invention-filled, book about siblings. I loved it! I would recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
April 8, 2022
Keith is feeling a little left out. Sure he keeps busy with his inventions and experiments, such as:
Do toenails keep growing after they have been cut?
... but big sister Minerva takes up all of his parent's time - going to ballet, maths tuition, competitions and a ton of other stuff she's good at. Her room is full of certificates and ribbons and trophies, because she is a child genius!
There is something Keith would really like to go to, and he's been asking his parents for years, but the answer is always NO. Mum says they are far too busy to take budding inventor Keith to The Inventor's Fair in France, and besides, they can't afford it.
The Inventor's Fair is only weeks away and Keith can't imagine his lawn mowing money being enough in time. He almost gives up on his dream.
That is until he spies a photo in Min's room. Mum and Dad are standing beside Min, grinning wide, proud smiles. First he thinks to himself, they never smile like that with me, but then sees the solution to his problem. Min is holding a great big cheque. More than enough to go to the Inventor's Fair.
Result! All he has to do is win the upcoming Junior Mega-Brain Quiz and they'll be off to France!
When hastily scrabbled together inventions to transfer Min's brain to his head (eg. lots of wires and a sieve) don't work, he takes the plunge and enters the Quiz anyway. To tell the truth, Min helped with that even though she didn't mean to.
With Keith Snr (grandad) and his parrot his only supporters, Keith gives the Quiz his best shot.
The result is surprising, hilarious, and altogether revealing. Maybe he is a genius after all!
An imaginative and funny story about what is really important in life - family, fun and friends. The non-genius child in the family is proven to be the cleverest of them all. Keith's inventions are hilarious and horrible at the same time, but surprisingly useful.
Perfect for siblings who love to prank each other but will ultimately get on in the end. Also takes a slightly serious poke at the 'Win at all Costs Mentality' of some, and the 'Competition is Everything' crowd.
Ultimately great for anyone who loves to laugh.
Do toenails keep growing after they have been cut?
... but big sister Minerva takes up all of his parent's time - going to ballet, maths tuition, competitions and a ton of other stuff she's good at. Her room is full of certificates and ribbons and trophies, because she is a child genius!
There is something Keith would really like to go to, and he's been asking his parents for years, but the answer is always NO. Mum says they are far too busy to take budding inventor Keith to The Inventor's Fair in France, and besides, they can't afford it.
The Inventor's Fair is only weeks away and Keith can't imagine his lawn mowing money being enough in time. He almost gives up on his dream.
That is until he spies a photo in Min's room. Mum and Dad are standing beside Min, grinning wide, proud smiles. First he thinks to himself, they never smile like that with me, but then sees the solution to his problem. Min is holding a great big cheque. More than enough to go to the Inventor's Fair.
Result! All he has to do is win the upcoming Junior Mega-Brain Quiz and they'll be off to France!
When hastily scrabbled together inventions to transfer Min's brain to his head (eg. lots of wires and a sieve) don't work, he takes the plunge and enters the Quiz anyway. To tell the truth, Min helped with that even though she didn't mean to.
With Keith Snr (grandad) and his parrot his only supporters, Keith gives the Quiz his best shot.
The result is surprising, hilarious, and altogether revealing. Maybe he is a genius after all!
An imaginative and funny story about what is really important in life - family, fun and friends. The non-genius child in the family is proven to be the cleverest of them all. Keith's inventions are hilarious and horrible at the same time, but surprisingly useful.
Perfect for siblings who love to prank each other but will ultimately get on in the end. Also takes a slightly serious poke at the 'Win at all Costs Mentality' of some, and the 'Competition is Everything' crowd.
Ultimately great for anyone who loves to laugh.
July 9, 2024
Przedstawiam Wam dziś zwariowaną książkę, która zaskakuje już samym tytułem 🤯 - "Ukradłem mózg mojej genialnej siostry" Jo Simmons. I choć pomysł przywłaszczenia sobie czyjegoś rozumu 🧠 może wydawać się dziwny, to wierzcie mi, w tej zabawnej i pełnej przygód opowieści dla młodszego czytelnika wszystko jest możliwe❗️😁
Keith to nastolatek, który od zawsze stoi w cieniu swojej wybitnie inteligentnej siostry, Minerwy. 😣 Dziewczynka zdaje się być zawsze o krok przed swoim bratem, dlatego gdy nadchodzi czas zmierzenia się z nią w quizie Junior Mega Mózg, Keith wpada na zdumiewający pomysł - postanawia ukraść mózg swojej siostry❗️😱 Skąd w ta determinacja❓️ Otóż wielkim marzeniem chłopaka jest wyjazd na Targi Wynalazców do Paryża i tylko wygrana w turnieju może mu to zapewnić. 💵 Rodzice faworyzują bowiem Min, kompletnie ignorując potrzeby nastolatka. 😔 Czy Keithowi uda się zwyciężyć w konkursie?
W swojej książce Jo Simmons z niesamowitą zręcznością prowadzi czytelnika przez serię komicznych zdarzeń. 😆 Nietuzinkowych sytuacji i niespodzianek tu nie brakuje, a duża dawka humoru daje naprawdę niezłą rozrywkę. 🤩 Autorce świetnie udało się oddać dynamikę relacji dwójki rodzeństwa pokazując, że pomimo dokuczania sobie i rywalizacji brat i siostra zawsze pozostaną związani silną więzią. 💞 Uważam, że jest to piękna lekcja dla młodszych odbiorców. 🥰 Simmons wplata w narrację również poważniejsze tematy, między innymi brak wiary w siebie, wygórowane oczekiwania rodziców wobec dzieci czy brak docenienia. To sprawia, że książka, choć wydaje się nieskomplikowana i zabawna, daje też sporo do myślenia. 🤔 Autorka pokazuje, że można mówić o ważnych sprawach w sposób przystępny dla młodego czytelnika, nie tracąc przy tym na lekkości przekazu. To naprawdę świetna historia! Gorąco polecam❗️☺️
Keith to nastolatek, który od zawsze stoi w cieniu swojej wybitnie inteligentnej siostry, Minerwy. 😣 Dziewczynka zdaje się być zawsze o krok przed swoim bratem, dlatego gdy nadchodzi czas zmierzenia się z nią w quizie Junior Mega Mózg, Keith wpada na zdumiewający pomysł - postanawia ukraść mózg swojej siostry❗️😱 Skąd w ta determinacja❓️ Otóż wielkim marzeniem chłopaka jest wyjazd na Targi Wynalazców do Paryża i tylko wygrana w turnieju może mu to zapewnić. 💵 Rodzice faworyzują bowiem Min, kompletnie ignorując potrzeby nastolatka. 😔 Czy Keithowi uda się zwyciężyć w konkursie?
W swojej książce Jo Simmons z niesamowitą zręcznością prowadzi czytelnika przez serię komicznych zdarzeń. 😆 Nietuzinkowych sytuacji i niespodzianek tu nie brakuje, a duża dawka humoru daje naprawdę niezłą rozrywkę. 🤩 Autorce świetnie udało się oddać dynamikę relacji dwójki rodzeństwa pokazując, że pomimo dokuczania sobie i rywalizacji brat i siostra zawsze pozostaną związani silną więzią. 💞 Uważam, że jest to piękna lekcja dla młodszych odbiorców. 🥰 Simmons wplata w narrację również poważniejsze tematy, między innymi brak wiary w siebie, wygórowane oczekiwania rodziców wobec dzieci czy brak docenienia. To sprawia, że książka, choć wydaje się nieskomplikowana i zabawna, daje też sporo do myślenia. 🤔 Autorka pokazuje, że można mówić o ważnych sprawach w sposób przystępny dla młodego czytelnika, nie tracąc przy tym na lekkości przekazu. To naprawdę świetna historia! Gorąco polecam❗️☺️
January 23, 2025
Excellent lessons and a thoroughly entertaining story: Be More Keith!
Held my 13 and 7 year olds rapt over a few school runs. We'd tried a Jo Simmons before and enjoyed, and this sounded just as madcap.
Keith really REALLY wants to go to the Inventors' Fair in Paris, but his parents just don't have time or money - they are too invested in his 13-year-old sister Min's competitions, studies and hothousing. So Keith decides the only way to raise the money might be to steal his sister's brains... and become a genius himself to raise the money.
What follows was actually both heartfelt and bonkers in equal measure. Keith is a sweet kid, always inventing, a proper kid who knows what his passions are (finding out if toenails continue to grow on a sausage, making bread waterproof) and trying his best to enjoy life. This contrasts with stressed sister Minerva, trained to always want to win, to get things right, to learn and not have time for fun.
You can see where this is going. The competition Keith enters becomes the key to the book as brother and sister both show readers difference ways of growing up and displaying intellect.
Keith himself is great, the latest in a long line of Keiths, who finds it easier to accept himself and enjoy things more, and thus possibly help Min do the same.
We liked this, it often made us laugh, and there are lots of touches (the bird calling out cheese names, Keith Senior's Keith-related inventions) that brought out a shared smile. The competition is brilliant, we enjoyed these scenes of tension dissipated by Keith's outlandish answers.
Lots of fun and an important life lesson is contained within. Also nicely read, an easy audio story.
For ages 7-13.
Held my 13 and 7 year olds rapt over a few school runs. We'd tried a Jo Simmons before and enjoyed, and this sounded just as madcap.
Keith really REALLY wants to go to the Inventors' Fair in Paris, but his parents just don't have time or money - they are too invested in his 13-year-old sister Min's competitions, studies and hothousing. So Keith decides the only way to raise the money might be to steal his sister's brains... and become a genius himself to raise the money.
What follows was actually both heartfelt and bonkers in equal measure. Keith is a sweet kid, always inventing, a proper kid who knows what his passions are (finding out if toenails continue to grow on a sausage, making bread waterproof) and trying his best to enjoy life. This contrasts with stressed sister Minerva, trained to always want to win, to get things right, to learn and not have time for fun.
You can see where this is going. The competition Keith enters becomes the key to the book as brother and sister both show readers difference ways of growing up and displaying intellect.
Keith himself is great, the latest in a long line of Keiths, who finds it easier to accept himself and enjoy things more, and thus possibly help Min do the same.
We liked this, it often made us laugh, and there are lots of touches (the bird calling out cheese names, Keith Senior's Keith-related inventions) that brought out a shared smile. The competition is brilliant, we enjoyed these scenes of tension dissipated by Keith's outlandish answers.
Lots of fun and an important life lesson is contained within. Also nicely read, an easy audio story.
For ages 7-13.
August 4, 2024
Paprasta, vaikiška knyga. Prieš porą metų būčiau įvertinusi ją 4 ar net 5 ⭐. Šiaip istorijos siužetas (man asmeniškai) buvo gana nuspėjamas ir gal net kvailas. Dar man trūksta kažko, ko tiksliai pati nesuprantu, bet jausmas lyg knyga nebaigta ar kažkas tokio.
May 9, 2024
Read it two times. It was fun and silly. If you want to read something fun I recommend it.☺️
May 12, 2021
Das Buch habe ich mit meinem Sohn (9) zusammen gelesen. Für diese Altersklasse ist der Text leicht zu lesen und die Kapitel sind nicht zu lang, so kann man sich gut beim Lesen abwechseln. Junior fand das Buch ganz witzig und vergibt 4 Sterne. Besonders der Papagei hat es ihm angetan - der ist wirklich der Runnig-Gag in dem Buch. Eine Szene bei einer Quizshow ist wirklich sehr lustig und darüber konnten wir uns beide amüsieren. Ansonsten konnte mich das Buch nicht so wirklich abholen. Die Witze haben bei mir nicht so gezündet, liegt aber wahrscheinlich daran, dass wir erst kürzlich weitaus lustigere Bücher gelesen haben. Schön fand ich die Entwicklung der Beziehung der zwei Geschwister untereinander. Am Ende halten beide zusammen und unterstützen sich. Die Darstellung der Eltern fand ich sehr fragwürdig und Junior sagte auch er hoffe, wir werden nicht so. Manche der vermittelten Botschaften kamen bei meinem Sohn nicht wirklich an. Z.B. sollten die Kinder mehr wie Keith sein (gemeint ist eher locker und Spaß haben), verstanden hat das Kind das nicht so und ich fand das auch etwas unglücklich formuliert. Wirklich toll sind aber der Papagei, der Opa und die Kaninchen, die haben sich alle in unser Herz geschlichen. Ebenfalls schwierig fand ich den Namen Keith beim Vorlesen, denn in einigen Kapiteln taucht der richtig oft auf und hat sich zu einem Zungenbrechen bei mir entwickelt. Von mir hätte das Buch drei Sterne bekommen - somit im Mittel gute 3,5 Sterne.
May 7, 2021
I liked this book
August 28, 2020
Keith wants to go to an inventor fair in Paris however his parents say no in favour of his genius sister and so he hatches a plan to steal her brain trying anything from his own wacky invention to hypnosis as he wants to have his sister's brilliant ideas from her brain to win prize money to afford his trip.
However we see how each sibling wants a go in the other's shoes and just maybe the family could be united enough to be able to spend more time together?
Funny, quirky and guaranteed to make kids laugh!
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them
However we see how each sibling wants a go in the other's shoes and just maybe the family could be united enough to be able to spend more time together?
Funny, quirky and guaranteed to make kids laugh!
Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them
April 27, 2021
Ik vermoed dat kinderen dit boek veel leuker vinden dan volwassenen.
August 11, 2021
Jo Simmons writes excellent children's books. A good dose of humour and a solid story that kids can easily connect with. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews