Evil Genius

The Smartest Kid in the Universe #3

by Chris Grabenstein

Meet middle schooler Jake McQuade. Jake became the smartest kid in the universe when he accidentally ate a jarful of ingestible knowledge jelly beans. But what happens when those jelly beans fall into the wrong hands?!

Readers who enjoy the action of the Last Kids on Earth books will love this fast-paced, spy-packed series that's a "rollicking good time" ( New York Times ) by the bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library !

Jake McQuade's the smartest kid in the universe—or at least he was. But just as his training with the secret agency known as the Consortium is about to start, Jake's jelly beans go missing! And to make matters worse, they (and Jake's genius!) might be wearing off right when he needs his smarts most!

Jake needs to solve this mystery fast. Who stole the jelly beans and why? Can Jake figure out what's going on, recover the missing jelly beans, and stop a high-tech heist before it's too late?!

From top-secret hideouts to New York City penthouse apartments to the Statue of Liberty in the middle of the night, get ready to go on a whirlwind, wild-ride adventure filled with supervillains and spies, puzzles and pirates, codes and drones, and much, much more—and don't miss the first two books in the series— Smartest Kid in the Universe and Genius Camp!

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Mystery, Humor, Childrens, Science Fiction, Audiobook

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2023

About the author

CHRIS GRABENSTEIN is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. His books include the LEMONCELLO, WONDERLAND, HAUNTED MYSTERY, DOG SQUAD, and SMARTEST KID IN THE UNIVERSE series, and many fun and funny page-turners co-authored with James Patterson. You can visit Chris at ChrisGrabenstein.com.

Reviews

[Katherine Bichler · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
4.5/5 STARS

This is book 3 in the middle grade series. These books continue to be fun and educational. This one is told from more than one POV…. One from the villain which I enjoyed . It is faced paced and full of puzzles to solve. If you enjoyed the first two books, this one does not disappoint. Perfect for middle school readers and beyond.

Thank you to the author for the gifted copy!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
As the title says, Jake is considered the smartest kid in the universe, although it’s not public knowledge that revolutionary, newly-created jelly beans are the source of his intelligence. He’s been working with a secret organization called the Consortium that performs covert operations unknown even to the FBI and CIA. Jake wants to do his best for the Consortium so he’s worried when he starts to have trouble remembering critical information. A subplot is a generations-old conflict involving two families and hidden pirate treasure. Jake and his friends found gold and jewels in a previous book and they’re now off to find a huge, orange diamond worth billions of dollars. However, getting their hands on the diamond might be even more important than they thought.
Readers actually know more about what’s going on than the characters themselves, a situation not often seen in plots. The jelly beans are stolen from the scientist’s home and Jake assumes he knows the culprit. However, there are two antagonists working separately to get revenge against Jake and his friends. Both of them are most angry about Jake’s sudden burst of intelligence and they each make plans to get even. These complicated relationships provide ample opportunities for unexpected twists so readers will anxiously make mental predictions about what might happen next.
Being inside Jake’s mind helps readers empathize with his predicament. He’s very concerned that he may lose his intelligence and thus let other people down. The Consortium has put a lot of faith in Jake, and his friends assume he knows everything. The theft of the new, improved jelly beans creates a couple of problems for Jake. Whoever stole them will have access to even greater knowledge than Jake and the theft can’t be reported to the police or FBI. Reporting the truth about Jake’s knowledge coming from the jelly beans will reveal him as a fraud to the Consortium and the authorities plus the inventor will be in trouble too. Jake’s intelligence is, in fact, fading away so the big question is how long will he keep it? Will he be smart enough to foil the evil plots that are unfolding?
What didn’t work as well:
For a boy working with a secret organization, it seems everyone knows about Jake’s abilities and exploits. It’s not a huge concern but it strikes me as strange that a boy trying to keep huge secrets and save the world is so recognized by everyone.
The Final Verdict:
This fun adventure of a young genius should appeal to a range of middle-grade readers. Jake’s fading abilities keep him humble and make him less like a perfect super-character and it makes the plot unpredictable. The book can be read independently from the others (although maybe you shouldn’t) and I recommend you give it a shot!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake McQuade was the smartest kid in the universe, but he's not so sure that is true any more. He's really worried that the Ingestible Knowledge jellybeans are starting to wear off. And then Mr. Farooqi's newest batch of jellybeans go missing, stolen from his apartment while he was on vacation. Who could have known about them? Only Jake and his two best friends, Kojo and Grace, and Mr. Farooqi knows how Jake suddenly became so bright. There are other things on Jake's mind too. The school asked him to design a theft-proof case to display treasures from the pirate treasure he, Kojo, and Grace found that saved the school, but someone is trying to steal the diamond from it. Grace has heard there's an even larger diamond from the pirate treasure still to be found, and she wants his help tracking it down. And she's not the only one interested in the unfound diamond. Hubert Huxley is living with his Grandmother now that his father is in jail for things he did to try to find the pirate treasure. His Grandmother wants him to find the missing diamond, but Hubert is pouting about having to transfer to the same school as Jake McQuade who beat him in the Quiz Bowl and helped get his father and aunt sent to prison. He wants revenge. And maybe some jellybeans are just the answer.

Another fun adventure with Jake, Kojo, and Grace. Poor Jake is feeling the pressure that his genius level has brought to help others out and to be able to keep doing so. Kojo gets on his case more than once in this story about being too serious, and Jake is on a journey of discovering how to relax and be comfortable in himself regardless of how smart he is. Hubert Huxley is a memorable antagonist and his family ties help continue threads from previous books. I liked that there was another pirate treasure hunt and some puzzles to solve during various parts of the book. The bad guy from Genius Camp also shows up again and this book brings a little more resolution to that plot. I enjoyed the smarts of the story and watching Jake figure things out with the help of his friends and adults in his life. Fans of the first two books in the series will be sure to enjoy this one as well.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond some hand holding of a guy and girl. Violence may be threatened, but no one actually acts on it.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story with all the characters within. The main characters was a guy name Jake McQuade. He is the smartest kid in the universe because he ate something that made him more smart.  He and his friend has been on a secret mission for the government. While on this mission he has been having trouble doing what they want on the smart problems. He think that he might be losing his smartness and become his normal self again. So he and his friend go to the one person that made the thing that he ate and ask questions about it. While they are trying to do this other things are happening and it needs his smartness.

This was a fun story to read or listen to. It had action and adventure throughout. It had a few giggles within.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.The narrative did a good job.

[Hope Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake, Kojo and Grace are back with a mission to find 'la Gran Calabaza," the remaining large diamond from Grace's family's treasure. Although Zane Zinkle is safely out of commission, Jake and crew have another nemesis on the scene: Hubert Huxley. Hubert, after the capture of his criminal father and cousin coupled with the humiliating loss against Jake on a televised quiz show designed to name the smartest kid in the universe, is determined to topple Jake's genius standing once and for all. As Jake and friends race to discover the treasure, Jake becomes concerned that the jellybeans are wearing off and he will once again be 'ordinary Jake.'

Solid number three in the series, and a great series addition to a library serving middle grades. Grabenstein's humor and quick paced story line are appealing to this age of students who may wonder what it would be like to be the smartest kid in the universe. Definitely recommend to librarians looking to add to their fantasy/sci fi middle grade collections.

[Tina Athaide · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's here!
Jake McQuade, the smartest kid in the universe returns in book 3 of this series, which my students have been anxiously awaiting. Grabenstein doesn't disappoint with another fast-moving story filled with humor and adventure that is sure to grab kids attention from page one.
Recommended for elementary/middle school libraries and classrooms.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for an early copy in return for an honest review.

[Kayla Pitoniak · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third installment in this series was more enjoyable (to me) than the second installment. I thought Hubert was a funny bad guy and since I listened to the audiobook version, Kirby Heyborne absolutely elevated the source material with his performance.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great and hilarious, definitely recommend it. I liked this book because it was funny and very adventurous. What I liked about this book were the Ingestible Knowledge capsules. I would like to try those jelly beans, but I wouldn’t want to be Subject 2!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series! It was a quick read and the characters are very likeable (well, some are...). I liked this mystery of who was the thief and how there were two people involved. I'm glad for the ending with the jelly beans. I'm looking forward to the next book and really hope this series continues.

[Cozy Beauty Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Top 5 Reasons to read The Smartest Kid in the Universe Evil Genius

Instead of writing a typical review I’ll be sharing 5 reasons why you should read this book

• The first reason to pick the last book in this series is because you get the chance to follow the same kids from the first two books and see how they navigate around different situations ever since Jake’s life has changed since eating the jellybeans.

• The next reason is wanting to know how Jake’s new smarts will go with his family and school. In the book you learn he is working with an organization because he’s so smart. I always had more question about how others around him would feel or even continue to help him.

• The name of this book is Evil Genius so I was definitely curious as to who the next smartest kid would be and why?

• Another reason is, which is more of a question before I started reading this was if Professor Farooqi’s was going to make more jellybeans and possibly share his creation with a company that actually cares to listen

• The last reason is wanting to know if Jake keeps or loses his knowledge that he gotten from the jellybeans. This was always a question I had when reading this.

Rating 4⭐

(Find my reviews at mybeautymybooks.com)

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series. Jake has eaten some jelly beans that made him the smartest kid in the world, book one, and now someone has stolen the jelly beans!

I love this series. Jake isn’t smug or ignorant about being the smartest kid. He believes he should use this gift to help others. He continues to go to school, is friends with besties, and helps his sister with homework!

[Aaron Eichler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brought everything full circle. It brought the kid who lost in first book, and the man who was defeated in second book together with a new group of mercenaries, and our hero keeps worrying that he would lose his smarts.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Jake, who managed to snarf down a lot of Coach Farooqi's Ingestible Knowledge jelly beans in The Smartest Kid in the Universe and to use the incredible knowledge gained from them to thwart evil doers in Genius Camp, has a problem. He feels like his super smarts are fading, and he doesn't want to go back to the boring obscurity of his old life. He tells his mother to go to Disney World with his sister without him, while he has more assessments done by Marie Double at the consortium. Coach Farooqi, who might be the most disorganized scientist ever, hasn't been completely successful in replicating the beans, so if Jake's abilities disappear, he's in trouble. Of course, with 8th grade starting, Jake as well as his friend Kojo also have to worry about the new school year. Thanks to friend Grace Garcia, whose family treasures were taken back from the evil Hubert Huxley and his family, the school has been renovated, and the 8 million dollar Red Lion jewel is on display to remind people who funded the changes. Since Jake put together the security system, it should be impenetrable, but that doesn't stop people from trying. When Farooqi's newest batch of trial IK beans are stolen, clues point to the evil Zane Zinkle, who was unhappy that Jake's intelligence passed his own. Of course, with Hubert at their school now, since his father is in jail, suspicion falls on his as well. When it comes to light that Grace's ancestors hid an even bigger treasure, the three pound, orange la Gran Calabaza diamond, everyone turns their attention to finding it. Hubert's grandmother enlists Jake's help anonymously, figuring that once it is found, she will steal it. When the Consortium takes a turn to the dark side, Jake starts to question everything he knows. Will he be able to keep the diamond safe, determine if his super smarts will stay, AND find out which organizations are good, and which are evil?

Like Ponti's City Spies or Gibbs' Spy School books, this is full of improbably scenarios that will delight young readers who think it is perfectly possible that they will lie to their parents and sneak off on dangerous international spy missions! It offers worthy adveraries of varying abilities, bumbling adults who could be so much more helpful, and a quest that only our protagonist can solve. There's lots of action and adventure, and the short chapters will mean that the pages are turned very quickly.

Jake is an engaging Every Kid who finds himself in an unusual situation. He is enjoying his new life, and fears that he might not be up to his tasks if the IK beans wear off. This anxiety about capabilites is something that many middle grade readers feel, if only abou their ability to survive dodge ball, so it makes Jake's unlikely exploits seem relatable. Kojo is a fun sidekick, but I wonder if any middle grade readers will get his classic television references (Kojak?McGyver? Maybe it will spark some research.)

James Patterson's imprint is filled with books with strong kid appeal, and Grabenstein is one of the strongest writers in his stable, with his Jacky Ha-Ha series, Dog Crew books, and fantastic Wonderland Motel adventures. The Smartest Kid in the Universe is a smart purchase for fun summer reading.

I do share Mr. Buxton's view that Jake isn't a great spy, and there are too many security lapses to be feasible. Also, if Coach Farooqi really lost that much scientific data on the jelly beans and had such bad security on his apartment, would anyone trust him to invent anything?

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🍬 love jellybeans
🧠 wish you were smarter
👦🏻 have a 12 year old
📺 ever competed on a quiz show

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Jake McQuade's the smartest kid in the universe—or at least he was. But just as his training with the secret agency known as the Consortium is about to start, Jake's jelly beans go missing! And to make matters worse, they (and Jake's genius!) might be wearing off right when he needs his smarts most!

Jake needs to solve this mystery fast. Who stole the jelly beans and why? Can Jake figure out what's going on, recover the missing jelly beans, and stop a high-tech heist before it's too late?!

From top-secret hideouts to New York City penthouse apartments to the Statue of Liberty in the middle of the night, get ready to go on a whirlwind, wild-ride adventure filled with supervillains and spies, puzzles and pirates, codes and drones, and much, much more—and don't miss the first two books in the series—Smartest Kid in the Universe and Genius Camp!

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This is such a fantastic series for all ages! I think my younger brother will love this series and love at all the funny jokes (I know I was!) Since Jake are the IK jelly beans (ingestible knowledge), his life has been different in so many ways, but now his run of being the smartest boy in the universe is coming to an end when he discovers that the potency of the beans is wearing off. I loved the introduction of a new smartest kid in the universe that Jake has to battle. Overall, I loved this and can’t wait to read the first two books in the series as well! Definitely grab this one if you have kids around 10-12 years old! They’ll learn so many new things while also having a good laugh!

[Kristi Drillien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Jake is really put through it in this installment. He used to be a fun-loving kid who had no real worries. Now, not only does he have to deal with dark-side counterparts, but he’s devastated over the possibility of losing his intelligence. This book has a few more plot lines than previous ones do, so there’s kind of a lot going on for not a very long book. Because of that, I feel like Jake’s friends don’t get as much “screen time” in this book. On the other hand, at least that means I didn’t have to deal with as much of Kojo’s Kojak references. But the multiple plot lines also provide two different main villains (and several smaller ones), and there is a lot of anti-climax involved. Still, in the end, the book was fun. I’m getting to like Jake more and more with each book, and I hope there’s more to come. For the first time in this series, I cannot tell you what my daughter thought of the book, because she hasn’t read it yet. I’m very interested to hear what she thinks, but in the meantime, I’m confident recommending this book and series for kids around 8-12 years old.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s Books for providing me a copy of this book to review.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishers through NetGalley.
The high energy adventures continue for Jake, Kojo and Grace. Jake's nemesis Zane Zinkle has remained hidden but seems to be involved in the current capers - or is this a red herring? Readers meet all of the characters involved as the story switches between two perspectives - Jake and Hubert Huxley. Series readers will remember Hubert from previous encounters and appreciate the continued humor involved with his plots and plans. Jake also has to figure out who he wants to be and learn to balance the pressures of his new intelligence levels with being who he wants to be. Mr. Farooqi remains as quirky as ever as he discovers and shares that some of the jelly beans do not maintain their AI impact. Fortunately, in the end, the person on the side of power and greed is the one who loses their super genius abilities. I appreciate how Grabenstein continues to develop these characters and offer insight into friendships, self-confidence, and believing in yourself and each other at the same time he spins so much humor in this series.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake's biggest fear is coming true. A bit ago, Jake had eaten a whole jar of jelly beans, but unbeknownst to him, they were the fruit of Mr. Farooqi's long-time research and experiment of Ingestible Knowledge. Overnight, Jake went from a mediocre class clown to the smartest kid in the universe. But since then, despite the quiz shows won and the government high profile missions accomplished, Jake has always feared that the beans would wear out and so would his intelligence. Now that it is actually happening, the timing couldn't be worse, as some other kid has not only stolen another batch of Mr. Farooqi's jelly beans, but he's eaten them, becoming the new smartest kid in the universe. But unlike Jake, Hubert doesn't intend to use his newfound genius for good, but for himself. He revels in being the best evil genius that he can be. Will Jake and his friends be able to save the day?

[Kim Wilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way to finish up the series! I’ve adored Jake and hate to see it come to an end. Evil Genius brings the heat for Jake. He has gone from an easy going kid to worrying about the dark-side and losing his intelligence. The plot is more detailed than the previous books and includes not just one, but two major villains. The message of just being okay with who you are comes across loud and clear. Now to figure out how I can get smarter by eating candy… my waistline will be grateful. Great job and thank you for having me on the tour, I’ve enjoyed meeting Jake.

[Karen Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great conclusion to this really fun series! I think Chris Grabenstein had such a brilliant idea to have kids ingest knowledge by eating candy. What a fun superpower. Smartest Kid in the Universe Evil Genius was my favorite in the series. I loved the way that it brought it all together with a message about the importance of being yourself, regardless of your brains.

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this with James and I did not enjoy it. I found it dumb and repetitive. However, he seemed to like it just fine. So 2 stars from me, 3 from the 11 year old

[Brit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book. My 10 yo son and I enjoyed reading it together.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty okay good but I didn’t understand it too much.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kojo, Grace, and Jake find the orange diamond but what happens next is even more adventure!

[Hayden Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought it was gonna be bad