A Whole Nother Story

Gr 4—7—Ethan and Olivia Cheeseman are brilliant scientists who have created a time machine known as the Luminal Velocity Regulator (LVR). After Olivia's mysterious demise, her husband and their three children are on the run to keep a step ahead of assorted villains who want the LVR. One of Mr. Cheeseman's inventions and a piece of bubble gum help out the performers in a traveling sideshow who have their own reasons for staying close. When the family tries to settle unnoticed in a small town, the children's new friends help them out of some dangerous situations. Each character, including a psychic dog and a sock puppet, is developed with a multitude of quirky and sometimes redundant details. Dick Hill's narration of Dr. Cuthbert Soup's droll, meandering tale (Bloomsbury, 2009) is perfectly paced, from numerous asides and unsolicited advice to the excitement of the final showdown with the bad guys. Each character has a distinctive voice, and the children's voices are especially poignant with longing for a home they will not have to leave. This story with heart will find many fans.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN