Itch: The Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter

Gr 6–9—In this fast-paced debut, 14-year-old Itchingham Lofte collects chemical elements. In the first few chapters, he manages to blow up some phosphorus in his room at home and then poisons his entire class with arsenic. These events pale in comparison to the trouble caused by the latest addition to his collection. Itch's supplier gives him a rock that "might be uranium ore" to make up for the arsenic fiasco, but it turns out to be something unique and highly radioactive when tested by his surly chemistry teacher. Dr. Flowerdew steals Itch's rock in order to curry favor with his previous employer, the petroleum giant Greencorps. With the help of his cousin Jacqueline, Itch steals it back and then he, Jack, and his younger sister must figure out what to do with the dangerous stone. They enlist the help of their geology teacher, but in the end they must face Flowerdew, Greencorps minions, and radiation sickness with only their wits and a few choice elements that happen to be in Itch's backpack. The teen's choices that leave him without adult help make sense, unlike some other stories that pit youthful protagonists against adult adversaries. Mayo tells a good story with a mix of action, characters with verisimilitude, and a painless dose of science. This rollicking adventure should have appeal far beyond chemistry geeks.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI