Content: PG.
Eleven-year-old Ellie doesn't know her grandfather very well, but when a science experiment turns him into a teenager, even she has to admit that Melvin, the curmudgeonly boy, is her mom's eccentric father. But Melvin isn't satisfied with turning himself young; he is determined to revolutionize humanity and win the Nobel prize with his cure for aging. Too bad he's now banned from the lab where he used to work. To regain access, he must enlist Ellie's help and, along the way, teach her a little about both life and science -- two subjects which really aren't so different from each other.
The Fourteenth Goldfish is a gentle introduction to themes of life and death, for those who are beginning to think about such things. Ellie's and her grandfather's interest in science not only sets a wonderful example, but informs readers in an interesting way while making chemistry, physics, and other subjects come alive. The lesson about persevering is also admirable, a reminder that people often experience many failures before they finally succeed at something brilliant.
MS -- ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Caryn
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