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Mad Science Institute #1
Mad Science Institute
Science fiction / urban fantasy
Sophia "Soap" Lazarcheck is a girl genius with a knack for making robots-and for making robots explode. After her talents earn her admission into a secretive university institute, she is swiftly drawn into a conspiracy more than a century in the making. Meanwhile and without her knowledge, her cousin Dean wages a two-fisted war of vengeance against a villainous genius and his unwashed minions.
Separately, the cousins must pit themselves against murderous thugs, experimental weaponry, lizard monsters, and a nefarious doomsday device. When their paths finally meet up, they will need to risk everything to prevent a mysterious technology from bringing civilization to a sudden and very messy end.
Sophia "Soap" Lazarcheck is a girl genius with a knack for making robots-and for making robots explode. After her talents earn her admission into a secretive university institute, she is swiftly drawn into a conspiracy more than a century in the making. Meanwhile and without her knowledge, her cousin Dean wages a two-fisted war of vengeance against a villainous genius and his unwashed minions.
Separately, the cousins must pit themselves against murderous thugs, experimental weaponry, lizard monsters, and a nefarious doomsday device. When their paths finally meet up, they will need to risk everything to prevent a mysterious technology from bringing civilization to a sudden and very messy end.
310 pages, Paperback
First published December 6, 2011
13 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Sechin Tower
6 books8 followersSechin Tower is a writer, game designer, and teacher. He began work for Exile Game Studio in 2006 as editor of the Hollow Earth Expedition RPG and went on to become the chief contributor to the award-winning supplements Secrets of the Surface World and Mysteries of the Hollow Earth. He lives in the Seattle, Washington area with his beautiful wife and adoring cat. In his spare time, he prepares for the zombie apocalypse by running obstacle courses and practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 22, 2016
I loved this with my entire heart and soul. The mad science was delicious! The characters were great and the plot was interesting!!! If you liked this one you'd probably also like The Department of Cautionary Tales and Girl Genius, Vol. 1: Agatha Heterodyne and the Beetleburg Clank
December 4, 2016
This is a fun book about a school for up-and-coming mad scientist teens with nifty-cool-bean technology inspired by real life Nicolai Tesla. It has two main characters and the point-of-view switches back and forth between them every other chapter. One is an adult male, the other a teen girl, and I liked that that made it neither YA nor adult fiction, but a mixture of both. The finale was a slamming collision of all the parts of the story brought together for all-out mayhem and very exciting.
There's an obligatory teen romance three-way that feels just like that, obligatory, and could easily be left out since it plays no significant role in the story, or else made less 'tropey' if it's important in the sequels, and some plot holes that could easily be fixed, which is all that it lacks (in my opinion) to be a 4 or 5 star story.
There's an obligatory teen romance three-way that feels just like that, obligatory, and could easily be left out since it plays no significant role in the story, or else made less 'tropey' if it's important in the sequels, and some plot holes that could easily be fixed, which is all that it lacks (in my opinion) to be a 4 or 5 star story.
May 14, 2020
I read this to determine if it was appropriate for my daughter. It's well written for YA. A little sexy stuff, but not too horribly much. The main GLARING error: "Generically enhanced insect." Ummmm... That one was funny.
May 24, 2020
The write-up and all of the reviews made this sound so awesome. I gave it a good try but after 8 chapters with nothing but The Drama every chapter I gave up. There's no time for anything interesting to happen because there has to be something eventful every time you turn around.
January 16, 2018
fun book
July 30, 2018
YA fiction with sci fi elements. Descent characters but not a lot of character growth
June 12, 2012
Expertly written. Soap is my favorite character EVER! Who knew circuitry and robots could be this fun? This book seriously blew all of my expectations out of the water. I openly acknowledged being a reluctant science-fiction reader, but Mad Science Institute is changing that and I cannot wait to read more.
The stilted dialogue in the beginning was imperative in creating Soap's shy and awkward character. Through the narration, we know she is a typical teenager, but struggles to outwardly make connections with people her age, because of her amazing genius ability. I could not stop laughing at how absurd Soap sounded trying out a formula she had concocted with which to meet-and-greet the students at her new school. I could practically see her squirming as she tried to act natural, and sat bewildered at why her carefully constructed plans didn't turn out how they were supposed to. Hilarious! Being a socially awkward person myself, I found a kindred spirit in Soap.
Although Soap is the nerdy outcast of her school, she doesn't fit any stereotypes perfectly, just like humans cannot be simply categorized and thrown in a rigid box. Victor is a little older than her and acts the part of the sulking, quiet intellect working intensely on his own mysterious projects, but we later get to know what goes on inside his head and he turns out to be quite the interesting fellow. Quirky! On the other hand, Nikki, the third student of the Mad Science Institute wears pink lab coats, commands attention, and can hold her ground pretty well in a fight. Their unique motivations and ability to defy easy description create the students that Dean, Soap's cousin, is charged with looking after. He is mostly brawn, but certainly caring. The book alternates from narrating what is happening to Dean and then to Soap, so they spend little time actually together during the story, but the family connection is there in throughout the novel.
Plot-wise, this book never has a dull moment. The villains are a bit obvious although they come in unexpected shapes and sizes. A plot involving the crippling of the world as we know it requires a huge conspiracy involving many people and lots of time. Soap grows in character doing things she never imagined she would do (chew germ-y, gritty, gross gum from off pavement) in order to achieve a sense of fulfillment. All the characters bring something to the table, and together with the thrill of the fast pacing, Mad Science Institute becomes a story you keep going back to.
*Originally reviewed at mixturesbooks.blogspot.com
**Received copy from author in exchange for my honest review.
The stilted dialogue in the beginning was imperative in creating Soap's shy and awkward character. Through the narration, we know she is a typical teenager, but struggles to outwardly make connections with people her age, because of her amazing genius ability. I could not stop laughing at how absurd Soap sounded trying out a formula she had concocted with which to meet-and-greet the students at her new school. I could practically see her squirming as she tried to act natural, and sat bewildered at why her carefully constructed plans didn't turn out how they were supposed to. Hilarious! Being a socially awkward person myself, I found a kindred spirit in Soap.
Although Soap is the nerdy outcast of her school, she doesn't fit any stereotypes perfectly, just like humans cannot be simply categorized and thrown in a rigid box. Victor is a little older than her and acts the part of the sulking, quiet intellect working intensely on his own mysterious projects, but we later get to know what goes on inside his head and he turns out to be quite the interesting fellow. Quirky! On the other hand, Nikki, the third student of the Mad Science Institute wears pink lab coats, commands attention, and can hold her ground pretty well in a fight. Their unique motivations and ability to defy easy description create the students that Dean, Soap's cousin, is charged with looking after. He is mostly brawn, but certainly caring. The book alternates from narrating what is happening to Dean and then to Soap, so they spend little time actually together during the story, but the family connection is there in throughout the novel.
Plot-wise, this book never has a dull moment. The villains are a bit obvious although they come in unexpected shapes and sizes. A plot involving the crippling of the world as we know it requires a huge conspiracy involving many people and lots of time. Soap grows in character doing things she never imagined she would do (chew germ-y, gritty, gross gum from off pavement) in order to achieve a sense of fulfillment. All the characters bring something to the table, and together with the thrill of the fast pacing, Mad Science Institute becomes a story you keep going back to.
*Originally reviewed at mixturesbooks.blogspot.com
**Received copy from author in exchange for my honest review.
April 13, 2013
I like the idea of this book — a YA story premised on science rather than magic, with smart, young adult heroes, passionate about learning and discovery who find themselves in an environment where they can pursue their interests. It reminded me a bit of another book I read and reviewed not long ago, Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks. There should be more stories in settings like this.
The plot of this one is the classic ‘good guys versus bad guys bent on taking over the world.’ The pacing is good, with discoveries and events leading incrementally to a satisfying and logical conclusion.
I was less taken with the characters.
The star of the story, Sophia "Soap" Lazarcheck, is a 16-year-old science geek, brilliant but socially awkward. Her ability to invent and build truly amazing gizmos is offset by a lack of appreciation for how these inventions might go wrong. Explosions and fires tend to be the result. For the most part, I found her an endearing character, but my ability to suspend disbelief was breached in her first encounter with the antagonist. She was far too trusting of this mysterious and clearly untrustworthy voice on the phone, and I could not accept how easily she sold him the key code for her new, and otherwise impregnable, school.
Her cousin, Dean, is the character that most failed for me. He plays the part of the well-muscled and well-intentioned but intellectually uncomplicated knight in shining armor. He’s not quite dimwitted enough to be a comic character, but I found him far too simple to be either likeable or believable in his role in this story.
The mysterious antagonist, always in the background and pulling the strings of his minions, is a recognizable James Bond type villain. The biker gang that serves as his muscle is a group of unwashed, uneducated, and thoroughly unpleasant individuals. They were not inept enough to be funny but too (unjustly) stereotypical to be believable. (I’ve known a few bikers, and most were nice people.)
The chapters with Soap providing the point of view are written in first person. The other chapters are written in third. This can be a bit jarring when you’re reading. I would have preferred third person throughout, with chapter or scene breaks for changes in POV. Otherwise, the book is well written, although I did spot a few typos. The ending is set up for a sequel.
The book is an enjoyable departure from more common magical or mystical YA stories, and I can recommend it as a quick, light read.
The plot of this one is the classic ‘good guys versus bad guys bent on taking over the world.’ The pacing is good, with discoveries and events leading incrementally to a satisfying and logical conclusion.
I was less taken with the characters.
The star of the story, Sophia "Soap" Lazarcheck, is a 16-year-old science geek, brilliant but socially awkward. Her ability to invent and build truly amazing gizmos is offset by a lack of appreciation for how these inventions might go wrong. Explosions and fires tend to be the result. For the most part, I found her an endearing character, but my ability to suspend disbelief was breached in her first encounter with the antagonist. She was far too trusting of this mysterious and clearly untrustworthy voice on the phone, and I could not accept how easily she sold him the key code for her new, and otherwise impregnable, school.
Her cousin, Dean, is the character that most failed for me. He plays the part of the well-muscled and well-intentioned but intellectually uncomplicated knight in shining armor. He’s not quite dimwitted enough to be a comic character, but I found him far too simple to be either likeable or believable in his role in this story.
The mysterious antagonist, always in the background and pulling the strings of his minions, is a recognizable James Bond type villain. The biker gang that serves as his muscle is a group of unwashed, uneducated, and thoroughly unpleasant individuals. They were not inept enough to be funny but too (unjustly) stereotypical to be believable. (I’ve known a few bikers, and most were nice people.)
The chapters with Soap providing the point of view are written in first person. The other chapters are written in third. This can be a bit jarring when you’re reading. I would have preferred third person throughout, with chapter or scene breaks for changes in POV. Otherwise, the book is well written, although I did spot a few typos. The ending is set up for a sequel.
The book is an enjoyable departure from more common magical or mystical YA stories, and I can recommend it as a quick, light read.
April 30, 2015
“that’s the fun part about science: there are always mysteries to unravel.” (Page 123).
Sophie grew up in a world where electronics were readily available and her failed science experiments were continuously cleaned up by her father. After destroying the science fair and her chances of getting into a top school like MIT, Soap accepts her application to the Mechanical Science Institute in small town Bugswallow, Minnesota. Her cousin, Dean is waiting to meet her there, as he just accepted a position as dean of the Institute, even though he’s really only a fireman. There’s more than simply hidden labs and secret inventions afoot at the Institute, there are thugs and evil scientists who want to take the Institute’s secrets and use them for nefarious and evil purposes. It is up to Soap and Dean to stop the unknown ‘Professor’ from stopping the world as we know it.
Soap was so naïve it was cute. It was only through her ineptitude with the real world that the plot was able to proceed as it did. She allowed the bad guys to implicate her father, to get inside the Institute, and almost shut down the security systems for the entire building. Thankfully, her stupidity stopped her there. Tower almost took her naivety too far, but it is still barely believable. She’s only 16, though she is a genius, she has never really been involved in something nefarious and has no reason not to trust others. Soap is also adorably ignorant of social norms and her thought processes as she attempts to mimic normal interactions is hilarious. She creates charts to help her fit in, but of course, they don’t. Soap is like the girl version of a super nerd boy who can’t talk to boys. Or girls. She only fits in with other super science geniuses like those at the Mechanical Science Institute.
The villain and thugs were just short of being too stereotypical. Though it was easy to guess who the mysterious “professor” was behind the evil plans, I enjoyed how the plot thickened and the pacing quickened toward the end.
I really enjoyed Tower’s writing style. It was concise and witty and I loved Soap’s POV. I didn’t mind Dean’s POV and enjoyed the intertwining of the action between their two viewpoints.
Sophie grew up in a world where electronics were readily available and her failed science experiments were continuously cleaned up by her father. After destroying the science fair and her chances of getting into a top school like MIT, Soap accepts her application to the Mechanical Science Institute in small town Bugswallow, Minnesota. Her cousin, Dean is waiting to meet her there, as he just accepted a position as dean of the Institute, even though he’s really only a fireman. There’s more than simply hidden labs and secret inventions afoot at the Institute, there are thugs and evil scientists who want to take the Institute’s secrets and use them for nefarious and evil purposes. It is up to Soap and Dean to stop the unknown ‘Professor’ from stopping the world as we know it.
Soap was so naïve it was cute. It was only through her ineptitude with the real world that the plot was able to proceed as it did. She allowed the bad guys to implicate her father, to get inside the Institute, and almost shut down the security systems for the entire building. Thankfully, her stupidity stopped her there. Tower almost took her naivety too far, but it is still barely believable. She’s only 16, though she is a genius, she has never really been involved in something nefarious and has no reason not to trust others. Soap is also adorably ignorant of social norms and her thought processes as she attempts to mimic normal interactions is hilarious. She creates charts to help her fit in, but of course, they don’t. Soap is like the girl version of a super nerd boy who can’t talk to boys. Or girls. She only fits in with other super science geniuses like those at the Mechanical Science Institute.
The villain and thugs were just short of being too stereotypical. Though it was easy to guess who the mysterious “professor” was behind the evil plans, I enjoyed how the plot thickened and the pacing quickened toward the end.
I really enjoyed Tower’s writing style. It was concise and witty and I loved Soap’s POV. I didn’t mind Dean’s POV and enjoyed the intertwining of the action between their two viewpoints.
April 23, 2013
I was happily surprised with this book! Soap is as queer as her inventions, and her life just got queerer when she is offered a full scholarship at the Mechanical Science Institute (the unofficial but more popular name being the Mad Science Institute). The school is located in a weirdly named town of Bugswallow, Minesotta. There, Soap adds to the grand total number of MSI students: 3 ! Soap tries to fit in with the other two geniuses Viktor and Nikki, even as she discovers the big & secret experiments kept in the bowels of MSI.
Soap's story inevitably collides with that of his cousin Dean, who happens to be the newly appointed Dean of MSI. Dean, a firefighter, knows he is the most unsuitable choice, but it is the last request made by his fiance and former Dean of MSI Denise McKenzie. With McKenzie's untimely demise, Dean feels honor bound to her will, and he is also resolved to uncover the real cause of her death. Little do Dean and Soap suspect that they are both victims of the whims of an evil professor who wants to revert the world back to its pre-industrial stage, gain monopoly on electricity, and ultimately become its emperor.
Despite the heavy and serious situations the characters are in, there's an ever present humor in the story. I think this is brought about by Soap's insane inventions and her hilarious attempts at social interactions, not to mention big tough guy Dean who can do clumsy really well. I can't help but empathize with Dean being lost on the scientific and technical aspect of the book. I feel that Soap's Guide to Technology was written not only for her cousin but for me, too. Brilliant technique by the author to explain the technology involved but has mercifully excluded from the story. I am thankful that I did not have to read through all those techy stuff, but instead given the choice and opportunity to understand more when all is said and done. The result: fun and stress-free reading.
Soap's story inevitably collides with that of his cousin Dean, who happens to be the newly appointed Dean of MSI. Dean, a firefighter, knows he is the most unsuitable choice, but it is the last request made by his fiance and former Dean of MSI Denise McKenzie. With McKenzie's untimely demise, Dean feels honor bound to her will, and he is also resolved to uncover the real cause of her death. Little do Dean and Soap suspect that they are both victims of the whims of an evil professor who wants to revert the world back to its pre-industrial stage, gain monopoly on electricity, and ultimately become its emperor.
Despite the heavy and serious situations the characters are in, there's an ever present humor in the story. I think this is brought about by Soap's insane inventions and her hilarious attempts at social interactions, not to mention big tough guy Dean who can do clumsy really well. I can't help but empathize with Dean being lost on the scientific and technical aspect of the book. I feel that Soap's Guide to Technology was written not only for her cousin but for me, too. Brilliant technique by the author to explain the technology involved but has mercifully excluded from the story. I am thankful that I did not have to read through all those techy stuff, but instead given the choice and opportunity to understand more when all is said and done. The result: fun and stress-free reading.
November 27, 2015
I have been catching up on my long-put off reading, starting with a book by fellow Northwest indie author Sechin Tower, Mad Science Institute . I had a great time reading this particular YA novel.
But first, The Blurb:
Sophia “Soap” Lazarcheck is a girl genius with a knack for making robots—and for making robots explode. After her talents earn her admission into a secretive university institute, she is swiftly drawn into a conspiracy more than a century in the making. Meanwhile and without her knowledge, her cousin Dean wages a two-fisted war of vengeance against a villainous genius and his unwashed minions. Separately, the cousins must pit themselves against murderous thugs, experimental weaponry, lizard monsters, and a nefarious doomsday device. When their paths finally meet up, they will need to risk everything to prevent a mysterious technology from bringing civilization to a sudden and very messy end.
My Review: This book totally lives up to it’s promise. Soap is a great character, and so is Dean. She is a little too adventurous in the laboratory, and things sometimes go awry. The story opens with her, and immediately shifts to Dean’s story, but shifts back again.
Dean is older, is a firefighter who loves his work, and has relationship issues, which launch him into the thick of things.
Soap is a feisty girl, who is launched into a series of immersive adventures. She’s a bit testy and awkward when it comes to interpersonal relationships.
The author, Sechin Tower, is a teacher in his real life, and I think he must be pretty awesome in the classroom, because the story contains a lot of historical information imparted in regard to Nicola Tesla and his scientific legacy, presented in such an entertaining way the reader doesn’t realize they’re learning.
All in all, I have three grandkids who would really enjoy this book–and Santa will be obliging this year!
But first, The Blurb:
Sophia “Soap” Lazarcheck is a girl genius with a knack for making robots—and for making robots explode. After her talents earn her admission into a secretive university institute, she is swiftly drawn into a conspiracy more than a century in the making. Meanwhile and without her knowledge, her cousin Dean wages a two-fisted war of vengeance against a villainous genius and his unwashed minions. Separately, the cousins must pit themselves against murderous thugs, experimental weaponry, lizard monsters, and a nefarious doomsday device. When their paths finally meet up, they will need to risk everything to prevent a mysterious technology from bringing civilization to a sudden and very messy end.
My Review: This book totally lives up to it’s promise. Soap is a great character, and so is Dean. She is a little too adventurous in the laboratory, and things sometimes go awry. The story opens with her, and immediately shifts to Dean’s story, but shifts back again.
Dean is older, is a firefighter who loves his work, and has relationship issues, which launch him into the thick of things.
Soap is a feisty girl, who is launched into a series of immersive adventures. She’s a bit testy and awkward when it comes to interpersonal relationships.
The author, Sechin Tower, is a teacher in his real life, and I think he must be pretty awesome in the classroom, because the story contains a lot of historical information imparted in regard to Nicola Tesla and his scientific legacy, presented in such an entertaining way the reader doesn’t realize they’re learning.
All in all, I have three grandkids who would really enjoy this book–and Santa will be obliging this year!
August 12, 2016
"It’s been a while since I read a young adult novel, and I am so glad I did here. Mad Science Institute was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the ride while it lasted.
The story is of 16 year old Soap, who is exceptionally smart for her age, but a little bit of an awkward teenager. But what she lacks in social skills she makes up for ten fold with her inventions, brains, and heart. She is admitted to the Mad Science Institute at a young age, and for a while feels kind of like an outsider to all the older kids.
The book goes back and forth between Soap, (written in 1st person) and her cousin Dean (written in 3rd person) from chapter to chapter. Each chapter alternates between the two, and there’s also a count down to “Doomsday” as the story progresses.
The pacing of this book is great. Rarely did I ever feel like a scene was dragging on. I actually felt like all the scenes were the right length with just the right amount of action, dialog, and progression.
I really was happy to see Nikola Tesla mentioned in this book. All the gadgets and technology described made this book fascinating, and recommended for science fiction fans out there.
Though the actual writing was very good as far as character voice, flow, pacing and word usage I did find quite a few editing issues. There was missing, odd, or overly used punctuation in a few parts. The book probably just needs a once over and a little clean up of the writing. This, however, does not take away from the story and probably won’t be noticed by fast readers.
I think Sechin Tower is a great storyteller. Editing can always be fixed, but a great writer’s voice is always hard to acquire. I think Sechin Tower did a good job finding his voice, and wrote a fun and memorable story. I recommend this to young adults, or just those that are young at heart looking for a fun and quick read.
The story is of 16 year old Soap, who is exceptionally smart for her age, but a little bit of an awkward teenager. But what she lacks in social skills she makes up for ten fold with her inventions, brains, and heart. She is admitted to the Mad Science Institute at a young age, and for a while feels kind of like an outsider to all the older kids.
The book goes back and forth between Soap, (written in 1st person) and her cousin Dean (written in 3rd person) from chapter to chapter. Each chapter alternates between the two, and there’s also a count down to “Doomsday” as the story progresses.
The pacing of this book is great. Rarely did I ever feel like a scene was dragging on. I actually felt like all the scenes were the right length with just the right amount of action, dialog, and progression.
I really was happy to see Nikola Tesla mentioned in this book. All the gadgets and technology described made this book fascinating, and recommended for science fiction fans out there.
Though the actual writing was very good as far as character voice, flow, pacing and word usage I did find quite a few editing issues. There was missing, odd, or overly used punctuation in a few parts. The book probably just needs a once over and a little clean up of the writing. This, however, does not take away from the story and probably won’t be noticed by fast readers.
I think Sechin Tower is a great storyteller. Editing can always be fixed, but a great writer’s voice is always hard to acquire. I think Sechin Tower did a good job finding his voice, and wrote a fun and memorable story. I recommend this to young adults, or just those that are young at heart looking for a fun and quick read.
July 29, 2016
I rarely had such great difficulty in rating a book.
The best thing about this book is the main character, Sophie, called "Soap", a 16-year-old high school student. Sophie is a brilliant inventor in the field of electrical engineering. Imagine a kind of mixture of Doc Brown (Back to the Future) and Lisbeth Salander (Millennium Trilogy) with a pinch of MacGyver (TV Series). Reading about her, is the purest pleasure. Hilarious! About half of the book is told in first-person from the perspective of Sophie.
The other half is a third-person narrative. Main character here is Dean, an older cousin of Sophie. The narrative perspective almost always changes between two chapters. This is the biggest issue I had with this book. I found it confusing, especially in the chapters where Sophie and Dean meet, and Sophie is suddenly reduced to a "she".
The story itself is fun and exciting, a little twisted, but worth reading if you're interested in science and technology and maybe also have heard of Nikola Tesla. I myself am perhaps a generation too old for this book.
At the very end, as an afterthought, there is an essay in which Sophie describes the most important things in her own inimitable way. This glossary has finally led the rating. Without I would have given only 3 stars.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The best thing about this book is the main character, Sophie, called "Soap", a 16-year-old high school student. Sophie is a brilliant inventor in the field of electrical engineering. Imagine a kind of mixture of Doc Brown (Back to the Future) and Lisbeth Salander (Millennium Trilogy) with a pinch of MacGyver (TV Series). Reading about her, is the purest pleasure. Hilarious! About half of the book is told in first-person from the perspective of Sophie.
The other half is a third-person narrative. Main character here is Dean, an older cousin of Sophie. The narrative perspective almost always changes between two chapters. This is the biggest issue I had with this book. I found it confusing, especially in the chapters where Sophie and Dean meet, and Sophie is suddenly reduced to a "she".
The story itself is fun and exciting, a little twisted, but worth reading if you're interested in science and technology and maybe also have heard of Nikola Tesla. I myself am perhaps a generation too old for this book.
At the very end, as an afterthought, there is an essay in which Sophie describes the most important things in her own inimitable way. This glossary has finally led the rating. Without I would have given only 3 stars.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
July 8, 2012
(I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.)
While this book is well-written, I had several problems with it. The heroine “Soap” was unreasonably naive. She receives ten thousand dollars in cash for a job and believes it to be a student job. I have a hard time believing even a naive girl genius would think that. She was not only extremely naive, she was also very awkward and immature.
I had less of a problem with Dean. Although I did find it hard to swallow that he’d propose to an ex-girlfriend of his that he hadn’t seen in what I thought was years. I was able to suspend belief enough to grasp that their relationship was strange enough for them to become engaged after such a long hiatus though and carry on. He becomes motivated to become the dean of Mad Science Institute even though he doesn’t have a college degree. Once more I had to suspend belief to swallow that. I had to suspend belief many times in this book.
The villains are a corny unwashed biker gang. They were all of enormous size and of minuscule brain power. I found it too stereotypical and cliched for words. The main antagonist was the most stereotypical of all, but maybe that was part of the book’s appeal. The ultimate crime fighting, world saving good guy versus bad guy.
For all that the book still had its interesting twists and turns. The plot moved along at a nice clip. There was a Batman and Robin feel to it that you couldn’t mistake. Once you suspended belief, got past the flaws, and took the book for what it was, it was a light-hearted, entertaining read.
Read my reviews here and on the Akamai Reader!
While this book is well-written, I had several problems with it. The heroine “Soap” was unreasonably naive. She receives ten thousand dollars in cash for a job and believes it to be a student job. I have a hard time believing even a naive girl genius would think that. She was not only extremely naive, she was also very awkward and immature.
I had less of a problem with Dean. Although I did find it hard to swallow that he’d propose to an ex-girlfriend of his that he hadn’t seen in what I thought was years. I was able to suspend belief enough to grasp that their relationship was strange enough for them to become engaged after such a long hiatus though and carry on. He becomes motivated to become the dean of Mad Science Institute even though he doesn’t have a college degree. Once more I had to suspend belief to swallow that. I had to suspend belief many times in this book.
The villains are a corny unwashed biker gang. They were all of enormous size and of minuscule brain power. I found it too stereotypical and cliched for words. The main antagonist was the most stereotypical of all, but maybe that was part of the book’s appeal. The ultimate crime fighting, world saving good guy versus bad guy.
For all that the book still had its interesting twists and turns. The plot moved along at a nice clip. There was a Batman and Robin feel to it that you couldn’t mistake. Once you suspended belief, got past the flaws, and took the book for what it was, it was a light-hearted, entertaining read.
Read my reviews here and on the Akamai Reader!
September 21, 2012
The Mad Science Institute was a fun read for me. It was a very easy book to just sit down and get into. I feel like Mr. Tower has crafted a very thoughtful and well written book.
Plot: The plot was very well done in this book. It's a deviation from just about everything else that's out there right now. I like the fact that Mr. Tower went out on a limb and created something that isn't popular in the mainstream right now. There aren't a lot of folks talking about mad scientists trying to take over the world and a group of college aged scientists trying to stop them. I'm not going to get into too much of the plot in this review because I would much rather you read it for yourself. It is well worth it.
Characters: The characters in this book are really well done. Soap and Dean are easy to relate to and easy to follow through the book. I like that each chapter of the book alternated from Soap to Dean. I love it when authors give me the point of view of more than one character in the book. I think it really helps to move the characters along in the story and keeps the reader engaged with each character.
Readership: I think that this book would appeal to teenagers, middle and jr. highers, and anyone that is fascinated by robots and science. It's got a great plot and it's a breeze to read. You won't be sorry you picked this book up. It's great for a light read.
Overall Rating: 5/5
Plot: The plot was very well done in this book. It's a deviation from just about everything else that's out there right now. I like the fact that Mr. Tower went out on a limb and created something that isn't popular in the mainstream right now. There aren't a lot of folks talking about mad scientists trying to take over the world and a group of college aged scientists trying to stop them. I'm not going to get into too much of the plot in this review because I would much rather you read it for yourself. It is well worth it.
Characters: The characters in this book are really well done. Soap and Dean are easy to relate to and easy to follow through the book. I like that each chapter of the book alternated from Soap to Dean. I love it when authors give me the point of view of more than one character in the book. I think it really helps to move the characters along in the story and keeps the reader engaged with each character.
Readership: I think that this book would appeal to teenagers, middle and jr. highers, and anyone that is fascinated by robots and science. It's got a great plot and it's a breeze to read. You won't be sorry you picked this book up. It's great for a light read.
Overall Rating: 5/5
June 22, 2016
(Grr. My computer lost my review when I was almost done, so this may not be as comprehensive as it was going to be.)
Sophia "Soap" Lazarcheck is the ultimate tech-nerd. She's not good with people and she's blown up so many things that her dad is in debt. When she gets a full-ride scholarship to The Mad Science Institute, it seems like the solution to her problems. When her cousin, Dean, takes over as the Dean of Students, though, she starts to doubt she belongs there.
Regardless of her doubts-- and Dean's similar doubts about being unqualified to run the school-- they are all the school has to save the Institute and stop Doomsday. Up against multiple enemies, it's not brains versus brawn: it's brains & brawn & a whole lot of persistence.
Storytelling: 4- the story slowed in a few places, but otherwise it was an engaging, entertaining read
Editing: 4.5- a few characters are nearly caricatures. While this may be intentional, it took a book that could have been real-feeling and made it mildly over-the-top.
Proofreading: 5- one of the cleanest reads ever, indie or trad
Design: 4.5- very clean design and cover, but the font is a bit tight (note that this may be just me; cleaner fonts are a new desire for me)
There isn't an option for a 4.5 or 4.75 rating and the book just didn't quite make it to one of my rare 5 stars, but it's a good, professionally-done book and well-worth the read.
Sophia "Soap" Lazarcheck is the ultimate tech-nerd. She's not good with people and she's blown up so many things that her dad is in debt. When she gets a full-ride scholarship to The Mad Science Institute, it seems like the solution to her problems. When her cousin, Dean, takes over as the Dean of Students, though, she starts to doubt she belongs there.
Regardless of her doubts-- and Dean's similar doubts about being unqualified to run the school-- they are all the school has to save the Institute and stop Doomsday. Up against multiple enemies, it's not brains versus brawn: it's brains & brawn & a whole lot of persistence.
Storytelling: 4- the story slowed in a few places, but otherwise it was an engaging, entertaining read
Editing: 4.5- a few characters are nearly caricatures. While this may be intentional, it took a book that could have been real-feeling and made it mildly over-the-top.
Proofreading: 5- one of the cleanest reads ever, indie or trad
Design: 4.5- very clean design and cover, but the font is a bit tight (note that this may be just me; cleaner fonts are a new desire for me)
There isn't an option for a 4.5 or 4.75 rating and the book just didn't quite make it to one of my rare 5 stars, but it's a good, professionally-done book and well-worth the read.
February 27, 2015
Fast-paced and entertaining, this modern take on the mad scientist is a love letter to Nikola Tesla. I loved this book, the characters, and the action. I'd call it a wonderful summer beach read, something to delight without heavy, thought-provoking content.
Soap is enchantingly naive and full of frenetic energy. She makes a charming narrator, one whose mistakes are so painful to watch that I wanted to smack her at times. Dean, the firefighting action hero, provides an excellent foil for her youthful idiocy. They're well matched as a team, and it's great to see a buddy story (they're cousins and have a wide age gap) instead of a romance as the central relationship.
The supporting cast holds up their end, too, with a collection of astoundingly brilliant scientists who all manage to be human and relatable, even the villains. I could wish for the main villain to be shown more, but there's only so much that can be depicted with someone whose identity is unknown through most of the book.
Only one problem marred my enjoyment of this madcap take on a Bond-style adventure: editing. It could have used one more read-through by a proofreader for a few too many minor problems like missing words and mismatched plurals. The author's voice, however, is terrific, and I've put the second book of this series, The Non-Zombie Apocalypse (Mad Science Institute Book 2), on my to-read list.
Soap is enchantingly naive and full of frenetic energy. She makes a charming narrator, one whose mistakes are so painful to watch that I wanted to smack her at times. Dean, the firefighting action hero, provides an excellent foil for her youthful idiocy. They're well matched as a team, and it's great to see a buddy story (they're cousins and have a wide age gap) instead of a romance as the central relationship.
The supporting cast holds up their end, too, with a collection of astoundingly brilliant scientists who all manage to be human and relatable, even the villains. I could wish for the main villain to be shown more, but there's only so much that can be depicted with someone whose identity is unknown through most of the book.
Only one problem marred my enjoyment of this madcap take on a Bond-style adventure: editing. It could have used one more read-through by a proofreader for a few too many minor problems like missing words and mismatched plurals. The author's voice, however, is terrific, and I've put the second book of this series, The Non-Zombie Apocalypse (Mad Science Institute Book 2), on my to-read list.
August 22, 2012
A fun romp in a world full of super scientists, ancient civilizations, chupacabras, plots to rule the world, and the perils of being a college dean.
Sophia is a 16 year old genius with the bad habit of making her latest experiments explode. One such failure puts her father in debt to the point of eviction. Luckily she's won a scholarship to a college in a town lovingly named Bugswallow. She's now part of what is called the Mad Science Institute, along with fellow teen scientists Viktor and Nikki. But her cousin Dean is the Institute's new Dean (aka Dean Squared) and he is aware of the mounting danger. A shadowy Professor is attacking the MSI for reasons unknown. Can Dean and Soap survive?
It's a fun read. Some parts are a little too hard to swallow-Soap's "job" for the professor for one. The plot's pretty silly too if you think about it. But it barrels along with such style that you forgive these and just get wrapped up in a world where a giant mechanical scorpion that serves as a inductive battery can be considered cute. I hope Sechin writes a sequel soon, because he's made great characters who demand more than one adventure.
Sophia is a 16 year old genius with the bad habit of making her latest experiments explode. One such failure puts her father in debt to the point of eviction. Luckily she's won a scholarship to a college in a town lovingly named Bugswallow. She's now part of what is called the Mad Science Institute, along with fellow teen scientists Viktor and Nikki. But her cousin Dean is the Institute's new Dean (aka Dean Squared) and he is aware of the mounting danger. A shadowy Professor is attacking the MSI for reasons unknown. Can Dean and Soap survive?
It's a fun read. Some parts are a little too hard to swallow-Soap's "job" for the professor for one. The plot's pretty silly too if you think about it. But it barrels along with such style that you forgive these and just get wrapped up in a world where a giant mechanical scorpion that serves as a inductive battery can be considered cute. I hope Sechin writes a sequel soon, because he's made great characters who demand more than one adventure.
May 3, 2015
Just like science, some things sound very good in theory but the reality is a letdown. I really wanted to like this book; it's billed as a Harry Potter based in science and not magic, and the protagonist is female (we all know Hermione was far more interesting than Harry). But this book had no sense of wonder, there was nothing unique or compelling - dare I say magical? - about the world in which Sophia finds herself. Even though there is a pleasant little science-based appendix, the actual story has little to do with science. The villains are - and this is not a spoiler - a gang of motorcycles thugs. Shouldn't our little geniuses be fighting super germs? genetically engineered creatures? a mad scientist? Speaking of geniuses, there are only 3 students including Sophia, the protagonist, and they are cardboard stereotypes. Ugh, the protagonist; she is so stupid, you just want to shake her! We're constantly told she'a genius, but I just found it impossible to believe it. Also, half of this story is told from the view-point of her older cousin, Dean, in alternating chapters. So it's not really her story after all.
November 3, 2016
I started this book wanting to like it. It had solid reviews it seemed. It sounded like a book I would like. However this time a book with 60 ish reviews all positive failed to deliver. This will put all the other reviews into question.
I found a book full of pseudoscience, wrong science, and an author who felt the need to bludgeon an explanation of his one bag trick (the EMP) into the readers heads every few paragraphs. He also manages to get the explanation and expect results and uses of this idea wrong.
The Characters were flat with little growth. The stereotypes were awful and grinding.
There is a firefighter who can't manage to even "log" into a computer and from the struggles I have to wonder if the author has had the same issues.
The book itself earned a two stars on this.
The version I read was the audio book. The author of this book needs to listen to the last 30 min to find out how unprofessionally done it was. The reader even comments on a live mic about not fixing the book since the author will never check. There was throat clearing in parts. But the final 30 min were an eye opener.
The audio book gets < 1 star.
I found a book full of pseudoscience, wrong science, and an author who felt the need to bludgeon an explanation of his one bag trick (the EMP) into the readers heads every few paragraphs. He also manages to get the explanation and expect results and uses of this idea wrong.
The Characters were flat with little growth. The stereotypes were awful and grinding.
There is a firefighter who can't manage to even "log" into a computer and from the struggles I have to wonder if the author has had the same issues.
The book itself earned a two stars on this.
The version I read was the audio book. The author of this book needs to listen to the last 30 min to find out how unprofessionally done it was. The reader even comments on a live mic about not fixing the book since the author will never check. There was throat clearing in parts. But the final 30 min were an eye opener.
The audio book gets < 1 star.
July 9, 2012
This was a great book with some definite laugh out loud moments. Full of action, mystery, science, and awkward teenage moments, it was a good read.
I'm an elementary language arts teacher, so I'm always reading good youth fiction. I had a hard time putting a finger on the intended age bracket for this book. It was definitely would be above an upper elementary level, so I would place it as middle school or lower high school.
The main character is a 16 year old girl who gets an early acceptance into an odd and unique science institute. Since she is a science geek, this puts her in her element, but it also puts her in the middle of a mysterious battle for... well... I don't want to be a spoiler.
One final note. Most of my Goodreads friends are, like me, Christians and creationists. There is definitely an evolutionary tone to this book. Don't let it ruin the fun of the book.
Enjoy!
Is there a sequel?
I'm an elementary language arts teacher, so I'm always reading good youth fiction. I had a hard time putting a finger on the intended age bracket for this book. It was definitely would be above an upper elementary level, so I would place it as middle school or lower high school.
The main character is a 16 year old girl who gets an early acceptance into an odd and unique science institute. Since she is a science geek, this puts her in her element, but it also puts her in the middle of a mysterious battle for... well... I don't want to be a spoiler.
One final note. Most of my Goodreads friends are, like me, Christians and creationists. There is definitely an evolutionary tone to this book. Don't let it ruin the fun of the book.
Enjoy!
Is there a sequel?
November 18, 2013
I loved this book.
A young girl who's a a big klutz, invents a robot dog, messes up at a science fair and manages to get accepted into the Mechanical Science Institute aka "Mad Science Institute".
The school is in trouble and has only 3 students. It has to acquire more students and staff or risk closing for good.
An evil villain is trying to take over the world by getting access to a secret held at the school that will give him the power to destroy technology. He recruits Sofia's help while she is on her way to her new school.
Lots of excitement, danger and adventure. I can't wait for the sequel!
Highly recommended for kids and adults alike.
Sechin Tower is a fairly new author that must to be checked out.
For more information about his book you can check out his website.
http://www.sechintower.com/
A young girl who's a a big klutz, invents a robot dog, messes up at a science fair and manages to get accepted into the Mechanical Science Institute aka "Mad Science Institute".
The school is in trouble and has only 3 students. It has to acquire more students and staff or risk closing for good.
An evil villain is trying to take over the world by getting access to a secret held at the school that will give him the power to destroy technology. He recruits Sofia's help while she is on her way to her new school.
Lots of excitement, danger and adventure. I can't wait for the sequel!
Highly recommended for kids and adults alike.
Sechin Tower is a fairly new author that must to be checked out.
For more information about his book you can check out his website.
http://www.sechintower.com/
June 16, 2015
I have to admit, I really like this book. Sophia "Soap" Lazarcheck is geeky, clumsy and socially-awkward, but has the brains to create world-changing machines. She finds herself a pawn to a madman called "The Professor" and a member of a secret college where kid-geniuses rule. She has to overcome all her fears, the least of which is a germ-covered wad of gum(one of my favorite scenes for some reason), to stop the Professor from doing massive damage to life on Earth. In the midst of it all, she has no idea who can be trusted. Mad Science Institute is a blast to read and I look forward to more in this series. Soap Lazercheck is my hero!
November 30, 2012
MSI sucked me in very quickly. I love learning while also being entertained (I don't ask for much, do I?) and this book hit the spot for that! I even had to "Wiki" search a couple things just for more background information! Sophia (Soap as everyone calls her) is an extremely lovable and goofy character. You find yourself cheering for her right away! There was romance, thrills, action, food for thought, and tons of humor in this book. the end was a cliffhanger so I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel! *
May 20, 2014
Fun read. Enjoyed the lead character "Soap" and her fellow students. Not particularly interested in the political mechanations of the "big college" and the "little institute."
Unfortunately, the best character was killed early on and we have to do with her on again/off again boyfriend (also Soap's cousin) as the "adult supervision."
The plot is imaginative (the Institute was founded by Telsa) and I like how so many strong female characters (both "good" and "bad") embrace science and technology.
I wanted to read another one!
Unfortunately, the best character was killed early on and we have to do with her on again/off again boyfriend (also Soap's cousin) as the "adult supervision."
The plot is imaginative (the Institute was founded by Telsa) and I like how so many strong female characters (both "good" and "bad") embrace science and technology.
I wanted to read another one!
June 6, 2014
First Suspend Your ...
First Suspend Your ...
Unlikely, improbable, impossible, etc. etc. etc. All of these terms apply to the plot, characters and science offered in this story. But, interesting, exciting and entertaining also fit.
It was easy to like the people, even with their foibles and eccentricities. If fact largely because of them.
Once you accept that you should let go of your preconceptions about everything, you will enjoy the ride with the author's imagination.
Enjoy¡
First Suspend Your ...
Unlikely, improbable, impossible, etc. etc. etc. All of these terms apply to the plot, characters and science offered in this story. But, interesting, exciting and entertaining also fit.
It was easy to like the people, even with their foibles and eccentricities. If fact largely because of them.
Once you accept that you should let go of your preconceptions about everything, you will enjoy the ride with the author's imagination.
Enjoy¡
December 15, 2013
Sofia, a/k/a "Soap", is a budding scientist and at the age of 16 is given a full ride scholarship to Mechanical Science Institute (a/k/a Mad Science Institute). SMI, located in Bugswallow, MN was founded by Soap's idol, Nikola Tesla and funded by Mark Twain. Scoially awkward and naive, Soap blows things up more often than not and puts her skills to good use when the mad professor seeks to complete his Doomsday Machine and destory earth forever. An easy, entertaining read.
June 8, 2013
I really liked this one. It had really strong young female characters using their brains and science and I really liked that a lot. There was lots of thriller type espionage and adventure story action. There were twists and turns and surprises. Did I mention that I loved it? I'm really hoping for a sequel if not a series! Hint hint hint!
September 1, 2012
A sort of Harry Potter with advanced physics, Mad Science Institute is a fun, action packed novel suitable for children and adults alike. Heroine Soap is a likeable geek who has to rely on her unusual engineering skills to derail an evil genius.
April 12, 2013
Not only is this an entertains novel with likeable characters but it has believable inventions based on actual scientific theory that is easy and clearly explained for the lay person.
Looking forward to a sequel
Looking forward to a sequel
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