The Thursday Toads

by A.M. Lightner

Scientists discover an elixir of youth on a planet inhabited by poisonous toads.

189 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

A.M. Hopf, or Alice Martha Lightner Hopf, is the author of more than nineteen books for young readers, among them science fiction novels. Her books include The Day of the Drones, Doctor to the Galaxy, and The Rock of Three Planets. She also had a strong interest in natural history and entomology and has written several non-fiction children's books on the subject (published under the name Alice Lightner Hopf).

Reviews

[Califia Hurtado · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is wonderful fun to read. I must admit that when I picked it up, I wasn't expecting to get a lesson as a young teen about how we need to preserve ALL species, because we have no idea which "deadly" species may hold the link to our health, happiness, or more.

In 2020 this feels even more true.

Definitely a fun read for anyone, but especially anyone in the sciences/biology/ecology. I feel like it is an exceptionally written warning for humans not to just assume everything that is "dangerous" needs eradicating.

For example... copperheads (venomous snakes in the United States) produce toxins in their venom that are now being used in cancer research.

[Tammi Upshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great quick read! Not too light, but not too involved, either.