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Secrets of a Lab Rat #1
No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay)
"This chapter has nothing to do with my pants."
So begins the story of Scab McNally, a fourth grader with a mission. Part inventor, part daredevil, Scab is determined to let nothing get in the way of convincing his parents to let him buy a dog -- especially his "smart times ten" twin sister, Isabelle.
When his newest invention, a sister-repellent spray (aka Isabelle's Smell), becomes a hit with the guys, Scab hatches a plan. He'll earn enough selling Isabelle's Smell to buy a dog, and then his parents will have to say yes, right? But one broken bottle of the mega-stinky concoction brings major disaster, not to mention a hazmat crew.
In the midst of his self-pity, Scab realizes that his drive to get a dog has hurt the people he cares about most. Will Scab be able to set things right? Find out in author Trudi Trueit's laugh-out-loud novel introducing the irrepressible Scab McNally to the world.
So begins the story of Scab McNally, a fourth grader with a mission. Part inventor, part daredevil, Scab is determined to let nothing get in the way of convincing his parents to let him buy a dog -- especially his "smart times ten" twin sister, Isabelle.
When his newest invention, a sister-repellent spray (aka Isabelle's Smell), becomes a hit with the guys, Scab hatches a plan. He'll earn enough selling Isabelle's Smell to buy a dog, and then his parents will have to say yes, right? But one broken bottle of the mega-stinky concoction brings major disaster, not to mention a hazmat crew.
In the midst of his self-pity, Scab realizes that his drive to get a dog has hurt the people he cares about most. Will Scab be able to set things right? Find out in author Trudi Trueit's laugh-out-loud novel introducing the irrepressible Scab McNally to the world.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published February 10, 2009
8 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Trudi Trueit
127 books280 followersTrudi Trueit writes the kind of books she loves to read; stories packed with adventure, mystery, friendship, and hope; stories that reminds us to forge our own path and be our own hero! She's published more than 100 fiction and nonfiction titles for kids, including the award-winning EXPLORER ACADEMY series (National Geographic), which was chosen as an Amazon Prime Book Box selection and named one of Barnes and Noble Best Books of the Year for Young Readers. Look for her NEW EXPLORER ACADEMY spinoff series: VELA!
Born and raised in Seattle, WA she lives in the Northwest with her husband and three cats. P.S.: Trudi Trueit IS her real name (by marriage). Visit her website at www.truditrueit.com.
Visit her website at www.truditrueit.
Born and raised in Seattle, WA she lives in the Northwest with her husband and three cats. P.S.: Trudi Trueit IS her real name (by marriage). Visit her website at www.truditrueit.com.
Visit her website at www.truditrueit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 16, 2009
Absolutely hysterical! I would say a Roscoe Riley Rules for older kids, and great for boys.
Scab McNally is dying for a dog but his parents say he needs to be older and more responsible. Scab has the idea that he will make lots of money to buy his own dog. Scab is a secret scientist and has created the sister-be-gone spray, which he uses personally on his twin sister Isabelle, and plans to see this spray to his friends for $3 a bottle. The spray is nasty with all sorts of smelly ingredients, but the one that will make this a great sell, is to add dog poop!
Scab is raking in the dough, but at the cost of fights with his best friend and sister.
Throughout the whole book are little snipets and blurbs that talk about random things such as how to be a teacher's pet and the best time to take a test.
Scab McNally is dying for a dog but his parents say he needs to be older and more responsible. Scab has the idea that he will make lots of money to buy his own dog. Scab is a secret scientist and has created the sister-be-gone spray, which he uses personally on his twin sister Isabelle, and plans to see this spray to his friends for $3 a bottle. The spray is nasty with all sorts of smelly ingredients, but the one that will make this a great sell, is to add dog poop!
Scab is raking in the dough, but at the cost of fights with his best friend and sister.
Throughout the whole book are little snipets and blurbs that talk about random things such as how to be a teacher's pet and the best time to take a test.
September 23, 2025
This is a funny and heartwarming book that really captures the chaos of family life and sibling rivalry. It has some funny moments and it has humor, a bit of mischief, and a lot of heart. Plus, the themes of family, friendship, and problem-solving come through without feeling preachy. Overall, it’s an easy, entertaining read that’s good for all.
July 13, 2015
Scab a boy who really want a dog;sells Isabelle Smell which make Isabelle his little sister who Scab really hate and how Scab and Isabelle be friend.Cause the smelly perfume?
October 23, 2018
My favorite quote or passage was went the boy tells his dad that he wants a dog but his dad say he is not responsible enough.The book did not seem realistic because the boy's go to a laboratory and mix chemical's and nothing happen.I did like this book because out of a the book's i read this was my best book.It did change my mind on something don't judge by the cover.I think i em related to the character because i always get in trouble and making mistakes.The book made me feel humorous because of the things my character do make me remember went i get in trouble.I have something in common with the character i like fighting with my sister.My favorite part of the book was went salvatore puts a cheddar cheese for two and a half day on her sister issabel's underwear drawer. my least favorite thing was went the kid try to convince his dad to buy him a dog.I will not change anything i like it how it is.
May 23, 2021
In this first book of a new series readers are introduced to Scab McNally – fourth grader, inventor, and daredevil. When Scab’s “smart times ten” twin sister refuses to help him in his quest for a dog, Scab decides to sell his secret sister repellent formula to the guys at school. An easy to read humor filled story filled with many tips, facts, and comical illustrations.
March 13, 2019
Couldn't get through more than a couple chapters of this. On the surface funny if you like a string of gross jokes, every adult being an idiot, funny looking, or evil, and bad sibling relationships.
Tried to get through the end to see if the book was redeemed at the end, but didn't.
Tried to get through the end to see if the book was redeemed at the end, but didn't.
March 20, 2019
Funny book by a local author.
October 25, 2012
All Scab has ever wanted was a dog. His parents don’t think he is responsible enough for a dog though, but he is determined to show them he is since he will be ten very soon. One thing that keeps getting in his way though is his twin sister, Isabelle. She is perfect and never does anything wrong, except tell their parents everything Scab does wrong. Scab can’t stand her! To get rid of her, he has finally come up with a concoction for sister repellant spray which he calls “Smelly Isabelly”. It works great! When word gets out around school, all the boys want to buy a bottle of Smelly Isabelly from Scab. It is the perfect way for him to raise money for a puppy and show his parents he is responsible. He just needs to get Isabelle on board with asking their parents for a puppy. Will she agree after Scab has been so mean to her? Read Secrets of a Lab rat: No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) by Trudi Trueit to find out if Scab gets his puppy.
This book would appeal to boys in grades 3-6. Any boy who has a sister will be able to relate to main character Scab in his feelings towards his sister. The adventures of Scab and his friends are very amusing and bring humor to the story that would appeal to boys.
I thought this was a cute book. It was very funny to me because it reminded me of growing up with an older brother who always thought I was annoying. I liked the main character scab because his inventions are very funny and original.
Trueit, Trudi Strain. Secrets of a lab rat #1: No girls allowed (dogs okay). New York: Aladdin, 2009. Print.
This book would appeal to boys in grades 3-6. Any boy who has a sister will be able to relate to main character Scab in his feelings towards his sister. The adventures of Scab and his friends are very amusing and bring humor to the story that would appeal to boys.
I thought this was a cute book. It was very funny to me because it reminded me of growing up with an older brother who always thought I was annoying. I liked the main character scab because his inventions are very funny and original.
Trueit, Trudi Strain. Secrets of a lab rat #1: No girls allowed (dogs okay). New York: Aladdin, 2009. Print.
December 1, 2017
Written to suck in boys who like armpit farts. It was a fun, quick read with pictures and funny side notes. My youngest three were completely entertained, Nathan couldn’t wait for me to get to the end and finished it himself. I love when that happens. I have the next two books on order from the library for him.
The descriptions of the bus driver had me crying! So funny!! “Have a nice day. Have a nice day. Have a nice day.”
The descriptions of the bus driver had me crying! So funny!! “Have a nice day. Have a nice day. Have a nice day.”
September 19, 2013
Scab McNally is determined to get a dog. If he earns enough money to adopt a dog his parents will have to let him have one, right? Well, let's earn the money first. So, how do we do that? A new invention! Scab loves to invent things.
Scab invents a sister-be-gone spray that includes, wait for it... dog poop! Agh! But it works. He becomes an instant entrepreneur at school making all of the money he needs to adopt a dog. But then his sister, Isabelle, finds out that it's named after her and the kids at school start teasing her. She's having a hard time already.
Isabelle tells their parents and Scab is forced to give back all the money he earned. He thinks that his hopes for a dog are completely dashed. But sisters sometimes come to the rescue of their brothers. Sometimes.
A fantastically funny story, great for on older storytime.
Scab invents a sister-be-gone spray that includes, wait for it... dog poop! Agh! But it works. He becomes an instant entrepreneur at school making all of the money he needs to adopt a dog. But then his sister, Isabelle, finds out that it's named after her and the kids at school start teasing her. She's having a hard time already.
Isabelle tells their parents and Scab is forced to give back all the money he earned. He thinks that his hopes for a dog are completely dashed. But sisters sometimes come to the rescue of their brothers. Sometimes.
A fantastically funny story, great for on older storytime.
October 24, 2009
Scab McNally (his real first name is top-secret) wants a dog more than anything. A dog, he knows, will love him unconditionally and a dog won't care if he's not super smart like his twin sister Isabelle. Unfortunately, he has no money to buy a dog and his parents want him to prove that he's responsible. When he invents a sister-repellent that he calls "Isabelle Smells", he finds lots of boy who want to buy it. Suddenly his dreams of dog-ownership might come true! But selling Isabelle Smells at school causes many problems he couldn't have foreseen.
This is a great boy book - perfect for reluctant readers who enjoy gross-out humor. And yeah, it's very gross. Dog poop, farts, and rotten garbage abound. I'd try it on Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans and any kids who laugh at poop (and isn't that most kids?).
This is a great boy book - perfect for reluctant readers who enjoy gross-out humor. And yeah, it's very gross. Dog poop, farts, and rotten garbage abound. I'd try it on Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans and any kids who laugh at poop (and isn't that most kids?).
November 29, 2009
Trueit I laughed and laughed at this book. I believe it is geared more for the elementary kids. Since I have reluctant readers, the tips, pictures and large print will appeal to some of them. Scab McNally is gross. This is the first thing that will hook my readers, the name and the fact that the character is gross. He wants a dog and tries to get his twin sister Isabelle to help take his parents into getting them one. She refuses. He decides to earn money to get his own dog and get even with his sister at the same time. He creates a vile smelling concoction he sells to his friend as a “sister-repellent”. This was a quick read and one I know I’ll be able to get the most reluctant student to read.
April 16, 2013
Scab is an almost ten year-old boy with an infinity for getting into trouble. But what he wants most is to prove to his parents that he is mature enough to get a dog of his own. He tries really hard to be good, until his sister gets in the way. That's when he invents the sister repellent. It's full of disgusting ingredients like dog pooh and the smell is enough to drive anyone away, not just sisters. So, of course, he just has to sell it to the other boys. Unfortunately one of the bottles of sister repellent bursts in the classroom and the whole class has to evacuate because of it. Did he just blow his chances for owning his own dog? Boys will love the gross humor in the book, but I did not.
August 16, 2014
Salvitore Wallingford McNally (nicknamed Scab) is a fourth grade boy who just wants two things. He wants to make it through the day without getting into (too much) trouble, and he wants a dog. He's almost ten already, so really, how much more responsible can he get?
This book is filled with neat stand-out facts and tidbits about Scab's life, which really helps break up the text. Even though Scab is a goofy kid, he's got a lot of heart, and you really feel how badly he wants a dog. Fun to read, and with a character you can connect to, I would easily recommend this to anyone who wants a funny yet driven plot. (Though I'd probably recommend it most to boys.)
This book is filled with neat stand-out facts and tidbits about Scab's life, which really helps break up the text. Even though Scab is a goofy kid, he's got a lot of heart, and you really feel how badly he wants a dog. Fun to read, and with a character you can connect to, I would easily recommend this to anyone who wants a funny yet driven plot. (Though I'd probably recommend it most to boys.)
November 5, 2016
A chapter book series with a lot of boy appeal. Contains some burping/farting, nose picking, and other gross boy-ness. In addition to the illustrations, frequent asides and insets are set off in boxes throughout the story, and elaborate on some of Scab's ideas and schemes.
To be honest, I'm not bowled over with this first book in this series. Scab takes a long time to feel some empathy towards his twin sister, an annoying tattletale who is going through a difficult time adjusting socially to skipping a grade. It seems to me that even a boy his age would have picked up on some of the clues earlier and at least tried to respond in some way that was not so totally self-absorbed.
To be honest, I'm not bowled over with this first book in this series. Scab takes a long time to feel some empathy towards his twin sister, an annoying tattletale who is going through a difficult time adjusting socially to skipping a grade. It seems to me that even a boy his age would have picked up on some of the clues earlier and at least tried to respond in some way that was not so totally self-absorbed.
December 21, 2010
Even though I gave this book only three stars, mainly because I found the ending a bit too abrupt and overall not really my kind of book, I can just see how this book will become a hot item on our shelves as soon as word begins to spread. I am actually surprised that this book has gone unnoticed for so long. It is funny, gross, yucky and tells of obnoxious inventions and how to deal with annoying sisters - just the kind of book many of our boys will love to get their hands on.
July 18, 2009
Scab considers himself a scientist. He creates experiments and tests them out on his twin sister. His latest invention is called Isabelle's Smell, a perfume to repel his sister. He decides to sell the perfume to get money to by a dog. Along the way, he creates many mishaps. This story was full of gross humor that will appeal to boys. Includes hilarious notes from Scab to himself.
December 15, 2009
Scab is in the 4th grade and gets in trouble a lot - especially for his inventions. (You won't believe the stuff he thinks up!) His twin sister Isabelle, was moved up to the 5th grade and never gets in trouble. They usually don't get along - but they need to rely on each other after something happens in school.
October 17, 2010
This little story about a boy inventor who desperately wants a dog and ends up hurting his friends and "smart times ten" twin sister in order to get one was okay. Some parts were funny and some parts lost my attention. I like that Scab organized his thoughts in lists. Lots of farting and fart-like sounds in this one.
February 2, 2011
Scabbs wants a dog, badly, and will do anything to get one, even if it means ruining his sisters school credibility and involving the HAZMAT team. This is a cute breezy book set squarely in third/fourth grade. This book will appeal to third/fourth grade boys because it is told by Smelly Isabellie's brother and it involves dog poo, insects and inventions.
July 20, 2011
Gross-out humor for boys - burps and farts included with a fair dose of comic illustrations, side bars and text boxes.
Irresponsible Scab wants a dog more than anything, can he and his best friend Doyle sell enough of their latest invention, sister-repellent spray, for him to earn the money on his own? Or will he need to ask his responsible twin sister Isabelle, who has her own problems, for help
Irresponsible Scab wants a dog more than anything, can he and his best friend Doyle sell enough of their latest invention, sister-repellent spray, for him to earn the money on his own? Or will he need to ask his responsible twin sister Isabelle, who has her own problems, for help
June 8, 2009
Scab McNally, a fourth grader, loves coming up with inventions including sister-repellent spray a.k.a. Isabelle's Smell. Can he sell enough of this sister-repellent to buy a dog, something he has wanted forever? Funny series. Good for kids who like Stink, Roscoe Riley, Diary of a Wimpy Kid etc.
March 31, 2013
Absolutely Hysterical!
This was one of my kids picks. From all the snickering from my son last night I knew I was in for a treat. It Was GROSS! Of course, my kids made sure I listened to every word. Honestly, i'm looking forward to their next pick. ;)
This was one of my kids picks. From all the snickering from my son last night I knew I was in for a treat. It Was GROSS! Of course, my kids made sure I listened to every word. Honestly, i'm looking forward to their next pick. ;)
September 9, 2014
It's an ok early chapter book. It's just enough to challenge without scaring a reader off. It has a similar feel to a Hank Zipzer book, but not as funny.
Good for the boys with a gross out factor but still has consequences for his questionable idea.
Good for the boys with a gross out factor but still has consequences for his questionable idea.
December 1, 2016
Dive head first into the wickedly funny antics of a pre-teen boy. If you have a juvenile sense of humor and had a sibling, or ever wished you had a sibling, you must read this book. And don't stop there; read the rest of this series.
March 24, 2009
This reads like a cartoon episode on Nickelodeon. And the illustrations are by the illustrator of My Weird School!
Want to read
December 22, 2013RL480
April 3, 2009
Funny; will recommend to kids who liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid. First book in a new series.
August 15, 2009
My 9-year old loved it!
September 22, 2009
This book was fun! And disgusting! And a charming sibling story in the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews