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Zack Files #5
The Zack Files Dr. Jekyll, Orthodontist
There's something strange about Zack's new dentist. It could be his eyes, which go red and scary when he's cross. It could be the fact that his patient's teeth seem to get worse, not better - and what is the strange liquid that he calls mouthwash?
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1997
7 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Dan Greenburg
160 books74 followersDAN GREENBURG BIO
BOOKS:
Dan's 73 books have been published in 24 countries.
His adult best-sellers include EXES, LOVE KILLS, HOW TO BE A JEWISH MOTHER, HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF MISERABLE, and HOW TO AVOID LOVE AND MARRIAGE. How to be a Jewish Mother sold several million copies. It and How to Make Yourself Miserable were in print for 30 years and were on Publishers Weekly’s list of all-time bestsellers.
Amazon will publish Dan’s third psychological thriller, FEAR ITSELF, in January 2014. They’ll also republish his first two thrillers, EXES and LOVE KILLS.
He’s written four series of children's books: THE ZACK FILES, SECRETS OF DRIPPING FANG, WEIRD PLANET, and MAXIMUM BOY. The Zack Files sold more than 2 million copies, was translated into 20 languages, and generated an Emmy-winning 52-episode TV series that ran on Showtime and Fox Family.
ADVENTURES:
Dan has written extensively about his adventures:
Riding with NYPD homicide detectives for two years to research thrillers FEAR ITSELF, EXES, and LOVE KILLS.
Interviewing murderers alone in their maximum security prison cells for FEAR ITSELF.
Attending autopsies in the NYC morgue for EXES.
Learning how to discipline tigers and lions on a Texas tiger ranch.
Swimming with 80,000 lb. humpback whales in the deep ocean.
Flying upside down with a stunt pilot in an open-cockpit biplane.
Participating in dangerous voodoo rites in Haiti.
Riding with NYC firemen for four months and following them into burning buildings.
Searching for the Loch Ness Monster.
Assisting exorcists in a Connecticut house attacked by poltergeists.
Acting a major character role in a Western movie filmed in Spain.
Doing stand-up comedy at the New York Improv, and on TV talk shows.
Getting screamed at by Orson Welles on the set of Catch-22 in Mexico.
MAGAZINES:
Dan’s articles have appeared in The New Yorker, Esquire, New York Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, The Huffington Post, Time, Life, Newsweek, Ms., Playboy, and have been reprinted in 44 humor anthologies in the U.S. and England.
MOVIES AND TV:
Dan has had six of his feature films produced, two of which are on Variety’s list of top grossing films.
THEATER:
Along with Jules Feiffer, John Lennon and Samuel Beckett, Dan was a contributor to Oh! Calcutta!, which ran on Broadway for 21 years. He was also a contributor to Free to be You and Me, which ran off and on Broadway for years.
MISC.:
Dan has appeared on The Today Show, The Tonight Show, Larry King Live, and Late Night with David Letterman. He grew up in Chicago, got his BFA from the University of Illinois, and his MFA from UCLA. He lives in Westchester, NY and British Columbia with his author wife Judith Greenburg and many cats.
dan@dangreenburg.com
BOOKS:
Dan's 73 books have been published in 24 countries.
His adult best-sellers include EXES, LOVE KILLS, HOW TO BE A JEWISH MOTHER, HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF MISERABLE, and HOW TO AVOID LOVE AND MARRIAGE. How to be a Jewish Mother sold several million copies. It and How to Make Yourself Miserable were in print for 30 years and were on Publishers Weekly’s list of all-time bestsellers.
Amazon will publish Dan’s third psychological thriller, FEAR ITSELF, in January 2014. They’ll also republish his first two thrillers, EXES and LOVE KILLS.
He’s written four series of children's books: THE ZACK FILES, SECRETS OF DRIPPING FANG, WEIRD PLANET, and MAXIMUM BOY. The Zack Files sold more than 2 million copies, was translated into 20 languages, and generated an Emmy-winning 52-episode TV series that ran on Showtime and Fox Family.
ADVENTURES:
Dan has written extensively about his adventures:
Riding with NYPD homicide detectives for two years to research thrillers FEAR ITSELF, EXES, and LOVE KILLS.
Interviewing murderers alone in their maximum security prison cells for FEAR ITSELF.
Attending autopsies in the NYC morgue for EXES.
Learning how to discipline tigers and lions on a Texas tiger ranch.
Swimming with 80,000 lb. humpback whales in the deep ocean.
Flying upside down with a stunt pilot in an open-cockpit biplane.
Participating in dangerous voodoo rites in Haiti.
Riding with NYC firemen for four months and following them into burning buildings.
Searching for the Loch Ness Monster.
Assisting exorcists in a Connecticut house attacked by poltergeists.
Acting a major character role in a Western movie filmed in Spain.
Doing stand-up comedy at the New York Improv, and on TV talk shows.
Getting screamed at by Orson Welles on the set of Catch-22 in Mexico.
MAGAZINES:
Dan’s articles have appeared in The New Yorker, Esquire, New York Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, The Huffington Post, Time, Life, Newsweek, Ms., Playboy, and have been reprinted in 44 humor anthologies in the U.S. and England.
MOVIES AND TV:
Dan has had six of his feature films produced, two of which are on Variety’s list of top grossing films.
THEATER:
Along with Jules Feiffer, John Lennon and Samuel Beckett, Dan was a contributor to Oh! Calcutta!, which ran on Broadway for 21 years. He was also a contributor to Free to be You and Me, which ran off and on Broadway for years.
MISC.:
Dan has appeared on The Today Show, The Tonight Show, Larry King Live, and Late Night with David Letterman. He grew up in Chicago, got his BFA from the University of Illinois, and his MFA from UCLA. He lives in Westchester, NY and British Columbia with his author wife Judith Greenburg and many cats.
dan@dangreenburg.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 9, 2020
I am rereading some of the books I read as a child for one of my college classes. The Zack Files was one of the first series I remember reading and I see why, it's a funny book with weird things that happen in what should be a normal world.
May 11, 2018
2.5 stars
Read this to a 3rd grade class. They liked it.
Read this to a 3rd grade class. They liked it.
April 21, 2021
I thought this would be a horror story, but it's not. It scifi goes wrong.
January 10, 2024
I like how his father believes in him. The tooth straightening potion is a novel concept. Fun, short story.
May 4, 2012
Terrence Faison
The life of Zack
Dan Greenburg
April 30, 2012
There is a boy named Zack and he goes through a lot. He went through being invisible, to being Zack again. He went from being a beaver, to being Zack again. He went from being an alien, to being Zack. Now he’s going from a ghost inside his body to being, to being Zack.
The ghost is a queen. She doesn’t give a hoot about anyone and she’s selfish for some reason. She loves to say “ We “ which is herself but that’s royal talk. She also happens to show up in Zack’s body without permission. And also has a bad habit of going to the bathroom which she refer’s to calling it the “ W.C. “
Now, the problem is that the ghost Queen Victoria appeared in Zack’s body. Zack doesn’t really want her to be in his body. She keeps forcing him to use the bathroom and says really embarrassing things. Then worst about her saying things, is that it’s out of the blue when she does.
The theme is really simple. I say that because there were many ways how and what Zack could’ve done to avoid these things. There are really at least 1000 themes in this story. But I’m going to name two themes, which would be do before you thing. The last would be patience is a virtual.
This story takes place at many places. The first setting takes place a seance where they call the ghost. the setting takes place at Zack’s house. The third setting takes place at the doctors office. The last setting takes place a an invention convention.
The beginning of the story was really when the conflict started. Zack was going with his dad to the seance because his dad had to take pictures for the news. So they sat down with the people that talks to the ghosts. Then some woman named Madam Poopah calls the ghosts. Now next thing you know, you’ll hear the ghost screaming inside of Zack.
At the middle, is when they tried to solve this conflict. Zack and his father went to the doctors to check. The doctor said that he has to heart beats inside of him. Then after while they went back to Madam Poopah so she can get her out. But when they went to her, she couldn’t get him out.
The ending was when they met up with Zack’s great grandfather. Zack’s grandfather called him and he wanted to meet up with them. They were going to meet up at the Invention Convention because Maurice which is Zack’s grandad had made an invention. So, they met up and that’s when Zack told his grandad about his issue. Then Maurice had an idea so he solved the issue.
At the turning point of the story was when they were going back to Florida. Maurice all ready solve the issue when he went back. Maurice had solved the issue and then went to Florida with his girlfriend which had Queen Victoria inside of her. Then he called Zack and asked him was everything ok. So then there was just a good ending and nothing else.
The resolution was a good ending. They solved this conflict by Maurice telling Queen Victoria about her lost husband. That was the main reason she came in Zack’s body so she could look for him. So when Zack met up with his grandad at the convention, Queen Victoria had transferred to Maurice’s wife. Then they went back to Florida and since Queen Victoria’s lost husband was reincarnated into a dog, Maurice had bought a girl dog and transferred her from Maurice’s wife to the girl dog. So now they’re together in Miami, and things went back to normal.
The life of Zack
Dan Greenburg
April 30, 2012
There is a boy named Zack and he goes through a lot. He went through being invisible, to being Zack again. He went from being a beaver, to being Zack again. He went from being an alien, to being Zack. Now he’s going from a ghost inside his body to being, to being Zack.
The ghost is a queen. She doesn’t give a hoot about anyone and she’s selfish for some reason. She loves to say “ We “ which is herself but that’s royal talk. She also happens to show up in Zack’s body without permission. And also has a bad habit of going to the bathroom which she refer’s to calling it the “ W.C. “
Now, the problem is that the ghost Queen Victoria appeared in Zack’s body. Zack doesn’t really want her to be in his body. She keeps forcing him to use the bathroom and says really embarrassing things. Then worst about her saying things, is that it’s out of the blue when she does.
The theme is really simple. I say that because there were many ways how and what Zack could’ve done to avoid these things. There are really at least 1000 themes in this story. But I’m going to name two themes, which would be do before you thing. The last would be patience is a virtual.
This story takes place at many places. The first setting takes place a seance where they call the ghost. the setting takes place at Zack’s house. The third setting takes place at the doctors office. The last setting takes place a an invention convention.
The beginning of the story was really when the conflict started. Zack was going with his dad to the seance because his dad had to take pictures for the news. So they sat down with the people that talks to the ghosts. Then some woman named Madam Poopah calls the ghosts. Now next thing you know, you’ll hear the ghost screaming inside of Zack.
At the middle, is when they tried to solve this conflict. Zack and his father went to the doctors to check. The doctor said that he has to heart beats inside of him. Then after while they went back to Madam Poopah so she can get her out. But when they went to her, she couldn’t get him out.
The ending was when they met up with Zack’s great grandfather. Zack’s grandfather called him and he wanted to meet up with them. They were going to meet up at the Invention Convention because Maurice which is Zack’s grandad had made an invention. So, they met up and that’s when Zack told his grandad about his issue. Then Maurice had an idea so he solved the issue.
At the turning point of the story was when they were going back to Florida. Maurice all ready solve the issue when he went back. Maurice had solved the issue and then went to Florida with his girlfriend which had Queen Victoria inside of her. Then he called Zack and asked him was everything ok. So then there was just a good ending and nothing else.
The resolution was a good ending. They solved this conflict by Maurice telling Queen Victoria about her lost husband. That was the main reason she came in Zack’s body so she could look for him. So when Zack met up with his grandad at the convention, Queen Victoria had transferred to Maurice’s wife. Then they went back to Florida and since Queen Victoria’s lost husband was reincarnated into a dog, Maurice had bought a girl dog and transferred her from Maurice’s wife to the girl dog. So now they’re together in Miami, and things went back to normal.
December 25, 2010
Another book from my favourite The Zack Files series.
It's all about Zack's association to the name Jekyll. If you have read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you may not have positive impression towards Jekyll. The story Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tells a story about Dr.Jekyll who drinks a magical medicine which enables him to change into another person, Mr. Hyde. The medicine gives Dr. Jekyll a new appearance and a split character. This time, Dr. Jekyll in Zack's story invented a magical mouthwash. It tasted like chewing gum, chocolate and butter and children who attended the dentist office all had to be swallowed the mouthwash after the dental check.
That sounded weird. So Zack sneaked into the dentist office at night to find the truth. He found three groups of beavers in the back room of the office, aiming to show how the mouthwash could make one's teeth straight. However, it took an opposite effect on human. That's why Dr. Jekyll looked like a werewolf with two sharp teeth at times.
In the end, Dr. Jekyll explained that he invented the mouthwash with good intentions and hoped it could replace braises one day. In the end, a anti-mouthwash were given to the children affected. A traditional good ending in children's stories. An entertaining read.
It's all about Zack's association to the name Jekyll. If you have read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you may not have positive impression towards Jekyll. The story Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tells a story about Dr.Jekyll who drinks a magical medicine which enables him to change into another person, Mr. Hyde. The medicine gives Dr. Jekyll a new appearance and a split character. This time, Dr. Jekyll in Zack's story invented a magical mouthwash. It tasted like chewing gum, chocolate and butter and children who attended the dentist office all had to be swallowed the mouthwash after the dental check.
That sounded weird. So Zack sneaked into the dentist office at night to find the truth. He found three groups of beavers in the back room of the office, aiming to show how the mouthwash could make one's teeth straight. However, it took an opposite effect on human. That's why Dr. Jekyll looked like a werewolf with two sharp teeth at times.
In the end, Dr. Jekyll explained that he invented the mouthwash with good intentions and hoped it could replace braises one day. In the end, a anti-mouthwash were given to the children affected. A traditional good ending in children's stories. An entertaining read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2012
I enjoyed this book, but I think the story line would scare kids from the dentist. There already scared and then to make a book based on a scary Dr. Jekyll. It was a little much lol. But other than that the storyline kept me on edge and going until the end. I don't know if kids would find this book as funny as adults do. The only reason why I'm giving it two stars is because its a child's book and I don't know if this leaves a great impression on children and dentist
August 27, 2016
Cute story about Zack. My favorite line from the book:
My name is Zack. I'm a pretty normal kid. But weird things happen to me all the time. If a weird thing has a choice of happening to me or to somebody else, it always picks me. I don't know why.
October 26, 2016
This is the second book in this series I've read. A little strange, but I can think of a few kids who might enjoy this series. Might read a few more just a get a really good feel for this series. Not my thing, but again, I know some kiddos who might like it.
November 29, 2008
I don't like orthodontist.
Read
October 14, 2009first zack files book i ever read
February 27, 2010
I'm reviewing early chapter books and this series is FUN!
April 7, 2011
this was a fun read. I thought it was interesting and a tiny mystery for budding mystery enthusiasts. I liked this book and think that kids would really enjoy it.
October 22, 2011
At only 57 pages, this was a super quick read.
June 16, 2012
I liked this book. The dentist was weird, but funny. And it had awesome and random things like beavers. I would highly recommend this book to anybody who likes things that are weird.
December 10, 2020
I have read this book and I think I might need some more drinkable mouthwash.
March 31, 2017
The enjoyable and somewhat scientific adventure gives the meaningful message about animal welfare. One day, Zack goes to the orthodontist who gives him mouthwash and orders him to drink it, rather than spit out. When he visits for the next time, he finds out some horrible happenings go on in Back Room and goes there with his dad at night. Unlike previous stories, nothing strange and supernatural happens to Zack, but he witnesses it. It lets me think about animal testing by comparing how dreadful happens to animals.
April 11, 2017
Zack has a new Orthodontists. He is very nervous about it, because he has herd many scary story about orthodontists. He he think the orthodontists is a monster.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews