Amelia's Science Fair Disaster
by Marissa Moss

    AMELIA'S SCIENCE FAIR DISASTER by Marissa Moss
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  12/30/08
    Publisher:  Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
    Reviewed by:  Jaglvr
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Who doesn’t dread the words “science fair?"  

    For anyone in middle school, these two words can be pure torture.  Coming up with a science fair project can be
    agony.  Well, for Amelia it’s worse than that.  Not only does she have to deal with a science fair, her science
    teacher has given her two more words that she can’t stand to hear - “group project.”

    Amelia doesn’t have any friends in her science class.  Her best friend, Carly, is in a different science class, and has
    lucked out with two really wonderful partners for her project.  After looking through the class, Amelia notes to
    herself who she could possibly work with.  

    Well, as can be expected, Amelia gets the two worst possible choices.  First of all, she gets Felix.  Felix sleeps
    through the entire class every day.  And then there’s Sadie.  At least she thinks her name is Sadie.  When Ameila
    asks her what her name is, Sadie just laughs it off and thinks Amelia is joking.  After all, they had classes together
    the previous year, as well.

    Sadie soon tries to weasel her way into Amelia’s life.  She invites herself over to Amelia’s to work on their project.  
    But when Amelia finds Sadie snooping around her bedroom and daring to read her journal, Amelia throws her out.

    Amelia is torn between avoiding Sadie and getting a bad grade on their project, or dealing with the situation and
    trying to work together.  It takes Carly’s intervention to make Amelia realize that she doesn’t have to be friends with
    Sadie to do the project, just friendly to work with.

    With Felix asleep through it all, will Amelia and Sadie be able to overcome their problems to finish their science
    project on time?

    Amelia shares her story in a written journal.  With creative illustrations and what’s made to look like handwritten
    entries, AMELIA’S SCIENCE FAIR DISASTER is a fun look at a brief chapter of Amelia’s life.  

    Easy to pick up and quick to read, AMELIA’S SCIENCE FAIR DISASTER will have particular appeal to middle
    school tween girls.