Holm
Eleven-year-old Ellie experiences a strange change of events when a strange, cranky 13 year old boy arrives outside of her house. It turns out this boy is actually Ellie's grandfather, a scientist by the name of Melvin. He has found a way to make old people young again in his most recent discovery. He must stay at Ellie's house for now to do more research before he is ready to show his invention to the world. The problem happens when Melvin left his invention at his lab, and security won't let him in. He also must blend in Ellie's middle school.
It's dirty and smelly, and it's crowded with strange people. She misses knowing everything about everyone in elementary school. And she especially misses her best friend who now hangs out with a different crowd. Eventually, Ellie learns to make new friends, like Raj, a boy who likes to dress in black and has a nose ring.
She also discovers she loves science and old horror movies.Another example of this theme is when Ellie realizes that her grandpa staying 13 forever is not a good thing. When she finds out that her friend Brianna has a crush on her grandfather, she realizes how wrong that is.
It's a happy beginning." -- said by Ellie at her mother's weddingThis quote is important because it reinforces the theme of the book. You can't avoid sad endings, like the death of a goldfish or a grandparent, but there will be happy beginnings.
D.'s. Ellie realizes that his discovery could do more harm than good, just like the atomic bomb.Another example of irony is when Ellie's mom ends up having to take care of Ellie's grandpa, and their roles are reversed.
Ellie's mom has to feed him, take him to school, and has to drive him places.
After Ellie suggests the world isn't ready for Melvin's invention, he does some thinking and they stop talking to each other. Eventually, he realizes that Ellie is right and he ends up flushing his discovery down the toilet.
The walls in her bedroom are covered with painted handprints of her and her best friend. The den is where Melvin sleeps. With Melvin staying there now, it has "a gamy, boy-sock, locker-room smell."
He still dresses like a grown man in polyester pants and neckties, even though he looks 13. He always orders the same Chinese dinner and hates to try anything new.
He keeps his house exactly the same, with same old couch. He refuses to try any new foods and always orders the same old Chinese food. And he insists on putting out the trash at night like he always does, even though there's a raccoon problem in Ellie's neighborhood.
It was very funny, especially how Melvin would not cut his hair and wore Ellie's pink hairbands. It's also funny how Melvin interrogates Ellie's mom's boyfriend. It also made me want to learn more about science. The book talks a little bit about famous scientists like Salk and Oppenheimer. I recommend this book to anyone who likes humorous books and science.
