Plymouth Staff Choices: Phineas L. MacGuire…Erupts!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Phineas L. MacGuire…Erupts!

Phineas L. MacGuire…Erupts! by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Youth Fiction-Lower Level – DOWELL

Phineas L. MacGuire goes by the nickname Mac and his absolute favorite subject is science. He loves everything about science; trying out new experiments, reading scientific journals and he is only in fourth grade! Mac is disappointed because his best friend who is also a science expert moved away 3 weeks into the school year. So not only does Mac not have a best friend anymore he does not have a partner for the science fair that is coming up. Mac gets paired with the new kid who is also named Mac (R.). Mac is not happy about this because no one likes the new kid plus Mac R. loves dinosaurs which Mac thinks is so third grade. As the Mac’s work together for the science fair Mac discovers that Mac R. is not a bad kid and his name really is not Mac. Mac R.’s name is actually Ben. Mac feels bad that no one else really likes Ben so he has this great idea that Ben should have a do-over in terms of meeting his classmates. As the science fair fast approaches Ben and Mac work hard to ensure that they have a great project that will hopefully win first place. Even though the boys are working hard for the science fair Ben is working equally hard to win over his classmates. Frances O’Roark Dowell delivers a fun story that will keep kids laughing. This book is also the first in the series. If you like Mac then check out his other books: