From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6 - Adam Story, a palindrome-loving 12-year-old intellectual who yearns to travel, believes he has nothing more in store for him during the summer than 40 days of camp. When Prince Oh, the producer of the Magellan Voyage Project, shows up out of the blue and proposes to sponsor him in a challenge to journey around the world in just 40 days using surface transportation, Adam agrees. After all, there is a $4-million prize waiting for him if he succeeds. Little does he know that the MVP is competing with 23 other teams to win the Great Global Game. Adam finds himself having to avoid tranquilizer darts, trackers, and the dreaded Baron von Sheepsbottom. He meets various characters who help or hinder him, including the blue-haired Meredith of the Gagarin Voyage Project. The girl seems trustworthy, but of course she's also trying to win the game. While the dialogue is corny and Adam is much too savvy for his age, the story is a refreshing alternative to gritty contemporary stories or high-fantasy adventures. Children who enjoy wordplay will easily spot the palindromes sprinkled throughout. Humorous black-and-white cartoon illustrations in different sizes, many of them full page, enhance the text. - Farida S. Dowler, Mercer Island Library, WA
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From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. Adam Story longs to see the world, but he never imagines he will get the chance. Then, on his twelfth birthday, a mysterious stranger, Prince Oh, from the kingdom Babababab, visits and challenges Adam to circle the globe in 40 days--no flying allowed. Outfitted with an excuse for his mother (summer camp), special technogadgets, and plenty of money, Adam embarks on the trip of a lifetime. Soon, however, he finds out that things are more complicated than he imagined; he is part of a global game, racing against time and against 23 other kids, and dodging darts and some unsavory adults (dastardly Baron von Sheepsbottom) for a prize of $4 million. Evans' writing matches the lively pace of Adam's journey, and Adam's descriptive narrative makes for a fast-paced, engaging read. Children looking for adventure, humor, and a bit of escapism will enjoy the intrigue, imaginative details, fantastical and familiar locales, and the quirky characters. Occasional black-and-white, cartoonlike pictures illustrate the text. Shelle Rosenfeld
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