This fantastic book keeps you guessing at every turn and gives you some interesting facts about physics and chemistry.

With its explosive mix of action and adventure, chemistry lessons will never be the same again.

Mayo’s story about the misadventures of a 14-year-old science nut, Itchingham Lofte, whose experiments result in exploding dustbins and “mass puking over teachers”, soon had 150 pupils erupting in spontaneous applause. By the time he wrapped things up 40 minutes later, every child wanted his autograph and the queue snaked around the hall.

[Alice Miranda's] effervescent personality lends itself well to the novel's hyperbolic atmosphere, and her optimism is contagious