A homeless, orphaned tinkerer, Maxine Einstein lives a Dickensian life in modern-day NYC until the Change Makers Institute recruits her to compete with other international child prodigies. Rewarded for her critical thinking and humanitarian instincts, Max shifts the contest's terms, and the children join together to fight global crises and evade an evil corporation. Playful illustrations complement the goodhearted madcap adventure.

A homeless genius orphan is recruited by one organization and hunted by another.Twelve-year-old orphan Max Einstein never knew her parents, is obsessed with Albert Einstein, lives in a squat above some Central Park stables alongside other good-natured down-on-their-luck types, and attends NYU using fabricated records. Her cozy existence is shattered when the powerful Dr. Zimm and the mysterious Corp target her. Luckily, she's swept off to Israel, where she meets a group of highly diverse, multicultural fellow child prodigies, the other "contestants" at the Change Makers Institute. (Max is white.) The CMI's testing them to find a visionary genius prodigy to lead world-improving projects, but Max has more interest in their aims than their tests. (While the book celebrates curiosity and learning, it also repeatedly rebukes standardized tests in favor of creativity and daydreams.) Max takes advantage of a chance to make friends her own age, while the Corp—with an alluded connection to Max's past—closes in on her. Once a winner's selected and a team formed, it's off to the Congo on a mission to bring solar power to a village in hopes of encouraging African investors in industries other than mining (which uses child laborers). Max's morality, love for humanity, and free spirit make a refreshing counter to the familiar computerlike, elitist genius archetype; evasion scenes bring thrills; problem-solving provides delightful role-modeling. The ending promises a sequel.A fun, positive book with plenty of heart. (Thriller. 8-12)

Johnson-s wry sketch of the iconic photo of Albert Einstein sticking out his tongue, accompanied by his observation that -Imagination is more important than knowledge,- opens a lively and astute series launch by frequent collaborators Patterson and Grabenstein. Max Einstein, a homeless 12-year-old genius, knows nothing about her parents, her past, or the origins of her treasured suitcase filled with Albert Einstein memorabilia. The feisty girl-s infatuation with the scientist guides her critical problem-solving (-What would Einstein do?-) after she is kidnapped by thugs working for a greed-driven corporation and subsequently recruited by the rival Change Makers Institute, dedicated to eradicating global warming, poverty, war, and pandemic disease. Eight other whiz kids competing to become the group-s -instrument of change,- a cunning double agent, and the good guys- surprising benefactor add to the story-s intrigue, which illuminates present-day applications of Einstein-s scientific theories as well as the wisdom of his humanitarian tenets (-Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile-). Sprinting from Manhattan to Israel to the Congo, the story is an entertaining and thoughtful exploration of perseverance, friendship, creativity, and identity. Ages 9-12. (Oct.)