The Third Mushroom by Jennifer L. Holm
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 1524719803
Pages: 240
Goodreads

Ellie is back in this SciFi sequel to The Fourteenth Goldfish and while you don’t need to read TFG before this book, it makes for a richer read if you do.

Life has returned to normal for Ellie after time-bending grandpa Melvin revealed his secret and took off for adventures away from town. Now Melvin is back, having learned that life is difficult for a fourteen-year-old boy on his own. Ellie is delighted at his return and in order to lift his spirits, she hooks him into partnering with her on a Science Fair project. Luckily for Ellie and Melvin, a package arrived while he was on the road. This package contains a sample of another jellyfish, but this is not of interest to Melvin; instead, the mutated axolotl is the focus of his excitement. The two prepare a science project using fruit flies and the mysterious axolotl and learn that it does, indeed, have power, that of regeneration. The two attempt to use their knowledge to change circumstances with both positive and negative results. The book peppers Ellie’s typical middle school life with information about real scientists working in the 1600-1800s and includes short biographical sketches of those mentioned in the book at the end. The book also offers a strong message about the benefit of failing, particularly when it comes to experimenting with scientific theories, though Melvin is also able to relate the scientific process to Ellie’s personal life, which won’t always work but which does offer clarity in determining whether to take her friendship with best friend Rav to the next level. This book offers an older and wiser Ellie and is a welcome addition in MG literature with themes on STEM, loss, and coming-of-age (even when you’re in your late fifties).

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth