

The author sup! plies these kids with enough smarts to get out of jams but enough vulnerabilities to keep readers engaged. The novel's ludicrous scenario is met with an equally comic tone, making for a fast-paced, easy read. That all sounds heavy, but humor columnist Barry sprinkles enough laughs throughout to keep things moving smoothly. Soon Matt is kidnapped, possibly by international terrorists, and it's up to Wyatt and the girl of his dreams to find him and exchange a deadly device for their lost friend. But when his best friend, Matt, spots some suspicious activity on their plane, his dream vanishes-in a big way.

A Miami eighth-grader's class trip to the nation's capital quickly escalates into an international incident.Wyatt Palmer wants nothing more than a nice, peaceful, informative class trip to Washington, D.C.
