Brendan Buckley's Sixth-Grade Experiment

Delacorte Press / Random House, Inc., 2012

Winner of the 2008 Coretta Scott King / John Steptoe New Talent award, given by the American Library Association

Brendan Buckley is headed to middle school, and he has lots of big questions. Like, why won't new-girl Morgan Belcher leave him alone? And what will he propose for the national science competition his class is entering?

When his alternative energy idea gets him paired with Morgan, Brendan is more than a little skeptical. But their partnership clicks and they embark on a methane-producing experiment involving bottles, balloons, and the freshest cow manure they can find.

As Brendan spends more time on the experiment, his big questions get even bigger. He misses hanging out with Khalfani, his best friend and Tae Kwon Do sparring partner. Will they remain best friends? And Brendan and his police detective father aren't exactly seeing eye-to-eye. Does Dad think he's a science-nerd wimp? Can Brendan prove to him that his scientific pursuits really could be world-changing?

Readers will welcome the return of the popular and appealing Brendan Buckley as he encounters the trials and tribulations of middle school and struggles to forge his own identity within his family.

Want to try the science experiment that Brendan did?

Brendan learns a lot about biomass and biogas and how these might impact global climate and the future of our planet. (He shares some facts about these things at the end of the book).

If you’d like to try the experiment that Brendan does, go here: Science Buddies.org This site has hundreds of experiments, in all fields of science. Climate change is an issue that affects all of us—maybe you will be someone who invents technologies that help to save the earth!