Misadventures of Millicent Madding #1: Bully-Be-Gone

As an inventor, Millicent knows this formula by heart. But a series of failures -- like the Ever-Juicy Gum Enhancer Pellet (a bit too juicy) and the Retractable Ponytail Holder (a hairy mess) -- have left her a few beakers short on faith. Even Millicent''s best friends in The Wunderkind Club are ready to give up on her inventions.

Bully-Be-Gone, her latest creation, should be the breakthrough Millicent needs. After all, her formula for thwarting the enemies of overachievers everywhere is foolproof.

Almost foolproof.

Before long, Millicent has a disaster of monumental proportions on her hands. With only days to concoct an antidote, her friendships -- and her future as an inventor -- hang in the balance.

Brian Tacang''s debut novel takes readers on a wild ride through the fantastic town of Masonville, where eccentric scientists and burly librarians, long-lost circus performers and bullies abound, and where science and miracles sometimes collide.