Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
Humorous writer Don Gutman’s newest has an odd cast of characters thrown together by a curious invention. Boy genius Renton Dagamgatochi invents a homework machine then also builds an unlikely friendship with three classmates. There is a girl with a type-A personality, another who is an uninvolved student, and a cool guy. Each has a reason to want the relief a homework machine brings; all have their own set of complexities. Short chapters of alternating voices tell the story, which is funny in some places, but is not without intense and sometimes sad moments. This is another engaging book by Dan Gutman. 2006, Simon and Schuster, $15.95. Ages 7 to 10.

Valerie O. Patterson (Children's Literature)
Four fifth grade students form an unlikely friendship while trying to protect a secret homework machine, codenamed Belch, which does their homework for them. Sam is the class clown and Kelsey is an underachiever, while Judy is in the gifted and talented program, and Brenton is, simply, a genius and the inventor of Belch. When their teacher, Miss Rasmussen, seats the four of them together as D Squad, Sam and Kelsey's homework grades rise dramatically, thanks to the homework machine. Miss Rasmussen at first ascribes the children's improvement to her teaching skills. Her suspicions are aroused, however, and she gives a pop quiz, which dramatically shows that Sam and Kelsey, and even Judy's grades, don't measure up to the homework perfection. Together the four friends finally destroy Belch to try to avoid being in trouble. In a satisfying end, Sam, who learned how to play chess from his dad before his dad was killed in Iraq, beats Brenton at a chess game. Told in various first person narratives in the format of police interviews, the story unfolds in an engaging way and makes the reader want to cheer on the four unlikely friends, even as they wrestle with ethics and honesty. 2006, Simon &Schuster Books for Young Readers, $15.95. Ages 8 to 12.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2006 (Vol. 74, No. 3))
When fifth-graders Judy, Sam and Kelsey discover their classmate Brenton Damagatchi's homework machine, they think they are on to a good thing and begin to visit him regularly after school. Alphabetically seated at the same table, the brilliant Asian-American computer geek, hardworking, high-achieving African-American girl, troubled army brat and ditzy girl with pink hair would seem to have nothing in common. (They would also seem to be stereotypes, but young readers won't mind.) But they share an aversion to the time-consuming grind of after-school work. Their use of the machine doesn't lead to learning-as a surprise spring quiz demonstrates-but it does lead to new friendships and new interests. The events of their year are told chronologically in individual depositions to the police. In spite of the numerous voices, the story is easy to follow, and the change in Sam, especially, is clear, as he discovers talents beyond coolness thanks to a new interest in chess. Middle-grade readers may find one part of this story upsettingly realistic and the clearly stated moral not what they had hoped to hear, but the generally humorous approach will make the lesson go down easily. 2006, Simon & Schuster, 160p, $15.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 8 to 11. © 2006 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

David Lininger (Library Media Connection, October 2006)
This story is told from the viewpoints of the four main characters, with each character giving his or her perspective. Brenton (the geek), Sam "Snik" (class clown), Judy (teacher's pet), and Kelsey (a slacker) are put together in a group by their first-year teacher even though they have nothing in common. One day Brenton lets it slip that he doesn't spend any time doing homework because he has a machine that does it for him. Before long, the four kids are going to Brenton's house after school everyday, where the machine does their homework for them, complete with an occasional error (deliberately inserted in the programming to avoid making the teacher suspicious). Because there are hints that their secret is no longer so secret, they decide to destroy it and go back to doing their homework the old-fashioned way. I enjoyed this book, as will middle school readers, because it is a fun story. As an adult reader the author gave me powerful insight into the thinking of middle school children. They don't always come to the same conclusions we might, given the same circumstances, and those who teach them need to remember that. Recommended. 2006, Simon & Schuster, 160pp., $15.95 hc. Ages 10 to 14.

n/a (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, March 2006 (Vol. 59, No. 7))
Fifth-graders nicknamed “Group D” seem to have only one thing in common--their last names. Sam Dawkins, the new kid, is a troublemaker; Kelsey Donnelly wants nothing to do with school; Judy Douglas is an overachiever; and Brenton Damagatchi has always been an outcast, albeit a genius. Brenton’s hunger for friends leads him to break down one day and admit to Sam that he has invented a homework machine to complete mundane, day-to-day assignments he can’t be bothered to finish. Initially disbelieving, Group D discovers that the homework machine really does exist and starts to use it for every assignment, until rumors begin to circulate that they cheat. What might have been yet another cautionary tale about the importance of doing homework adds a few wrinkles with the unlikely yet genuine friendships that develop between the members of Group D and the telling of the story through interwoven police “testimonies” from the kids, their teacher, and other characters. Sam discovers chess through Brenton and it becomes not just a hobby, but also a way for him to connect with his soldier father via email chess games while he is serving in the Middle East. The somewhat abrupt blow delivered by Sam’s father’s death in an otherwise fairly light-hearted story is softened by the compassion offered to Sam by Kelsey, who lost her own father when she was six. Though the roles are sometimes hackneyed (especially the overserious Asian-American genius) and the discovery of the group’s plan is inevitable, the buildup to the climax is suspenseful. The moral of the story--do your homework--isn’t likely to surprise anyone, but the lasting friendships that evolve out of what is essentially cheating and the death of a parent (along with some implicit questioning of the war) make this school story an unexpectedly complex page-turner. (Reviewed from galleys) Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2006, Simon, 160p, $15.95. Grades 4-6.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2006)
When Brenton, a decidedly uncool fifth-grader, programs his computer to do his homework, three other students happily use the program, too. The burden of keeping the machine secret, however, weighs heavily on this improbable group of friends. Although the story is enjoyable, the format--snippets from the police report as each child explains what happened--isn't always convincing. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2006, Simon, 149pp, 15.95. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.