I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President

By Lieb, Josh
Penguin Young Readers, $15.99, 303 pages

Oliver Watson isn’t a popular kid. Out-of-shape, less than sharp, and socially inept, he remains off the radar of most of his fellow classmates. Just as he prefers. Oliver also happens to be a millionaire mastermind, equally capable of brilliant technological advancements and incredible villainy.

He has achieved his every desire thus far, save for world domination (which should really wait until he’s old enough to appreciate it), and now he wants to occupy the highest office in the land: class president. But can even a diabolical megalomaniac dominate the shark tank that is middle school?

I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil is absolutely hysterical, a real treat. Poignant social satire is deftly mixed with childish wish fulfillment. (Blowdarts that make the target gassy? Secret messages on a teacher’s cigarettes?)

You’ll have flashbacks to your worst moments of school, and laugh through each of them as Oliver uses all of the tools in his villainous arsenal to overcome every obstacle in his path.

Admittedly, there are a few dark moments in the book–Oliver’s vindictiveness runs surprisingly deep for an otherwise likable protagonist–but for the most part, it’s a hilarious romp and a great read.

Reviewed by Glenn Dallas