Dr. Jekyll, Orthodontist

March 1, 1997
Gr 3-4-Zack is back! And, weird things are still happening to him. He goes to a new orthodontist, Dr. Jekyll, who insists that he drink rather then swish the "Miracle Mouthwash." As his teeth grow more crooked, Zack begins to think that the mouthwash might be the problem. Sneaking into the orthodontist's back room, he discovers that the dentist is experimenting with this potion on beavers. All ends well with this advice to readers, "I never never drink mouthwash at the dentist's office. I don't think you should, either." In I'm Out of My Body, Zack and a friend experiment with astral travel following the directions in an old book. After several adventures, the boys realize that they forgot to read the directions for returning to their bodies. In a trite ending, Zack's father picks up the book and puts it down open to the needed page. The stylized, pen-and-ink illustrations are numerous but not particularly appealing, with characters' heads and features sometimes out of proportion to the other objects in the picture. However, the simple sentence structure and believable dialogue make for fast reads. Greenburg's sense of humor and zingy one-liners add a humorous touch. Zack and other characters are given life through dialogue and description. Plot development is handled in short, choppy chapters but this is in keeping with the mood and tone of the books. Fans of series books are certain to identify with Zack and enjoy these strange adventures.-Molly S. Kinney, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA