I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President
on Goodreads (4,436)
What’s inside...
When a provocation from his dad irks twelve-year-old evil genius Oliver Watson, he'll have to put his plans for world domination on hold in order to beat the pants off the competition and win the middle school election! Oliver appears to be a normal boy living in Omaha, Nebraska who likes grilled cheese made by his mom and his best friend is actually a girl, specifically a pit bull named Lollipop. Oh, and of course, he's an evil genius on his way to world domination. No one can stop him from getting what he wants, not Jordie the bully, not his English teacher Mr. Moorhead, and not even his archenemy 'Daddy'. No matter how many dictators Oliver needs to overthrow, presidents he needs to blackmail, or bingo-addicted grandmas he needs to bribe, Oliver gets what he wants. Or at least he has until now. This time, Oliver is running to be the president of his class and is about to find out that dominating the world is actually much easier than convincing other kids to vote for you, even when you are an indescribably wicked genius.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
12-15
Length
320 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Oliver's intelligence affects his relationships with others at school and at home?
What do you think about Oliver's goals and the methods he uses to achieve them? Are they fair or ethical?
Oliver has a complex personality. What are some of his traits that you admire or find challenging?
How do the other characters in the story respond to Oliver's actions? What does this tell you about how people react to power and influence?
What lessons can we learn about friendship and trust from Oliver's interactions with other characters?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to put themselves in Oliver's shoes. Ask how they would handle similar situations or challenges.
Discuss the ethical questions raised in the book. This can lead to a deeper understanding of right and wrong.
Highlight the importance of understanding diverse personalities and the reasons behind people's actions.
Use examples from the book to discuss the consequences of actions and the importance of making thoughtful decisions.
Foster empathy by discussing the feelings and perspectives of various characters in the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The value of humility
Explanation: The protagonist's grandiose plans and self-perception of genius are often humorously undercut by the realities of middle school life, showing that self-importance can be both comical and isolating.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate the importance of staying humble and recognizing their own limitations, making them more relatable and approachable to their peers.
Example Lesson: Consequences of deceit
Explanation: The main character often engages in schemes and deceit to achieve his goals, which leads to various predicaments and challenges, demonstrating that dishonesty often complicates life more than it simplifies it.
Real-World Application: This can teach children the value of honesty and integrity, encouraging them to deal with situations openly rather than resorting to deceit.
Example Lesson: Importance of genuine relationships
Explanation: Throughout the book, the protagonist struggles with genuine friendships due to his manipulative tendencies. This highlights the importance of sincerity in building and maintaining relationships.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the significance of being genuine and sincere with friends and family, which is crucial for building trustworthy and lasting relationships.
Example Lesson: Impact of ambition
Explanation: The protagonist's ambitious drive to become class president shows both positive and negative aspects of ambition, illustrating that while it's important to have goals, they should not be pursued at the expense of others.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand the importance of balancing ambition with ethical considerations and the feelings of others in their pursuit of personal goals.
Example Lesson: Learning from failure
Explanation: The protagonist experiences setbacks in his various plots and schemes, which serve as important learning opportunities that contribute to his growth by the end of the book.
Real-World Application: This can teach children that failure is not something to be feared but is instead a step towards growth and better understanding, encouraging resilience and persistence.