Benjamin Impossible: The Helium Heist

Ages: 10+ with Adult Appeal (no explicit language or innuendo)

It's NOT EASY being the world’s smartest 12-year-old!

Benjamin Impossible is a genius, kung fu master, and winner of the Franklin County hot dog eating contest three years in a row. But even he doesn't know who stole NASA's supply of hyper-helium, the levitating gas that powers his family's flying houseboat.

With a mechanical madman poised to destroy the world, only Benjamin Impossible's devious brain can solve this mystery. He'll need to uncover clues and battle robotic assassins on land, sea, and in space if he wants to keep Planet Earth from blowing up!

It's a deadly game of wits. Fortunately, Benjamin Impossible makes up his own rules. Bad guys, beware!

More Info

"Benjamin Impossible" was written to captivate young readers. The story features an intelligent lead character, supportive parents, and abundant scientific adventures.

Targeted at the middle-grade demographic (ages 10 to adult), this book mirrors the reading level and length found in the early "Harry Potter" or "Artemis Fowl" series, focusing on adventure, innovation, and excitement. The book features:

1. An absence of swear words, though it incorporates some age-appropriate potty humor.
2. No depictions of murder or death, highlighting the protagonist's living and supportive parents.
3. A lack of romantic suggestions or teenage angst.
4. An abundance of action-packed sequences and daring escapes.
5. Considerable exposure to STEM fields, with a focus on engineering and physics.

Adult readers will likely enjoy the story as well, particularly those fond of "classic mysteries" like the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, or the Tom Swift books. Expect a smattering of youthful mischief, as the protagonist exhibits childlike behaviors and uses fart clouds, stink bombs, and light potty humor to connect with the target reader.

Audiobook

All editions of the book include links (via QR codes) to a complimentary audiobook version of the story. You (or your child) can use your phone to scan the QR code at the start of any chapter. This will instantly send you to the correct "audiobook video" on YouTube.

This feature is particularly useful for "reluctant readers" or for busy adults who prefer audiobooks. There are 35 separate book chapters, and the narration averages 13 minutes per chapter. The entire book's runtime is approximately 8 hours long, roughly the same length as the first Harry Potter story.