Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Raymond Abrashkin Jay Williams |
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| Illustrator | Paul Sagsoorian |
| Language | English |
| Series | Danny Dunn |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Published | 1974 |
| Publisher | McGraw-Hill |
| Pages | 154 |
| ISBN | 0-07-070546-1 |
| OCLC | 730771 |
| Preceded by | Danny Dunn and the Swamp Monster |
| Followed by | Danny Dunn Scientific Detective |
Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy is an exciting science fiction adventure book. It's the thirteenth story in the popular Danny Dunn series. The book was written by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams. It was first published in 1974. In this story, Danny and his friends discover a way to make things invisible, leading to amazing adventures and some big problems!
Contents
The Invention of ISIT
The story begins when Danny accidentally causes a small electrical fire. This fire changes a special crystal material that Professor Bullfinch was studying. This material was a semiconductor, which is a substance that can conduct electricity under certain conditions.
Professor Bullfinch, a brilliant scientist, uses this changed material to create something amazing. He calls it ISIT. This stands for the Invisibility Simulator with Intromittent Transmission.
What ISIT Can Do
ISIT is a small, dragonfly-like machine. It can be controlled from a distance using a special helmet and gloves. When you wear them, it feels like you are inside the probe, seeing and hearing what it does.
The professor, Danny, and his friends Irene and Joe all try out the new device. Each of them finds a unique way to use ISIT.
Adventures with ISIT
- Irene uses ISIT for birdwatching. She can get super close to birds without disturbing them.
- Joe uses the device to observe a beehive from the inside. He learns a lot about how bees live and work.
- Danny uses ISIT to uncover a secret. He discovers a bully known as "Snitcher" is cheating in the school spelling bee. Snitcher is copying words to win a new boombox.
Danny then uses ISIT's speaker to pretend to be Snitcher's conscience. He talks to the bully through the speaker, making Snitcher feel guilty. This helps Snitcher confess his cheating to his father.
Trouble with ISIT
Soon after, ISIT causes some serious trouble. A military leader named General Gruntel visits Professor Bullfinch. The general wants to use ISIT for spying. He wants to spy on other countries and even on people in his own country.
General Gruntel tries to take ISIT by force. But Doctor Grimes, a friend of the professor, stops him. The general leaves guards at the lab while he goes to get official permission to seize the device.
Taking Matters into Their Own Hands
Danny, Irene, and Joe decide they must act. They sneak into the lab to get ISIT back. They know it's too dangerous for the military to have such a powerful device.
When the probe is gone, Colonel Twist, the guards' commander, thinks a foreign country has stolen it. He becomes very suspicious.
A Difficult Choice
Professor Bullfinch realizes his young friends are responsible for taking ISIT. He tells Danny that if his notes about how to build ISIT still exist, either the Soviet Union or the United States military could rebuild it. This would be very dangerous for the world.
As the local National Guard arrives to secure the house, Danny and the Professor make a tough decision. They use ISIT to start a fire that destroys both the notes and the probe itself. This way, no one can ever use ISIT for harmful purposes.
Dr. Grimes arrives with orders from the Governor for the military to leave. Professor Bullfinch tells everyone that ISIT and his notes are gone. He is the only one who remembers the blueprints. He promises not to recreate ISIT until the world is truly ready for such an invention.
Real-World Connections
This book's ideas about invisible flying machines have some interesting real-world connections.
Dragonfly Drones
In the 1970s, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) actually developed a small, dragonfly-like flying machine. It had a listening device inside. The CIA said this device was "never deployed operationally," meaning it was never used in real-world missions. However, there have been some unconfirmed stories about similar technology being used by other groups.
Predicting the Future
According to journalist Clive Thompson, the Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy book was very forward-thinking. It seemed to predict the rise of personal drones. Drones are flying robots that can be controlled remotely. The book showed how these devices could be used in many ways, some fun and some a bit creepy, and how they might change society.
