Begin with Lunch Walks Among Us
Continue in numbered order for the clearest view of Franny's growing friendships and inventions.
Book Series · 10 Books
Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist Books
In order from Lunch Walks Among Us to Mood Science.
Franny K. Stein loves bats, inventions, and mad science. Ten heavily illustrated early chapter books turn her attempts to fit in—and her experiments gone spectacularly wrong—into quick, spooky-comic adventures.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Franny K. Stein Books
Read the ten books in numbered order, from Lunch Walks Among Us through Mood Science. The experiments are mostly self-contained, but Franny's friendships and comfort with being herself grow across the series.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
Franny creates monsters, clones, robots, body swaps, and other experiments that produce mild danger and spooky imagery. The tone is silly rather than frightening, and problems are resolved without graphic harm.
The books celebrate curiosity and being different while also showing why experiments need responsibility. Franny sometimes ignores warnings or tries to change herself to please others before finding a healthier solution.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
The first book introduces Franny's laboratory, family, and new classmates.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$674
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2003
Lunch Walks Among Us
By Jim Benton
A young girl tries to fit in with her classmates by changing her behavior and appearance, but ultimately saves the day with her unique skills and personality
102 pages· 3,817 words· Est. 32 min read
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Franny K. Stein, a mad scientist with a penchant for the peculiar, is tired of being the odd one out. Determined to blend in with her classmates, she embarks on her most daring experiment yet. But when a monstrous fiend threatens her school, Franny must decide if fitting in is worth losing her unique edge. Can she save the day without sacrificing her true self? Dive into Franny's world of quirky science and unexpected heroism.
In reading order
Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist Series
10 books · Published 2003–2021
#1
Sale price
$674
Lunch Walks Among Us
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2003
A young girl tries to fit in with her classmates by changing her behavior and appearance, but ultimately saves the day with her unique skills and personality
#2
Sale price
$1697
Attack of the 50-Ft. Cupid
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2004
A quest for love with unexpected twists.
#3
Sale price
$674
The Invisible Fran
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2004
A young girl tries to convert her classmates into mad scientists like herself, but her plan backfires when they take her robot project into their own hands.
#4
Sale price
$674
The Fran That Time Forgot
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2005
A young girl scientist travels back in time to change her middle name, but her actions have unintended consequences on her future self
#5
Sale price
$1799
Frantastic Voyage
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2005
A young girl must navigate her way through her dog's body to stop a bomb from exploding and destroying the world
#6
Sale price
$1697
The Fran with Four Brains
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2006
A young girl creates robots to help her with her busy schedule, but they quickly become a threat to her and her family
#7
Sale price
$1799
The Frandidate
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2008
A young girl creates a machine that can change its appearance to please everyone, but it quickly gets out of control and threatens to destroy the world
#8
Sale price
$1498
Bad Hair Day
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2019
A young mad scientist creates a pair of pigtails that come to life and wreak havoc on the town
#9
Sale price
$1599
Recipe for Disaster
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2020
A young inventor must stop a robot she created from taking over the world with its addictive muffins.
#10
Sale price
$1699
Mood Science
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2021
A young inventor's experiment goes awry, causing chaos and destruction in her town.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist series?
There are 10 books in the Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist series. It began with Lunch Walks Among Us in 2003, and the newest book, Mood Science, was published in 2021.
What order should you read the Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist books in?
Start with Lunch Walks Among Us and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #10.
What ages are the Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist books best for?
The series is best for ages 6–10, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist book is the longest?
Mood Science (Book #10) is the longest book in the series at 6,341 words (160 pages).
Which Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist book is the shortest?
The Fran That Time Forgot (Book #4) is the shortest at 3,701 words (112 pages).
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist to life.
Keep exploring
Similar Series
Heidi Heckelbeck
Ages 7–9
Captain Awesome
Ages 7–9
Mercy Watson
Ages 5–9
The Fabled Stables
Ages 6–9
The Kingdom of Wrenly
Ages 6–9
The DATA Set
Ages 5–9
Ella and Owen
Ages 6–8
Kondo & Kezumi
Ages 6–8