Timothy Thompson has major plans for his life now that he's entered into the crazy world of high school. Batshit High is a whole new place for Tim, and he wants to do it all. Megan Chow, his longtime crush, WILL be his girlfriend this year. He's going to save the star quarterback from getting kicked off the team and, in turn, become a school hero. These are just a few of the kick-ass things that Timothy wants to do, but will he get a chance to do them? Will he stop his best friend from being jealous of his newly found girlfriend and school-savior status? You've got to read Allen J. Woppert's newest release about the zany world of high school politics and real-world religion vs. science politics to find out if Tim Thom succeeds or fails.

Coming into a book titled The War on Science Goes Batshit, I really didn't know what to expect except for a wild ride. While the book itself is very interesting, I am a bit confused as to the readership. High school students, I imagine, would appreciate the craziness, the relationship to their own world, and the casual use of terms like "Batshit." That same quality could also alienate people, as well as the science vs. religion stuff. I think Allen Woppert does a great job exploring this kind of topic in a way that high schoolers, or those who are just learning about this kind of conflict, can understand. This book is zany, silly, and at times very well thought out. I enjoyed my read quite well and will definitely look for some more Woppert when I can.

Allen J. Woppert’s novel, The War on Science Goes Batshit, is a fictional account of the controversy and argument of evolution versus creationism that takes place in classrooms today. Timothy Thompson is a 14-year-old high school student from Batshit (pronounced BAHT-SHEET), Illinois. When his biology teacher starts to teach a lesson that sounds a lot like Christian religious beliefs, he decides to take action to stop what he sees as an affront to the laws of separation between church and state. This action forces this already nerdy student into the ranks of social pariahs. However, when his teacher takes her beliefs one step further and refuses to teach evolution at all, Timothy knows that he can’t back down from a fight he believes in. Timothy soon learns that when a person’s beliefs are called into question they are liable to say or do just about anything, even threaten physical harm. Will Timothy be able to stand up for what he believes is right, even in the face of adversity, or will he have to let everything continue to go “Batshit” at his school?

The War on Science Goes Batshit is a quick, fun, and entertaining read for anyone interested in seeing science prevail or for those who aren’t intimidated by having their beliefs questioned. As a Christian that also believes in scientific principles, I was able to laugh aloud at both sides of the confrontation in this story and found it to be a book that could be used to create useful dialogue in young adults. Woppert is certainly directly confrontational in his approach to controversial topics, and he pulls no punches when making his own beliefs known. However, the bluntness of speech while discussing the topics of evolution and religion fits the narrator of the story, a highly intelligent high school-aged boy, and amidst the sarcasm there is an excellent lesson of tolerance and free-thinking. This book may not be one for the easily offended, but I highly recommend it to anyone willing to keep an open mind. Those readers who can do this will find Woppert’s book quite enjoyable and amusing. I enjoyed The War on Science Goes Batshit, and I look forward to reading more by Allen J. Woppert.