MEET Private Iris, the smartest kid in school. She knows mathematics, science, history and, best of all, she has a knack for solving puzzles.

A techie with a wrist full of gadgets, Iris can be mistaken for a nerd, though she is more outspoken than most. A loner, she prefers to hide in the secret headquarters under the forest near her home. She hates classmates who cheat and, through observation and deduction, she catches several of them, earning their ire. Often, she seems to know more than her teachers, which does not endear her to them, too.

Danton Cord is Iris’ only friend and, on the surface, her exact opposite. Handsome, athletic, and popular, Danton is also smart. A basketball star, he has many friends but Iris has been special to him, ever since she helped him tremendously in The Case of the Cashbox Caper.

Loyal and generous, Danton wants other students to see Iris’ good traits. One way to do this is to have her help them solve their problems. Iris does not particularly care for the others but if Danton likes them, then they must be worth helping.

Science mysteries

Iris and Danton are the main characters of the comic series “Private Iris,” targeted at elementary and high school students. Launched last year by Blue Cow, the series aims to educate kids while serving a dose of fun.

Each issue focuses on a clever mystery story. I like the fact that the writer, Jamie Bautista, does not talk down to kids, and each mystery contains genuine science facts and information in other areas.

For instance, in “The Spirit of the Shoemaker,” mysterious messages appear and disappear on walls of the laboratory. Are there ghosts? Not quite. It turns out that the villain used invisible ink from lemon juice. Heat makes the messages reappear.

Since science is better learned by doing, I find it helpful that there is a follow-up mini-experiment after the story. Dip a brush in simple lemon juice and write with it. When the juice dries up, the message disappears. When you put the paper near a lit candle (not too close or the paper will burn), the juice will react with the heat. The areas with the writing turn brown and the message reappears, like magic.

Another piece of trivia: In the classroom, Iris is scolded by her science teacher for saying that not all rocks float. Rock does not float, does it? Well, not ordinary garden-variety rock, but pumice floats. Why? A volcanic rock, pumice has many holes, making it less dense than water. Ergo, it floats!

Interestingly, pumice is used to make stone-washed jeans. It is responsible for the faded look.

Finance 101

What make this series not only educational but practical are the finance lessons embedded in each story. For example, in the story mentioned, a former lab owner is the inventor of the sneakers Fleetfeet that Danton, the basketball player, calls “the awesomest awesomeoness in all awesomedom!” He (and all students, except Iris) just had to have them.

Perfectly normal, right? Sadly, yes. Fleetfeet is an ironic reference to extremely expensive branded sneakers that kids feel they have to get-—until a new model comes along. To parents who despair over their children’s spending habits, read this message to your kids:

“Don’t buy something just because it’s a fad. When something is popular only for a short time, it’s called a fad. More often than not, when something is a fad, everybody seems to want to have or do it. But after a while, the fad dies down and people move on to something else that is newer and more exciting. Fads are just wants; short-time wants. If you are trying to figure out whether something you are about to buy is important, ask yourself: do you really need it right now, or do you just want it because other people seem to want it? If you feel the thing is just a fad, save your money. You’ll be glad later on when the fad dies down and nobody (including you) wants it anymore.”

Another reminder is on budgeting, in terms kids can understand and respond to: “Budget your funds when planning an event. If you have a special event that you’re planning, like a birthday party or a school event, you will only have a set amount of money for it. It’s wise to make a budget so that you can make sure you have enough money for all the important things. For example, you don’t want to spend too much on party decorations only to find out you have no money left to buy food for the party. List down all the things you need for the event in order of importance. Then set aside the right amount of money for each from your overall budget. The better you plan your event, the more successful it will be!”

Guaranteed savings

Each issue of Private Iris comes with a Sparx code, worth P100. Sparx is a “smarter version of the piggy bank.” A savings and insurance instrument from Pioneer Life, Sparx guarantees future savings for children and life insurance when and until they turn 14 years old.

Pioneer Life has been in the country for more than four decades. It is part of the Pioneer Group, led by Pioneer Insurance and Surety Corp., with assets close to P7 billion.

Classy and brainy, the series is proudly Philippine-made. Bautista, an Ateneo de Manila University communications cum laude graduate, has taught English literature and comics theory. The stories are brought to life by the wholesome drawings of artist Arnold Arre, a welcome respite from the bloody gruesomeness of much adult animé. Arre has received National Book Awards for his graphic novels. He designs for individual and corporate clients. To the Private Iris team, keep it up!

Private Iris is available in selected schools, bookstores, and newsstands. Call 7509999 or go to www.privateiris.com or www.bluecow.com.ph for details.

E-mail blessbook@yahoo.com.