Franny K. Stein is a mad scientist who prefers all things spooky and creepy, but when she has trouble making friends at her new school she experiments with fitting in--which works until a monster erupts from the trashcan.

When her embarrassing middle name is revealed at school, mad scientist Franny K. Stein experiments with time in order to return to the past and give herself a more dignified name.

Being a mad scientist in the modern world is very hard work. With so much that needs to be done in such a short period of time, multitasking can get way out of hand. Franny needs some additional help. But for Franny there is only one person in the world she trusts to help her with her experiments--herself. So she acquires assistance the mad scientist way, by building a few real, live, steel-plated Franbots.

Concerned that the fundraisers for the school art and music departments are not doing well, Franny K. Stein creates in her laboratory/kitchen an irresistible muffin recipe.