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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Not only does this book let kids know it is ok to be smart, but also shows the benefits of teamwork.
This is exactly the type of book I would have gobbled up 25 years ago as an insatiable nine/ten year old who spent her school day lunches in the library looking for books that would have landed and kept her in her school's illustrious "200 Club" (made up of students who read books with 200 or more pages) and her afternoons with her nose in her book. And while I wasn't nearly as smart as Nikki when I was a child, I did have a knack for science and math.
But even as an adult, I appreciated the writing and it definitely kept me engaged, so I can see it absolutely keeping a young reader engaged.
But even as an adult, I appreciated the writing and it definitely kept me engaged, so I can see it absolutely keeping a young reader engaged.
With an opening scene that stars a ferret aiming a death ray at a teenage girl, Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray is an adventure from start to finish. Nikki Tesla is a teenage inventor who doesn’t fit in with the rest of the world. Her father accidentally blew himself up while planning to destroy the town. Nikki has sworn to herself not to be anything like her father, but her inventions keep getting her in trouble. When her death ray and its damage are featured on the news her mom has no other option than to turn to Genius Academy. Nikki is hesitant to go but ends up at the school with a lot of concerns. Will Nikki be able to make friends? Worst of all her death ray gets stolen. Will she and the rest of Genius Academy be able to recover it before global disaster?
This book is a fast-paced adventure novel with cameos from historical great minds reimagined as teenagers. There is a light romance but nothing that detracts from the whirlwind capers that the team go on. Overall a fun read.
This book is a fast-paced adventure novel with cameos from historical great minds reimagined as teenagers. There is a light romance but nothing that detracts from the whirlwind capers that the team go on. Overall a fun read.
I asked kids in the book club I run at my library for their recommendations. One girl very enthusiastically recommended this series. It was a fun, delightful ride, and I am already eager to read the second installment!
Creative and fun story but I wish they would have left out the few swear words and boyfriend/girlfriend stuff.
Nikki Tesla blew a hole in her bedroom floor. Well, actually, her ferret, Pickles, did while aiming Nikki’s death ray at her. Okay, it was an accident, but it was enough for Nikki’s mom. She’s scared for Nikki so she contacts the Genius Academy. Nikki doesn’t want to go, but the “goons” who come to take her, threaten to put her mom in jail if she doesn’t. So she goes—along with Pickles. And meets Leo DaVinci, Bert Einstein, Charlotte Darwin, Grace O’Malley, Mary Shelley—and yes, they are very much like their namesakes. Nikki is certain she’s not going to fit in here any better than she fit in at any of her other schools, but then her death ray is stolen and it’s up to the geniuses to get it back.
This is an action adventure story with a lot of angst, twists, turns, and, well, adventure. It’s fast, fun, and sure to appeal to kids who want something a little different. Nikki is like every kid who’s had to move multiple times and just doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. Having a ferret along for the ride is cute. The story moves quickly as we follow our geniuses through Italy, Switzerland, and to the Arctic.
What I didn’t like? The end. Yes, the story is complete, and it satisfies. They manage to save the world from the bad guys and all that, but… the story isn’t over. The last line (I won’t reveal it so as to not give away the ending) proves that the story isn’t over, but continues on into other books. I’m not a huge fan of that kind of ending, but…as I said, *this* story is complete so that’s good. I know it’s a marketing ploy to get people to continue to buy books, but it’s not something I enjoy. It’s a satisfying ending—and yet, not.
Still, it was a fun read and the author gives great tips at the back that tell who the kids are named after and blurbs on their namesakes. I do recommend this book, just be forewarned that it’s not over even when you reach the end.
This is an action adventure story with a lot of angst, twists, turns, and, well, adventure. It’s fast, fun, and sure to appeal to kids who want something a little different. Nikki is like every kid who’s had to move multiple times and just doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. Having a ferret along for the ride is cute. The story moves quickly as we follow our geniuses through Italy, Switzerland, and to the Arctic.
What I didn’t like? The end. Yes, the story is complete, and it satisfies. They manage to save the world from the bad guys and all that, but… the story isn’t over. The last line (I won’t reveal it so as to not give away the ending) proves that the story isn’t over, but continues on into other books. I’m not a huge fan of that kind of ending, but…as I said, *this* story is complete so that’s good. I know it’s a marketing ploy to get people to continue to buy books, but it’s not something I enjoy. It’s a satisfying ending—and yet, not.
Still, it was a fun read and the author gives great tips at the back that tell who the kids are named after and blurbs on their namesakes. I do recommend this book, just be forewarned that it’s not over even when you reach the end.
Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing an ARC with #bookportage.
I was very excited for the opportunity to read a fiction book from one of my favourite nonfiction authors Canadian @jess_keating and I wasn’t disappointed.
Nikki Tesla is a young girl who due to her curiousity, interest in inventing and smarts has had trouble fitting in at school and working with others.
Some of Nikki’s inventions have caused some issues in the neighborhood - the latest being her death ray gun. After a near mishap, her mother decides she needs to be with kids with her own passion and intelligence in a safe environment and thus agrees to accept an invitation for Nikki to attend Genius Academy.
Nikki reluctantly agrees to attend after being told it is the only way to keep her mother out of jail because of the death ray incident. Once at the Academy, we meet six other students all with their own special interests and skills. From here, Keating introduces the mystery when Nikki’s death-ray gun is stolen. The Academy turns out to be a school where students learn skills to save the world and so now the students are tasked with figuring out who has taken the gun, and to retrieve it before any eminent disaster occurs.
This book reminded me of the Alex Rider series (kids being spies) and many books revolving around puzzles to be solved. There is a lot of action and I liked how Nikki had to learn to work with others and viceversa - accepting one another for who they are and recognizing that their differences make them stronger. What makes Elements of Genius unique is the use of STEAM and teamwork into the plot and characters. I loved how the text is printed on grid paper, chapters are short and there are illustrations to accompany the story. I think this will be a popular series and look forward to Nikki’s and her new found friends in their next adventure. A great addition for libraries and classrooms.
I was very excited for the opportunity to read a fiction book from one of my favourite nonfiction authors Canadian @jess_keating and I wasn’t disappointed.
Nikki Tesla is a young girl who due to her curiousity, interest in inventing and smarts has had trouble fitting in at school and working with others.
Some of Nikki’s inventions have caused some issues in the neighborhood - the latest being her death ray gun. After a near mishap, her mother decides she needs to be with kids with her own passion and intelligence in a safe environment and thus agrees to accept an invitation for Nikki to attend Genius Academy.
Nikki reluctantly agrees to attend after being told it is the only way to keep her mother out of jail because of the death ray incident. Once at the Academy, we meet six other students all with their own special interests and skills. From here, Keating introduces the mystery when Nikki’s death-ray gun is stolen. The Academy turns out to be a school where students learn skills to save the world and so now the students are tasked with figuring out who has taken the gun, and to retrieve it before any eminent disaster occurs.
This book reminded me of the Alex Rider series (kids being spies) and many books revolving around puzzles to be solved. There is a lot of action and I liked how Nikki had to learn to work with others and viceversa - accepting one another for who they are and recognizing that their differences make them stronger. What makes Elements of Genius unique is the use of STEAM and teamwork into the plot and characters. I loved how the text is printed on grid paper, chapters are short and there are illustrations to accompany the story. I think this will be a popular series and look forward to Nikki’s and her new found friends in their next adventure. A great addition for libraries and classrooms.
With an opening scene that stars a ferret aiming a death ray at a teenage girl, Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray is an adventure from start to finish. Nikki Tesla is a teenage inventor who doesn’t fit in with the rest of the world. Her father accidentally blew himself up while planning to destroy the town. Nikki has sworn to herself not to be anything like her father, but her inventions keep getting her in trouble. When her death ray and its damage are featured on the news her mom has no other option than to turn to Genius Academy. Nikki is hesitant to go but ends up at the school with a lot of concerns. Will Nikki be able to make friends? Worst of all her death ray gets stolen. Will she and the rest of Genius Academy be able to recover it before global disaster?
This book is a fast-paced adventure novel with cameos from historical great minds reimagined as teenagers. There is a light romance but nothing that detracts from the whirlwind capers that the team go on. Overall a fun read.
This book is a fast-paced adventure novel with cameos from historical great minds reimagined as teenagers. There is a light romance but nothing that detracts from the whirlwind capers that the team go on. Overall a fun read.