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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Nikki Tesla is a genius inventor with a ferret, some family problems, and trouble making friends.
Fun middle-grade book with interesting characters and problem solving. I probably wouldn't allow my child to attend this school - but it's a quick and fun read. I'll probably spend a few happy hours with the sequels as they emerge.
Fun middle-grade book with interesting characters and problem solving. I probably wouldn't allow my child to attend this school - but it's a quick and fun read. I'll probably spend a few happy hours with the sequels as they emerge.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
A fun addition to the spy-kid genre. My favorite thing about this was the fact that the term "genius" was broadly applied to not only math and science but also to writing and leadership and psychological skills.
At its core, this is a friendship story that really digs into the desire to protect yourself when you have been hurt before and weighing the costs and benefits of opening yourself up to potential friends after being hurt. At times, it can be hard to "like" Nikki because she is holding so much of herself back and pushing the others away. But the author does a great job of showing early on WHY Nikki is doing that, so the reader knows it's okay to hope that with some time, Nikki will warm up to her team and give them a chance. Science pieces as well as some history (all of the kids are named for historical figures), but never anything that would be over the heads of any middle grade reader. A terrific series launch with a great cliffhanger right at the end to propel kids to book 2 (Feb 2020).
At its core, this is a friendship story that really digs into the desire to protect yourself when you have been hurt before and weighing the costs and benefits of opening yourself up to potential friends after being hurt. At times, it can be hard to "like" Nikki because she is holding so much of herself back and pushing the others away. But the author does a great job of showing early on WHY Nikki is doing that, so the reader knows it's okay to hope that with some time, Nikki will warm up to her team and give them a chance. Science pieces as well as some history (all of the kids are named for historical figures), but never anything that would be over the heads of any middle grade reader. A terrific series launch with a great cliffhanger right at the end to propel kids to book 2 (Feb 2020).
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
@KidLitExchange #Partner
Thank you to the @KidLitExchange network and the publisher for the advance copy of Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray by Jess Keating.
After Nikki Tesla accidently vaporizes a portion of her bedroom floor with her newly developed death ray, she is invited (or maybe blackmailed might be the better term) into attending Genius Academy. Genius Academy is home to 6, now 7, students each genius specializing in their own unique area of expertise. Shortly after arriving at Genius Academy and narrowly avoiding drowning in the school's pool, Nikki and the other geniuses learn that her death ray has been stolen. The kids are then deployed on a daring mission around the globe to find the thief and reclaim the death ray.
This is a story about science, accepting who you are, and friendship. Nikki has never really had friends because the other kids have always viewed her intense love of science and her high intelligence as weird. Because of this, she doesn't trust others easily and has a hard time making friends. Keating masterfully addresses the themes of friendship, not fitting in, and accepting your abiliities and quirks in a fun and engaging way. The story has humor and adventure that is sure to pull in middle grade readers. I personally loved how each of the students at Genius Academy is a reimagined version of a real-life individual whose made an important contribution to our world's history. The reimagined geniuses are: Grace O'Malley (Irish Pirate Queen), Nikola Tesla (inventor), Leonardo da Vinci (polymath and artist), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (musical prodigy), Charles Darwin (biologist), Mary Shelley (author), and Albert Einstein (physicist and visionary). I also really like that the author encourages readers to learn more about the real-life inspirations for the characters and suggests that they read more about them.
Thank you to the @KidLitExchange network and the publisher for the advance copy of Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray by Jess Keating.
After Nikki Tesla accidently vaporizes a portion of her bedroom floor with her newly developed death ray, she is invited (or maybe blackmailed might be the better term) into attending Genius Academy. Genius Academy is home to 6, now 7, students each genius specializing in their own unique area of expertise. Shortly after arriving at Genius Academy and narrowly avoiding drowning in the school's pool, Nikki and the other geniuses learn that her death ray has been stolen. The kids are then deployed on a daring mission around the globe to find the thief and reclaim the death ray.
This is a story about science, accepting who you are, and friendship. Nikki has never really had friends because the other kids have always viewed her intense love of science and her high intelligence as weird. Because of this, she doesn't trust others easily and has a hard time making friends. Keating masterfully addresses the themes of friendship, not fitting in, and accepting your abiliities and quirks in a fun and engaging way. The story has humor and adventure that is sure to pull in middle grade readers. I personally loved how each of the students at Genius Academy is a reimagined version of a real-life individual whose made an important contribution to our world's history. The reimagined geniuses are: Grace O'Malley (Irish Pirate Queen), Nikola Tesla (inventor), Leonardo da Vinci (polymath and artist), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (musical prodigy), Charles Darwin (biologist), Mary Shelley (author), and Albert Einstein (physicist and visionary). I also really like that the author encourages readers to learn more about the real-life inspirations for the characters and suggests that they read more about them.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes