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Making friends isn’t always easy—especially if you happen to be a kid genius with a dark history. But in Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray, the first book in the Elements of Genius middle-grade series by author Jess Keating, a brilliant young inventor finds herself relying on other smart kids to help her save the world.
The story introduces young inventor Nikki Tesla, a super-smart twelve-year-old who prefers to pass the time alone, in her laboratory. But when her latest invention—a real death ray—almost destroys their current home, Nikki knows what it means: she and her mom will have to move again, to keep the press away. But then a couple of guys in suits come to recruit Nikki for a boarding school called Genius Academy instead. And when someone steals her death ray during her first day at the school, she’s forced to work with her fellow geniuses to save the world.
Though she’s never had the best of luck with other kids, as she travels the world in an attempt to recover the weapon that she made in her room, Nikki (that’s short for Nikola, of course) has to learn to trust her classmates—and she realizes that she may have finally found a place where she belongs. Whether she’s learning about people’s motives and intentions from author Mary Shelley or trying to figure out how to fly a plane with Leo da Vinci, she eventually starts to realize that they all have their own gifts and talents—and if they work together, they can do anything they put their brilliant minds to doing.
Young readers will enjoy the action and intrigue of this fast-paced story about friendship and deadly weapons, and they’ll also love these historically-inspired characters—especially Nikki, a smart kid who’s got her share of problems and insecurities. She’s a relatable character—but a strong one, too—and her adventures and inventions are sure to spark the interest of aspiring young scientists. Readers of all ages will love the mix of science and adventure—and the sense of humor, too. And they’ll be eager to follow the continuing adventures of Nikki and the others in the sequel.
Whether your young readers have a strong interest in science—or you just wish they did—they’ll likely find inspiration (and plenty of entertainment) in this series debut. But you might want to keep an eye on them for a while after they finish reading it—just in case they attempt to invent a death ray of their own.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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