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  • Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray (Elements of Genius #1)

Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray (Elements of Genius #1)

kdk July 23, 2019
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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.





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About Post Author

kdk

Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it. Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course. As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com). Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
kdk@nightsandweekends.com
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kdk

Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.

Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.

As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).

Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.

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