Bob Pflugfelder

I wasn't real sure what to expect with this one-- sometimes children's books written by those famous in other fields don't turn out so well. In this case, however, it came out great.

Nick and Tesla are 11-year-old twins, into science and experimentation and books and technology. They've been shipped off to their estranged Uncle Newt's house for the entire summer, and Uncle Newt turns out to be the very model of an absent-minded professor. He's got one hare-brained scheme brewing after show more another-- but that's nothing compared to what Nick and Tesla are about to get themselves caught up in.

When Tesla loses her necklace over the fence of a seemingly-abandoned house, the kids soon find out it's not abandoned at all. In fact, there are some shady-looking "construction workers", two vicious slobbering rottweilers, and a mysterious young girl peering out from the top window.

The kids soon make some new friends in a couple of local boys, and together the four work to get Tesla's necklace back and solve the mystery of the strange girl in the window.

I found the story light and fun, but not silly, and the resolution to mystery may be far-fetched but it isn't condescending. No eye-rolling or groans when you find out the truth (which is so often the case with young-reader mysteries). There's room left for many more stories as well.

What really sets the book apart from the pack though, are the experiments included in the story. There are actual instructions for a pressure-rocket, a burglar alarm, and a spying method using highlighters and a black light. For the most part the supply lists are realistic-- nothing too complicated or special-order here, just household items and adult supervision. These are things kids can actually try out and see results with.

I'd recommend this one to boys and girls alike, perfect for the 8-12 crowd. show less

This was a fun book to read even though I am a wee bit outside the target audience. Some stories, let alone mysteries, for young people can be a bit condescending, but this one is on point for young and not-so-young readers.Tesla and Nick are imaginative, quick-witted, smart and funny as they set out to find out who is sabotaging the museum where their uncle works.
The reader also gets instructions to build a pretty groovy gadget glove of their very own. Can't wait to share this book with my show more 11-year-old daughter.
FUN! show less

I was provided a copy of the book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program. It's a sequel to Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab, which I also read and reviewed through the program.

This series for middle graders brings together two elements in a fun way: the old-fashioned children's mystery novel like Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys, with interspersed science projects that use basic around-the-house materials to make cool stuff. This time around, 12-year-old twins Nick and Tesla show more (Tesla being the girl) rove around downtown Half Moon Bay, California. With their parents on an agricultural business trip to Asia (though there are plenty of bold hints that they are really spies of some sort), the two kids are living with their mad scientist Uncle Newt. There's a criminal mastermind on the loose in town. A very valuable comic book has gone missing and other businesses have been hit by thefts, too. At the same time, many of these businesses have brand new robots, too. Hmm...

Nick and Tesla have fun making their own homemade robots as part of the trend. The directions are very straightforward and include elements like old computer fans and soda bottles. There are many illustrations to show how to construct everything step-by-step. I really love that Tesla--the girl--is the one who loves robots the most.

As for the story, it's fun. The characters are actually very well-written and not simply cardboard cut-outs like those in older kids' mystery novels. I love Uncle Newt; he's delightfully eccentric in a way that feels real to me because he'd fit in with my own family. The first book had something of a deus ex machina at the end where an adult came in and saved the day for them. Here, I like that the kids really do scrape through on their own by using science.

This is really a great series for girls AND boys who love science, adventure, and feel the urge to experiment and build. There is endless potential for the books as the series goes forward, too--and I also wonder what will happen when Nick and Tesla become aware of what their parents really do for a living and how that complicates things for them in Half Moon Bay. show less

I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewer's Program.

There's been a lot of buzz about this new Nick and Tesla series for middle grade readers, and the concept intrigued me since my son is eight and loves science.

The book appeals to both girls and boys and uses the old model of mystery novels ala Hardy Boys and Bobsey Twins, but with detailed how-to instructions on building all kinds of cool gadgets. The novel itself is a fast, enjoyable read, and wasn't nearly as show more predictable as expected. Actually, the ending came as a complete surprise, though it made sense in hindsight. Nick and Tesla are distinct characters that aren't just two-dimensional "this is a boy" and "this is a girl" protagonists. Their Uncle Newt is a mad scientist who made me think of Brent Spiner's character in Independence Day--a well-meaning sort who is not quite connected to reality.

Really, the book would stand well on its own, but the gadgets set it apart. These aren't simple-minded experiments like "stick bread in a closet and see if mold grows." No, the authors instruct kids on how to build model rockets from scratch, modify the Mentos-in-Diet-Coke fountain to power a robo-cat, make a burglar alarm out of old Christmas lights, and my favorite--dicing apart a highlighter marker and using the fluid to dribble a trail that can only be detected under black light. This is some seriously cool stuff.

I think my son will really enjoy this book, and I can definitely see him trying out some of the gadgets with his dad. This book is really a great way to freshen up the children's mystery genre and foster interest in the sciences at the same time. show less