A review by katiemack
Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad: Absolute Hero by Geneva Bowers, Valerie Tripp

4.0

I'm glad to see a book that features girls solving problems through a STEM lens!

While not always realistic

(at one point the girls get "accidental" access to the roof and manage to solve a thermostat problem by removing a hot light bulb)

, the science themes feel inherently natural to the story rather than being forced in to be cutesy (though the names--Izzy Newton, Charlie Darwin, Marie Curie, and Allie Einstein--are all delightful), and there's plenty of friend drama to keep things interesting. While it would be great if the author were a person of color, most of the characters in the book are; Izzy (the main character) and Gina (a side character) are drawn with brown skin; Charlie is depicted as Latinx; and the librarian is Nigerian.