A review by kateteaching7and8
Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray (Elements of Genius #1), Volume 1 by Jess Keating, Lissy Marlin
4.0
@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.