📖 Overview
Nick and Tesla are 11-year-old twins who get sent to live with their eccentric scientist uncle in California while their parents are away. Their summer takes an unexpected turn as they become entangled in neighborhood mysteries that require their ingenuity to solve.
The book combines fiction with real science experiments that readers can recreate at home. Step-by-step instructions are woven into the story, teaching basics of electricity and engineering through hands-on projects using common household materials.
The narrative features robots, security systems, and homemade gadgets that the twins construct to aid in their investigation. Their Uncle Newt's basement laboratory serves as both workshop and refuge as they navigate their new surroundings.
This middle-grade novel celebrates curiosity, problem-solving, and the practical applications of science. Its blend of mystery and DIY projects demonstrates how STEM skills can be both useful and exciting in everyday life.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently point to the blend of mystery plot and DIY science projects as engaging for middle-grade students. Parents and teachers note the book gets kids excited about both reading and hands-on experiments.
Liked:
- Clear instructions for science projects
- Gender balance between the twin protagonists
- Real experiments kids can do with parent supervision
- Educational content woven naturally into story
Disliked:
- Some found the plot predictable
- Several reviewers mentioned needing additional materials not listed upfront
- A few noted projects require close adult supervision
- Some parents wanted more complex science concepts
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,800+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.5/5 (240+ ratings)
Common Sense Media: 4/5
Notable review quote: "My 9-year-old built two of the projects and couldn't wait to read the next book. Finally something that combines story with real science." - Amazon reviewer
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The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick An orphan maintains the clocks in a Paris train station while using mechanical parts to solve a mystery connected to his father.
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🤔 Interesting facts
⚡ The book is the first in a series of six Nick and Tesla mysteries, each featuring DIY science projects that young readers can recreate with adult supervision.
🔬 Co-author Bob Pflugfelder (also known as "Science Bob") has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Live with Kelly and Ryan, and The Dr. Oz Show to demonstrate science experiments.
🏆 The series has won multiple awards, including being named to the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List and receiving the Edgar Award nomination for Best Juvenile Mystery.
⚗️ All science projects in the book have been tested multiple times to ensure they can be completed using common household items and basic tools.
🤖 The story incorporates real scientific principles about electricity, magnetism, and circuits while weaving them naturally into a mystery plot about suspicious neighbors and missing parents.