Nick and Tesla's Solar-Powered Showdown by "Science Bob" Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith

(Thank you to Quirk Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Nick and Tesla’s Solar-Powered Showdown: A Mystery with Sun-Powered Gadgets You Can Build Yourself (Quirk Books; May 10, 2016; Ages 8–12; $12.95) tackles the all-too-timely topic of clean energy, as the twin sleuths set out to rescue their scientist parents, who were kidnapped while working on a top-secret solar power research project.

To outwit the kidnapper who wants to turn solar power into a weapon, Nick and Tesla need more than just the help of their eccentric Uncle Newt. They have to create their own gadgets by harnessing the most potent power of all—brain power. Young makers can become part of the story by creating their very own versions of Nick and Tesla’s inventions. Full building instructions for these solar-powered projects are peppered between chapters:

·      Ping-Pong Ball Signal Cannon that Uncle Newt uses to signal to Nick and Tesla while sneaking around a suspicious office building

·      Solar Spy Birdhouse that Nick and Tesla build to gather intel on their parents from the government agents who claim to be protecting them

·      Solar-Powered Long-Range Rover, which Nick and Tesla send out with an SOS when the spies hold them hostage

·      Guaranteed-Not-to-Explode Frankfurter Heater-Upper because, in the words of Uncle Newt, “You can’t bust an international spy ring on an empty stomach!”

A spirited hands-on adventure, Nick and Tesla’s Solar-Powered Showdown will mesmerize readers by bridging science and literature.

my thoughts:

Talk about perfect timing.  Just as I was about to write this blog post, I found out that "Science Bob" was going to be on Live with Kelly - how cool is that?!  I grabbed a cuppa and sat down to watch what he had to share with the audience.  He talked about the Science Fairs that President Obama hosts at the White House.  Apparently, one hundred kids are invited to showcase their latest experiments and inventions.  Suffice it to say, these kids are SMART.  Think underwater moving rovers and keeping medicine chilled without electricity.  Pretty awesome, eh?  "Science Bob" performed experiments with Kelly and her co-host Daniel Dae Kim (Jin from Lost).  It was a pretty fun episode to watch.  And at the end, she reminded everyone to go out and pick up a copy of "Science Bob's" latest collaboration with Steve Hockensmith -  Nick and Tesla's Solar-Powered Showdown.  As a huge fan of the series, I was excited when she mentioned the book.  Its the sixth in the series and my new favorite. Chock-full of danger, drama, intrigue, and inventions - how could it not be?

In Nick and Tesla's Solar-Powered Showdown, Nick and Tesla have decided that its FINALLY time to find their parents. They've been kept in the dark long enough and now they want answers. Plus, they know that their parents are in danger, so time is of the essence. Their only resource happens to be the two agents sent to keep an eye on them.  Except, these two agents are dead set against telling Nick and Tesla anything.  Hmmm...what to do?  How about invent an eavesdropping machine in the form of a birdhouse? Pretty nifty, eh?  With the help of their Uncle Newt, Silas, and DeMarco the dynamic duo set out with their plan.  The only problem being that they severely underestimated just how DANGEROUS the people involved with their parents' disappearance really are. YIKES!  They all wind up kidnapped and taken to a deserted building out in the middle of nowhere.  The kids get locked in a room and have no way to communicate for help.  Ack!  Of course, this being Nick and Tesla, you just know that a plan is a brewing. Think Solar-Powered Long Range Rover - how awesome is that?! I swear, MacGyver has nothing on Nick and Tesla - the King and Queen of Inventions! And that is all I will say about the actual plot of the story.  Its just too good to give away all the details.

I will tell you that this book kept me on the edge of my seat! I couldn't stop reading Nick and Tesla's Solar-Powered Showdown until I turned the very last page. I just had to know if these kids would escape from these crazy villains and whether or not they would finally be reunited with their mom and dad.  Let me just say, I was not disappointed.  This book was action-packed and I loved it!  The story was fantastic - it was exciting, thrilling, and unputdownable. This book was truly a perfect addition to the series. In fact, this whole series is great for kids (middle school-aged) who love science, mystery, and intrigue - they will love these books!  I can't wait to tell my friends to pick up a copy for their kids.

Nick and Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular by"Science Bob" Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith

(Thank you to Quirk Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Bright siblings—and amateur inventors—Nick and Tesla Holt are back for another thrill-a-minute adventure. This time a Hollywood movie is being filmed in town, but the real drama happens when the cameras are turned off.  

Mystery awaits behind the scenes, and the whole production may shut down unless the DIY detectives can crack the case, with the help of their friends Silas and DeMarco and a fresh assortment of homemade gadgets. Featuring instructions for all-new movie magic projects that kids can build themselves, this whiz-bang adventure is sure to delight fans of the series. Science and electronics have never been so much fun!

my thoughts:

What an absolute treat! I loved the fifth book in the Nick and Tesla series - it was such a fun and enjoyable read. This time round, the dynamic duo are helping their friends, Silas and DeMarco, make a movie about their favorite superhero.  Its their way of distracting themselves from the horrible truth that their parents are involved with something DANGEROUS.  So, they invent movie-type gadgets to help with filming - think robo-arm and Steadicam rig.  Of course, the fun really starts when DeMarco's Aunt Zoe comes to pick them all up and take them to a real movie set that she's a producer on.  They are going to be watching a superhero movie being filmed - how fun is that?  The gang gets a behind-the-scenes tour of the film set and are really enjoying themselves when all of a sudden...they find themselves caught up in solving a new mystery.  Apparently, there's been quite a bit of drama on set lately - scenes are getting ruined, footage is being leaked online, and pranks are being pulled left and right.  And now it looks like Aunt Zoe may lose her job. Ack!  Luckily for her, DeMarco and his gang are ready to sleuth it up and find out who's responsible for sabotaging the film.  With help from Nick and Tesla's creative inventions, this smart and determined foursome are ready to save the day - or at least, Aunt Zoe's job. 

Nick and Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular is a terrific addition to this awesome series.  The story is terrific and I loved catching up with Nick and Tesla. I thought the mystery was fun to solve, especially as it was on a film set. And the cool inventions the kids made were just perfect for their latest adventure.  I swear this series just keeps getting better and better with each new book. I can't wait for the next one!

Nick and Tesla's Super Cyborg Gadget Glove by "Science Bob" Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith

(Thank you to Quirk Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Bright siblings—and amateur inventors—Nick and Tesla Holt are back in this fourth installment of their whiz-bang middle-grade series. This time, the twins are out to save science itself, as they race against the clock to figure out why a robotic assortment of history’s greatest scientists and inventors keeps going haywire. Is this sabotage, robo-geddon…or something more sinister? To unravel the mystery, they’ll have to keep adding all-new gadgets to their cyborg glove as they stay one step ahead of a hidden adversary.

Together with zany scientist Uncle Newt and their friends Silas and DeMarco, Nick and Tesla won’t give up until an answer is found…but can they do it before time runs out? In this book, readers will learn how to construct a super-cyborg gadget glove that has four incredible functions: LED signal light, ultra-loud emergency alarm, handy sound recorder, and UV secret message revealer. Science and electronics have never been so much fun!

my thoughts:

Color me happy.  I've just finished reading another installment in the fantastic Nick and Tesla series by "Science Bob" Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith.  This time round, the brother/sister duo have to battle an unknown saboteur at the local science museum, where their Uncle Newt is currently working a gig.  He's helping fix an exhibit of robots - the only problem is that they keep going haywire on him.  And the museum is having a HUGE gala in mere hours, so time is of the essence.  Of course, its not going to be easy for Nick and Tesla to figure out this mystery, what with security and the museum director keeping an eye on them.  Then again, these two like a good challenge and they are up for the task with the help of their friends.

Except, Nick isn't really into solving another mystery.  He's more concerned with the whereabouts of their parents who seem to be MIA.  Plus, all the crazy things that have happened since their folks left them in their uncle's care have made him feel a bit anxious.  And, then there's the fact that his sister always seems determined to meet danger head on.  So, Nick is rather annoyed when Tesla pushes him to work on this new mystery alongside her and their two friends, Silas and DeMarco.  Of course, once the adventure begins, he's right there by her side.  And what an adventure it is - men dressed as dancing owls, gadget gloves, possible kidnapping, and so much more!

Nick and Tesla's Super Cyborg Gadget Glove is a fantastic read!  Its chock full of science, fun, mystery, and a bit of danger.  I swear these books get better and better with each new addition to the series.  I'm eager to find out where the next book will take Nick and Tesla, and whether or not we will ever find out what his parents are hiding.  And, I'm excited to find out what new gadgets there are to build alongside the book. 

If you are looking for a fun book that will keep your kid entertained and teach them a bit about science, then check out Nick and Tesla's Super Cyborg Gadget Glove.


Thanks to Quirk Books for providing me with a copy of this book!