Book Review: Nick & Tesla's Solar-Powered Showdown - Bob Pflugfelder & Steve Hockensmith

Nick & Tesla's Solar-Powered Showdown - Bob Pflugfelder & Steve Hockensmith

Super-smart kid inventors Nick and Tesla Hold have outsmarted crooks, spies, and kidnappers, but now it's time to crack their biggest mystery yet: where the heck are their parents?  With the help of their eccentric Uncle Newt, the twins trace the clues to their missing Mom and Dad, scientists working on solar-power research for a clandestine government project.  They'll need all their wits, along with an assortment of homemade gadgets, to outsmart the criminal mastermind who's trying to turn solar power into a secret weapon.  Featuring instructions for building and using five awesome solar-powered contraptions--a hot dog cooker, alarm bell, listening device, model car, and nighttime LED signal cannon--this sixth installment is sure to please budding scientists and sleuthers alike.

4/5 stars (really liked it)

I received this free copy to review on my blog.

My almost 12-year old son read this book before me.  We have read all the books in the series and both love them.  He said that he really liked this one and thought it was the last one since it kind of wraps things up.  He now wants to get some cans of Pringles and make the hot dog cooker.

I also liked this book and it did feel like it would be the last book in the series.  I wish there was an epilogue at the end to see where Nick & Tesla are maybe a few months later.  I loved that Uncle Newt was more involved in the adventure and not just a background character.  I kind of would love to see a series with just Uncle Newt and what he was like as a kid as well as his brother (Nick & Tesla's father).  Overall this is a really fun series to read for any age.

Book Review: Nick and Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular - Bob Pflugfelder & Steve Hockensmith

Nick and Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular - Bob Pflugfelder & Steve Hockensmith

In Nick and Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular, 11-year-old siblings Nick and Tesla Holt find themselves on the set of a big-budget superhero movie.  But someone's sabotaging the onscreen debut of their favorite comic book hero, so the brother and sister sleuths must crack the case with the helpf of a fresh assortment of homemade special-effects gadgets.  This cinematic saga features instructions for all-new movie magic projects that kids can build themselves, such as a camera gear, stunt dummies, make-up magic, and more.  Science and electronics have never been so much fun!

4/5 stars(really liked it)

Nick and Tesla books never disappoint.  My 11-year old was excited when this new one came out and her read it first and really liked it.  Then I read it and loved it too.  Nick and Tesla and their friends always seem to find trouble but they are always the ones to solve the trouble.  I hope the next book shows us a little more about their parents.  The ending really makes me want to read the next one.  I could use a little more Uncle Newt in the next one.

Book Review: Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove: A Mystery with a Blinking, Beeping, Voice-Recording Gadget Glove You Can Build Yourself - Bob Pflugfelder, Steve Hockensmith

Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove: A Mystery with a Blinking, Beeping, Voice-Recording Gadget Glove You Can Build Yourself -  Bob Pflugfelder, Steve Hockensmith 

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 scientist 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 revealer.  Science and electronics have never been so much fun!

4/5 stars (really liked it)

When I asked my 10 year old what he thought of this book he said "There better be another book because the ending sure made me want to read more"  So after he read it, I read it and now I know what he meant.  This book takes place in the new museum and it is the night before grand re-opening but looks like someone is trying to sabotage things.  Of course all the kids use their sneaking and cool gadgets to find out who is behind it.  I think this book was more full of action than the previous books.  I also hope that in the near future we meet Nick and Tesla's parents.

Book Review: Nick and Tesla's Secret Agent Gadget Battle - Bob Pflugfelder, Steve Hockensmith

Nick and Tesla's Secret Agent Gadget Battle:  A Mystery with Spy Cameras, Code Wheels, and Other Gadgets You can Build Yourself - Bob Pflugfelder, Steve Hockensmith

In this third installment of the series, 11-year-old whiz-kids Nick and Tesla discover that someone in the quiet town of Half Moon Bay has placed their beloved Uncle Newt under electronic surveillance--but who is spying on him, and why?  To expose the secret agent, Nick and Tesla build all kinds of outrageous contraptions.  Throughout the book, the narrative is interrupted by blueprints and instructions so that budding young inventors can follow along.  Science and electronics have never been so much fun!

4/5 stars (really liked it)

I received this book from Quirk Books to review.  This is the third book in the series that my son and I have read.  My son is 9 years old and loves this series and he was excited when we received it.  He read the book first and he told me that it's his favorite one in the series.  He especially likes the instructions in the book for whatever gadget they are making.  After he finished the book I was able to read it.  It was a great story and I kind of suspected who the spy in the book was but the way that person was uncovered was great.  I also love that we found out more about Nick and Tesla's parents and why they are staying with their uncle Newt.  I like all the characters in the book from Nick and Tesla's friends to Uncle Newt.  I can't wait to find out more about Nick and Tesla as well as their parents.

Book Review: Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab – “Science Bob” Pflugfelder & Steve Hockensmith

Nick and Tesla’sHigh-Voltage Danger Lab – “Science Bob” Pflugfelder & Steve Hockensmith

Nick and Tesla are bright 11-year-old siblings with a knack for science, electronics, and getting into trouble.  When their parents mysteriously vanish, they’re sent to live with their Uncle Newt, a brilliant inventor who engineers top-secret gadgets for a classified government agency.  It’s not long before Nick and Tesla are embarking on adventures of their own—engineering all kind of outrageous MacGyverish contraptions to save their skin; 9-volt burglar alarms, electromagnets, mobile tracking devices, and more.  Readers are invited to join in the fun as each story contains instructions and blueprints for five different projects.

In Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Lab, we meet the characters and learn how to make everything from rocket launchers to soda-powered vehicles.  Learning about science has never been so dangerous—or so much fun!

4/5 stars (really liked it)

I received a copy for review from Quirk Books.  My 9 year old, who read at a middle school level actually plucked this from my hands and read it first.  He carried the book around for the day and bookmarked all the projects for us to do.  At the end of the book I asked him what he thought of it and he said he really enjoyed the story, the characters and the projects.  After prying the book away from him (as he likes to read books more than once) I was able to read it.  I thought it was a fun book and perfect for kids.  It had mystery and science combined into one book.  I love how the ending still leaves you with some questions.  

Book Review: Nick and Tesla's Robot Army Rampage: A Mystery with Hoverbots, Bristle Bots, and Other Robots You Can Build Yourself - Pflugfelder & Hockensmith

Robot Army Rampage: A Mystery with Hoverbots, Bristle Bots, and Other Robots You Can Build Yourself - Pflugfelder & Hockensmith

When a rash of robberies hits the town of Half Moon Bay, 11-year-old sleuths Nick and Tesla are determined to catch the criminals--but to do so, they'll have to build a host of new gadgets and gizmos!  In this robot-themed follow-up to Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab, the brother-and-sister duo build four different droids out of ordinary household objects--and illustrated instructions are included throughout the story, so you can build them, too!  Can Nick and Tesla catch the criminal mastermind--and foil his army of rampaging robots--before it's too late?

4/5 stars (really liked it)

I received a copy of this book from Quirk Books.  My 9 year old son was very excited to be receiving the second book in this series since he really enjoyed the first book.  He liked this book even more than the first one.  I was able to read this book after him and it was an enjoyable book.  I had my suspision on who the bad guy was and I was actually wrong.  I love how creative Nick and Tesla are.  I was glad to see the introduction of a love interest for Uncle Newt.  I love the kids' reactions to his new friend.  I will definitely and I think my son agrees that we will read the next book as well.