Book Review | Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab

Title: Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab: A Mystery with Electromagnets, Burglar Alarms, and Other Gadgets You Can Build Yourself

Author: "Science Bob" Pflugfelder & Steve Hockensmith

Publication: November 5th, 2013
Publisher: Quirk Books
Source: Sent for review from Quirk Books. Thanks, Quirk!

Rating: 4 out 5 stars

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Synopsis: 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 kinds 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 Danger 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!

Review: Nick and Tesla's story was a quick, very enjoyable read. The storyline was not what I expected, but I loved the surprise twists that this book takes, twists that will keep you or a middle grader interested in the book. This book takes you on a fun, clever adventure that is highly entertaining. 

This book delivers the refreshing characters that are often in middle grade books. No romance, just good old fashioned mischievous fun with friends. I loved the unique characters, they were brilliant kids and you were able to see their brilliance through their projects. Which leads me to one of the coolest features of this books....the science projects. Within the story you get to build the very projects that Nick and Tesla are building. Not only is this interactive and awesome, but educational as well. These science projects are awesome as well. My favorites were the rocket launcher and the soda pop decoy. I also loved the mobile tracking device...I never would have thought of such a brilliant idea. 

If I were teaching a science class at a middle school, you can bet that this book and its projects would be part of the curriculum. Since I'm not, I will have to give this book to all the kids around me and maybe join in to help them build these projects. This book is a fun, clever, and highly entertaining read that I would recommend to not only middle graders but anyone who is looking for a quick, educational and enjoyable read. 

Have you read this one and if so, what did you think of it? Have you read any interactive books before, if so, what were they and did you like them?