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Nick and Tesla #4
Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove: A Mystery with a Blinking, Beeping, Voice-Recording Gadget Glove You Can Build Yourself
Einstein is running amok! Darwin is losing his head! The science museum in Half Moon Bay is in big trouble because its robotic replicas of history’s greatest scientists keep going kablooey! As 11-year-old amateur inventors Nick and Tesla Holt try to uncover the cause, they’ll need to keep adding all-new gadgets to their latest creation, a customized super-cyborg glove. Follow the action, and then follow the illustrated instructions to build your own gadget glove with four incredible functions: LED signal light, emergency alarm, sound recorder, and UV secret-message revealer!
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2014
19 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Bob Pflugfelder
11 books31 followersScience Bob is an award winning teacher and television personality with a mission to share the amazing world of science. Through his website, television appearances, and now a series of books coauthored with Steve Hockensmith, Bob shows that science is fun, accessible, and inspiring. Bob has shared his love for science as a regular on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Live With Kelly & Michael, and the Dr. Oz Show.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 27, 2018
I have been recently trying to finish some series that I have started. I have a bad habit of starting series, and then never following through with the sequels. Recently, I've been reading the Nick and Tesla series. Even though it's middle grade fiction, I've been greatly enjoying it. I just finished the fourth book in the series, Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove, and loved it.
Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove had everything I wanted in the last couple of books in the series. There was a lot of mystery. There was also some cheesiness, but it wasn't over the top like the last two books had been. The reader got to see more of Uncle Newt and Dr. Sakurai together, which I really loved. I hope that's a trend that continues in the rest of the books in the series. I just love them together. I also enjoyed that Uncle Newt took more responsibility with the kids. Instead of just ignoring them, or misunderstanding their problems like he usually does, he aactually helped them solve the problem. I thin he's turning into a great guardian.
One of the things that I really loved about Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove is that the authors did the experiments/projects a little different this time around. Instead of having multiple small projects, they had one big one with the glove and just kept making improvements to it throughout the story. I thought that was unique and different, and really enjoyed it. By the end, the glove turned out to be really awesome. I thought about making one myself for my niece, and still might do it.
I think Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove was my favorite book in the series so far. If not, it's tied with the first book for my favorite. I loved that this book brought back all of the joy I felt when reading the first book in the series. It was wonderful to see all of the character growth and development. Every character in this series has really matured in some way. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and find out what happens after what was revealed at the ending of this one.
Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove had everything I wanted in the last couple of books in the series. There was a lot of mystery. There was also some cheesiness, but it wasn't over the top like the last two books had been. The reader got to see more of Uncle Newt and Dr. Sakurai together, which I really loved. I hope that's a trend that continues in the rest of the books in the series. I just love them together. I also enjoyed that Uncle Newt took more responsibility with the kids. Instead of just ignoring them, or misunderstanding their problems like he usually does, he aactually helped them solve the problem. I thin he's turning into a great guardian.
One of the things that I really loved about Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove is that the authors did the experiments/projects a little different this time around. Instead of having multiple small projects, they had one big one with the glove and just kept making improvements to it throughout the story. I thought that was unique and different, and really enjoyed it. By the end, the glove turned out to be really awesome. I thought about making one myself for my niece, and still might do it.
I think Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove was my favorite book in the series so far. If not, it's tied with the first book for my favorite. I loved that this book brought back all of the joy I felt when reading the first book in the series. It was wonderful to see all of the character growth and development. Every character in this series has really matured in some way. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and find out what happens after what was revealed at the ending of this one.
August 19, 2014
I got a copy of this book from Quirk Books for review. This is the fourth book in the Nick and Tesla series. I continue to enjoy these books. They are primarily middle grade mysteries with some science and a bit of a spy theme to them.
Nick and Tesla are helping their Uncle Newt to restore an animatronic hall of scientists for the grand re-opening of a museum. For some reason the animatronic scientists keep going dangerously haywire. It is up to Nick and Tesla and their friends to figure out why. Is it sabotage or is robo-geddon finally here? Along the way they build a super-cyborg gadget glove to help them on their mission.
This was another well done Nick and Tesla book. This has a fun mystery for the brother-sister duo to solve. The mystery actually feels a bit like a Scooby-Doo story in this case.
There are only three inventions to make in this book (less than previous books, and one is pretty much a repeat of an invention in a previous book). However it is kind of cool that all of the inventions go into one “Gadget Glove”. It was nice that the inventions/gadgets were tied together in some way and went along with the story theme.
The story is mainly a mystery with Nick, Tesla, and their friends trying to unravel clues to figure out what the really problem is with the animatronics. I enjoyed how the whole book was set in an old museum. I also enjoyed learning a little bit about all of the scientists being represented by animatronics.
I was a little disappointed by the lack in progress of the main storyline involving the disappearance of Nick and Tesla’s mom and dad. We are feed little tidbits here and there. The mystery does also loosely tie into this main story but there are no major developments.
Overall this was a fun read and I enjoyed it. Middle grade readers who love mysteries, spy stories, and science will really enjoy this whole series..
Nick and Tesla are helping their Uncle Newt to restore an animatronic hall of scientists for the grand re-opening of a museum. For some reason the animatronic scientists keep going dangerously haywire. It is up to Nick and Tesla and their friends to figure out why. Is it sabotage or is robo-geddon finally here? Along the way they build a super-cyborg gadget glove to help them on their mission.
This was another well done Nick and Tesla book. This has a fun mystery for the brother-sister duo to solve. The mystery actually feels a bit like a Scooby-Doo story in this case.
There are only three inventions to make in this book (less than previous books, and one is pretty much a repeat of an invention in a previous book). However it is kind of cool that all of the inventions go into one “Gadget Glove”. It was nice that the inventions/gadgets were tied together in some way and went along with the story theme.
The story is mainly a mystery with Nick, Tesla, and their friends trying to unravel clues to figure out what the really problem is with the animatronics. I enjoyed how the whole book was set in an old museum. I also enjoyed learning a little bit about all of the scientists being represented by animatronics.
I was a little disappointed by the lack in progress of the main storyline involving the disappearance of Nick and Tesla’s mom and dad. We are feed little tidbits here and there. The mystery does also loosely tie into this main story but there are no major developments.
Overall this was a fun read and I enjoyed it. Middle grade readers who love mysteries, spy stories, and science will really enjoy this whole series..
June 19, 2014
What a fantastic book. I love the ongoing adventures of Nick and Tesla, along with friends Silas and DeMarco. This adventure has the kids in a museum. They were originally involved in an audio animatronic exhibit but....become involved in something far more interesting.
Book is full of science ideas and instructions to build a gadget glove. (Adult supervision in needed). If your kids love science they will love these stories. This one is the best yet! Sister and brother team ensure that if your child is either a boy or a girl, the child can relate to one the kids in the stories, personally, my favorite is Uncle Newt- he's a hoot!
Each installment in this series is better than the previous stories. Each adventure, more daring. All around fun!
Book is full of science ideas and instructions to build a gadget glove. (Adult supervision in needed). If your kids love science they will love these stories. This one is the best yet! Sister and brother team ensure that if your child is either a boy or a girl, the child can relate to one the kids in the stories, personally, my favorite is Uncle Newt- he's a hoot!
Each installment in this series is better than the previous stories. Each adventure, more daring. All around fun!
July 28, 2014
Nick and Tesla's Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove is a fun and informative read. Nick and Tesla, while at their father's workplace, they help solve why things are going haywire at the museum the day before the new exhibit opens. Their father is a scientist, and Nick and Tesla have picked up his love of science.
The plotline moves very well and the author incorporates science in a fun way. He even includes instructions to build a gadget glove and includes the main characters' friends in their day at the museum. I would recommend this to parents and their children who love science, and those who are trying to get their kids to like science as well.
****This book was received free through a Booklikes Giveaway from the publisher, Quick Productions, Inc.****
The plotline moves very well and the author incorporates science in a fun way. He even includes instructions to build a gadget glove and includes the main characters' friends in their day at the museum. I would recommend this to parents and their children who love science, and those who are trying to get their kids to like science as well.
****This book was received free through a Booklikes Giveaway from the publisher, Quick Productions, Inc.****
July 26, 2014
I received this book via Library Thing Early Reviewers for an honest review.
Siblings, Nick and Tesla, are joined with their friends, Silas and DeMarco, in investigating strange happenings at the museum where their Uncle Newt is fixing an animatronics exhibit.
This is a typical scenario (even in real life) where kids are pretty much allowed to do whatever they please, so long as they don't disturb the adults who are working. This allows the kids to decide whether or not the animatronics exhibit has been sabotaged.
This is a great middle grade book. I think the best part is that there are instructions to make a gadget glove similar to the one Nick and Tesla make to help them solve the mystery.
Siblings, Nick and Tesla, are joined with their friends, Silas and DeMarco, in investigating strange happenings at the museum where their Uncle Newt is fixing an animatronics exhibit.
This is a typical scenario (even in real life) where kids are pretty much allowed to do whatever they please, so long as they don't disturb the adults who are working. This allows the kids to decide whether or not the animatronics exhibit has been sabotaged.
This is a great middle grade book. I think the best part is that there are instructions to make a gadget glove similar to the one Nick and Tesla make to help them solve the mystery.
January 28, 2016
The Good: I love educational series for kids where they can learn while being entertained. Instead of history or mythology, this series focuses on science, technology, and engineering which are rarely - if ever - topics kids find in fiction. Mixed with a kid-friendly mystery, this series continues to be fun that will appeal to book lovers and hesitant-readers alike.
The Bad: My complaints are the same with every book in this series. The story is fine and characters are fine, but the words are off. The phrasing is awkward. There is no flow. The grammar is correct, but it's as though the words are sputtering along instead of being a smooth ride.
The Bad: My complaints are the same with every book in this series. The story is fine and characters are fine, but the words are off. The phrasing is awkward. There is no flow. The grammar is correct, but it's as though the words are sputtering along instead of being a smooth ride.
May 27, 2014
This was a fun book to read even though I am a wee bit outside the target audience. Some stories, let alone mysteries, for young people can be a bit condescending, but this one is on point for young and not-so-young readers.Tesla and Nick are imaginative, quick-witted, smart and funny as they set out to find out who is sabotaging the museum where their uncle works.
The reader also gets instructions to build a pretty groovy gadget glove of their very own. Can't wait to share this book with my 11-year-old daughter.
FUN!
The reader also gets instructions to build a pretty groovy gadget glove of their very own. Can't wait to share this book with my 11-year-old daughter.
FUN!
May 18, 2014
Nick and Tesla, inventor twins, pose an intelligent mystery in each novel. They work together will their two friends and self-built gadgets (which kids can recreate with the help of the step-by-step, illustrated instructions included in the book) to find the criminal. Overall 5/5 stars; middle-graders should pick up all of the books in the series. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2014
Received from LibraryThing.com for review.
My kids have read the previous books in this series and loved them. This one is great as well. They love the science/experiment aspects and my son even went to the website to watch the author's science videos.
My kids have read the previous books in this series and loved them. This one is great as well. They love the science/experiment aspects and my son even went to the website to watch the author's science videos.
December 31, 2014
it was ok.
November 15, 2017
In this book, nick and Tesla have to save a museum from self destruction so the new exhibit can come in, and it may be hard, but with their great new invention, the cyber gadget glove, they can make it a lot easier, but will they succeed?
February 8, 2019
My 9 and 11 year old gave this rating. They based this on the fact that they did not know who the culprit was until the reveal in the last chapter. They were also excited about the prospect of following the directions in the book to make their own cyborg gloves.
January 10, 2021
Przyznać trzeba, że to nie tylko książka nafaszerowana wiedzą, ale też naprawdę niezłymi zagadkami. Naprawdę ciężko zgadnąć kto jest zamieszany w aferę aż do samego końca. Obowiązkowa lektura dla dzieciaków.
February 26, 2018
Kind of like the Hardy boys for kids interested in science.
February 9, 2019
Lots of vocabulary expansion for your youngster so keep the dictionary handy.
A great romp around a museum with good fun science projects to try at home.
A great romp around a museum with good fun science projects to try at home.
October 12, 2014
Nick and Tesla are twins, named after a famous scientist in Holt family tradition. They are spending the day, along with their friends Silas and DeMarco, at a local museum where their Uncle Newt(on) has been hired to fix an animatronic exhibit - of famous scientists, of course. But things keep going wrong. Tesla soon figures out that someone is sabotaging the exhibit, and the four 11 year olds are off and running, determined to figure out who is trying to ruin the learnasium’s grand reopening.
Nick and Tesla, budding inventors in their own right, are smart and confident characters. Silas and DeMarco are supportive, helpful friends and provide much of the comic element of the story. DeMarco gets words mixed up and Silas is convinced that the malfunctioning animatronics are a sign of an impending robo-geddon.
Each of these characters has an important role in solving the mystery, with Uncle Newt and other adults helping when needed.
My take:
I won a copy of Nick and Tesla’s Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove on booklikes.com and received it in July, but knew that I would be staying with my sister and her family in September, so I saved reading it until I was with my middle-school aged niece and nephew. Well, both claimed that they were too old for the book, but my 11 year old niece (M.C.) was happy to do a read-aloud with me as long as she was involved in the review process. So, we started taking turns reading chapters to each other. Not long into it, we were both laughing and M.C. was asking if it was part of a series. She was happy to see that it was. My 12 year old nephew refused to sit with us, but just happened to wander into the room… repeatedly.
There are words that will challenge a young reader, and which challenged my niece when she was reading aloud. This was great practice for her, and she was able to master a few new words. Having an accent thrown in when reading the recorded voice for an animatronic scientist made reading aloud even more fun.
We decided not to actually build the gadget glove, but enjoyed looking at the instructions and drawings to figure out how it would work. The glove is built one finger at a time, each placed right after the chapter in which that finger is made in the story.
One of the things that I appreciated in this book was the cooperative and supportive relationship between Nick, Tesla, their friends, their Uncle and his “kind-a sort-a girlfriend” Hiroko. I also appreciated the way the four 11 year olds were respectful of adults, something I didn’t always find when working with actual 11 year olds.
A strong point of the writing is the ending of chapters. Every time I would try to stop reading at the end of a chapter, M.C. would say, “That’s a horrible place to stop.” And then I would agree to read “just a little bit more…”
This book is a fun and mystery filled romp through a museum, or “learnasium,” that will leave young readers wanting more.
M.C.’s Take:
By the end of each chapter, you want to keep reading more. There are some confusing words, such as askew, akimbo, Renaissance, learnasium, animatronics, and more. It is an awesome book, and I would love if they made it into a movie.
Nick and Tesla, budding inventors in their own right, are smart and confident characters. Silas and DeMarco are supportive, helpful friends and provide much of the comic element of the story. DeMarco gets words mixed up and Silas is convinced that the malfunctioning animatronics are a sign of an impending robo-geddon.
Each of these characters has an important role in solving the mystery, with Uncle Newt and other adults helping when needed.
My take:
I won a copy of Nick and Tesla’s Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove on booklikes.com and received it in July, but knew that I would be staying with my sister and her family in September, so I saved reading it until I was with my middle-school aged niece and nephew. Well, both claimed that they were too old for the book, but my 11 year old niece (M.C.) was happy to do a read-aloud with me as long as she was involved in the review process. So, we started taking turns reading chapters to each other. Not long into it, we were both laughing and M.C. was asking if it was part of a series. She was happy to see that it was. My 12 year old nephew refused to sit with us, but just happened to wander into the room… repeatedly.
There are words that will challenge a young reader, and which challenged my niece when she was reading aloud. This was great practice for her, and she was able to master a few new words. Having an accent thrown in when reading the recorded voice for an animatronic scientist made reading aloud even more fun.
We decided not to actually build the gadget glove, but enjoyed looking at the instructions and drawings to figure out how it would work. The glove is built one finger at a time, each placed right after the chapter in which that finger is made in the story.
One of the things that I appreciated in this book was the cooperative and supportive relationship between Nick, Tesla, their friends, their Uncle and his “kind-a sort-a girlfriend” Hiroko. I also appreciated the way the four 11 year olds were respectful of adults, something I didn’t always find when working with actual 11 year olds.
A strong point of the writing is the ending of chapters. Every time I would try to stop reading at the end of a chapter, M.C. would say, “That’s a horrible place to stop.” And then I would agree to read “just a little bit more…”
This book is a fun and mystery filled romp through a museum, or “learnasium,” that will leave young readers wanting more.
M.C.’s Take:
By the end of each chapter, you want to keep reading more. There are some confusing words, such as askew, akimbo, Renaissance, learnasium, animatronics, and more. It is an awesome book, and I would love if they made it into a movie.
March 13, 2015
Originally posted at Read. Run. Study.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one because it is technically the fourth book in a series. However, I found myself surprisingly intrigued by this fun children’s book full of science and adventure. Despite picking it up without any previous knowledge from the first three books, I never felt lost in the story. The book follows Nick and Tesla, a brother-sister duo, as they work with a couple of friends to uncover a mystery at the science museum where their uncle is working. The plot moves very quickly and smoothly, so I think it would have no trouble keeping a kid’s attention.
My favorite part was the science element. Readers are introduced to several key science figures through one of the museum’s exhibits and the kids are clearly budding inventors themselves. In fact, they even provide directions to create their super-cyborg gadget glove. This is a great outlet to get creative kids working on something cool and learning at the same time. And it ties beautifully into the story.
I liked that the kids were largely self-sufficient, but that the authority figures (museum workers and their uncle) are not completely absent or unaware of their activities. I also appreciated the inclusion of both male and female characters on either side of the good guy/bad guy plane. And I enjoyed the little references to other books/shows (ex: Scooby Doo and Lord of the Rings) and the references to famous scientists and inventors.
I am definitely not the target audience for this series, but I enjoyed it and will be sharing it with my nephews. They are at the perfect ages for it and I think they will enjoy the story. Maybe it will also spark a little more interest in science for them.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one because it is technically the fourth book in a series. However, I found myself surprisingly intrigued by this fun children’s book full of science and adventure. Despite picking it up without any previous knowledge from the first three books, I never felt lost in the story. The book follows Nick and Tesla, a brother-sister duo, as they work with a couple of friends to uncover a mystery at the science museum where their uncle is working. The plot moves very quickly and smoothly, so I think it would have no trouble keeping a kid’s attention.
My favorite part was the science element. Readers are introduced to several key science figures through one of the museum’s exhibits and the kids are clearly budding inventors themselves. In fact, they even provide directions to create their super-cyborg gadget glove. This is a great outlet to get creative kids working on something cool and learning at the same time. And it ties beautifully into the story.
I liked that the kids were largely self-sufficient, but that the authority figures (museum workers and their uncle) are not completely absent or unaware of their activities. I also appreciated the inclusion of both male and female characters on either side of the good guy/bad guy plane. And I enjoyed the little references to other books/shows (ex: Scooby Doo and Lord of the Rings) and the references to famous scientists and inventors.
I am definitely not the target audience for this series, but I enjoyed it and will be sharing it with my nephews. They are at the perfect ages for it and I think they will enjoy the story. Maybe it will also spark a little more interest in science for them.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
February 28, 2015
Once again Nick and Tesla use their scientific know-how to save the day. This time they are visiting the science museum where their Uncle Newt has been hired to make sure all the animatronic figures in the Hall of Genius are in working order for a grand reopening ceremony. But when he turns the exhibits on, they suddenly go berserk, the voice recordings speaking faster and faster, arms and heads spinning and swiveling until they come flying off or the mannequins topple over. What could be happening? The museum's head programmer swears there are no glitches in the software, but something is causing all these problems. Tesla suspects sabotage and convinces Nick and their friends Silas and DeMarco to help her investigate (although Silas believes Robogeddon is upon them and they are doomed to a robot uprising). Who could the real culprit be? Is it the new museum director who used to work at a rival institution? Or maybe it's Mrs. Wharton-Wheeler, who believes this X-treme makeover is bad news for the museum. It might even be the security guard, Berg, who keeps showing up just when the kids think they have found a clue. Even with the number of suspects growing by the minute, the kids manage to build the Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove and use its various functions to help them look for evidence.
This entire series is so much fun to read. And for those teachers and librarians looking for inspiration for projects to host in a makerspace - the step-by-step instructions for each of the gadgets the kids build during their adventures are a great starting place. With simple household items and a few supplies from your local Radio Shack (or other electronics retailer), readers of all ages can enjoy recreating the inventions from the stories.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
This entire series is so much fun to read. And for those teachers and librarians looking for inspiration for projects to host in a makerspace - the step-by-step instructions for each of the gadgets the kids build during their adventures are a great starting place. With simple household items and a few supplies from your local Radio Shack (or other electronics retailer), readers of all ages can enjoy recreating the inventions from the stories.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
November 3, 2014
How do you connect students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) with fiction reading? Look for science adventures. Get started with the NICK AND TESLA series. Each book contains an engaging adventure revolving around a “build-it-yourself” science project.
NICK AND TESLA’S SUPER-CYBORG GADGET GLOVE by Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith is the latest book in this popular science mystery series for middle grade youth. In this installment, the twins must figure out what’s making the animatronic scientists in a special museum exhibit go haywire. The amateur inventors add gadgets to their cyborg glove to help them solve the mystery. Young science lovers will enjoy references to everyone from Marie Curie to Albert Einstein. They’ll also enjoy building their own gadget glove complete with an LED signal light, ultra-loud emergency alarm, digital sound recorder, and UV secret message revealer.
Be sure to check out the other books in the series including HIGH-VOLTAGE DANGER LAB, ROBOT ARMY RAMPAGE, and SECRET AGENT GADGET BATTLE.
To learn more about the books as well as the science projects, go to the Nick and Tesla page at http://nickandtesla.com/. Educators can also download guides for using the books with students.
To see Science Bob demonstrate projects from the books, go to http://nickandtesla.com/videos/. The videos are an excellent way to learn to make the projects described in the books.
Looking for more? The HowToons website at http://www.howtoons.com/ contains endless D.I.Y. project comics. Each comic contains an engaging science project.
NICK AND TESLA’S SUPER-CYBORG GADGET GLOVE by Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith is the latest book in this popular science mystery series for middle grade youth. In this installment, the twins must figure out what’s making the animatronic scientists in a special museum exhibit go haywire. The amateur inventors add gadgets to their cyborg glove to help them solve the mystery. Young science lovers will enjoy references to everyone from Marie Curie to Albert Einstein. They’ll also enjoy building their own gadget glove complete with an LED signal light, ultra-loud emergency alarm, digital sound recorder, and UV secret message revealer.
Be sure to check out the other books in the series including HIGH-VOLTAGE DANGER LAB, ROBOT ARMY RAMPAGE, and SECRET AGENT GADGET BATTLE.
To learn more about the books as well as the science projects, go to the Nick and Tesla page at http://nickandtesla.com/. Educators can also download guides for using the books with students.
To see Science Bob demonstrate projects from the books, go to http://nickandtesla.com/videos/. The videos are an excellent way to learn to make the projects described in the books.
Looking for more? The HowToons website at http://www.howtoons.com/ contains endless D.I.Y. project comics. Each comic contains an engaging science project.
September 21, 2014
The fourth book in the Nick and Tesla series is filled with action, mystery, and lots of science too. Nick and Tesla's uncle has been called to a new museum to work on the animatronics that will populate the Hall of Genius. It appears someone is sabotaging them. The kids, along with their friends Silas and DeMarco, have come along and are busy looking around the museum.
Lots of suspicious things are happening. They want to learn who is sabotaging the exhibit and why. They have lots of suspects from the curator who doesn't like the way things are changing at the museum to the new head of the museum who is busy marketing the opening to the computer guy who is so busy promoting his band and to the guy in the owl suit.
The story has the running joke of the difficulty of finding their way around the back areas of the museum and the conflicting directions everyone gives. It also has the kids creating a gadget glove that has a signal, an alarm, a recorder, and a bad guy tracker. Kids (and parents) who like to tinker are given step-by-step directions for completing their own gadget glove.
I liked that readers could learn lots about famous scientists while reading this book. I also liked the relationships between the kids. Tesla is the daring twin while Nick is the more cautious, voice of reason twin. Even though they are different personalities, they support each other in this story.
Fans of mysteries, science and inventions will enjoy this action-packed series. I love the touches of humor in the stories too.
Lots of suspicious things are happening. They want to learn who is sabotaging the exhibit and why. They have lots of suspects from the curator who doesn't like the way things are changing at the museum to the new head of the museum who is busy marketing the opening to the computer guy who is so busy promoting his band and to the guy in the owl suit.
The story has the running joke of the difficulty of finding their way around the back areas of the museum and the conflicting directions everyone gives. It also has the kids creating a gadget glove that has a signal, an alarm, a recorder, and a bad guy tracker. Kids (and parents) who like to tinker are given step-by-step directions for completing their own gadget glove.
I liked that readers could learn lots about famous scientists while reading this book. I also liked the relationships between the kids. Tesla is the daring twin while Nick is the more cautious, voice of reason twin. Even though they are different personalities, they support each other in this story.
Fans of mysteries, science and inventions will enjoy this action-packed series. I love the touches of humor in the stories too.
October 16, 2015
My thoughts on the series:
This is a lot of fun. I am way out of the target age range, but I enjoyed the stories. Middle-grade detectives, crazy scientist uncle, and international intrigue all converge. The projects are the type that kids in the target group will enjoy—my (bright) third-grader can’t wait to try some out. The illustrations could be clearer for the technically inept such as myself. However, there are videos available, as well as other cool information, at http://www.nickandtesla.com . It’s an entertaining website—fun even if you don’t have the books. Overall, though, the instructions are fairly clear and the parts needed are not too exotic. The earlier books give Radio Shack part numbers—alas, Radio Shack is no more.
The characters themselves range in believability. Nick and Tesla interact like real children. Other characters are more stereotypical, stock characters. However, the intended audience is not generally looking for sophisticated literary material. The characters, overall, are entertaining. There could be more female characters—beyond Tesla, the female characters tended to be minor. There are characters of color.
Possible objectionable material:
Squeaky clean, no cursing. Some perilous situations, kids sneaking out at night, and somewhat oblivious adults.
Who would like these books:
Kids with an interest in science and inventing, and their adult helpers. Fans of mysteries, adventure, and spy stories.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance reader e-books.
Details on the series at my blog: www.bibliouquacious.com
This is a lot of fun. I am way out of the target age range, but I enjoyed the stories. Middle-grade detectives, crazy scientist uncle, and international intrigue all converge. The projects are the type that kids in the target group will enjoy—my (bright) third-grader can’t wait to try some out. The illustrations could be clearer for the technically inept such as myself. However, there are videos available, as well as other cool information, at http://www.nickandtesla.com . It’s an entertaining website—fun even if you don’t have the books. Overall, though, the instructions are fairly clear and the parts needed are not too exotic. The earlier books give Radio Shack part numbers—alas, Radio Shack is no more.
The characters themselves range in believability. Nick and Tesla interact like real children. Other characters are more stereotypical, stock characters. However, the intended audience is not generally looking for sophisticated literary material. The characters, overall, are entertaining. There could be more female characters—beyond Tesla, the female characters tended to be minor. There are characters of color.
Possible objectionable material:
Squeaky clean, no cursing. Some perilous situations, kids sneaking out at night, and somewhat oblivious adults.
Who would like these books:
Kids with an interest in science and inventing, and their adult helpers. Fans of mysteries, adventure, and spy stories.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance reader e-books.
Details on the series at my blog: www.bibliouquacious.com
May 19, 2015
Full of mystery, adventure, and STEM, the story takes place just before the grand reopening of the Northern California Museum of Science, Industry, and Technology. Twins Nick and Tesla are staying with their uncle while their parents are off on--and perhaps missing from--some sort of job which clearly is not soybean irrigation in Uzebekistan (the cover story). Uncle Newt, a renowned techie, and his girlfriend Hiroko, a robotics expert, have a job making sure all the animatronic scientists in the new Hall of Genius exhibit work according to plan. Unfortunately there appears to be sabotage afoot. It's up to Nick and Tesla and their friends DeMarco and Silas to figure out what's going wrong and to fix it. To solve various issues which come up, the kids make a super-cyborg gadget glove with LED light, loud alarm, and black light capabilites.
My favorite part was the cyborg glove. Full instructions are included, plus warnings to make this only with adult supervision. I wanted to go to Radio Shack to buy all the needed parts. (Radio Shack inventory numbers are included but which may be wrong according to one review. Still, the parts must be available somewhere.)
Book 4 in the Nick and Tesla series. Probably 4th grade and up. Many kids will like the story. Many will want to make the glove.
My favorite part was the cyborg glove. Full instructions are included, plus warnings to make this only with adult supervision. I wanted to go to Radio Shack to buy all the needed parts. (Radio Shack inventory numbers are included but which may be wrong according to one review. Still, the parts must be available somewhere.)
Book 4 in the Nick and Tesla series. Probably 4th grade and up. Many kids will like the story. Many will want to make the glove.
September 7, 2014
From R. The new Nick and Tesla book - Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove - is the fourth in the series. And it is a fantastic novel. It is officially released on October 7, 2014.
I have read all of the books....more than once. Usually I read the book to myself first. Then I do some of the experiments. Then I read the book again, outloud, to my little brother. He could read them by himself, but I don't want to share my copy!
I liked all the experiments you can do at home by yourself. In the book, the mystery (story) is linked to science as four kids create a gadget glove to solve a mystery and save a museum. The gadget glove was a glove improved with electronics. Those functions were used to solve the mystery. What are some of the things the glove can do? It can blink a L.E.D., sound an alarm, record voice, and track fluorescent ink.
I really enjoyed that Nikola Tesla was in the story and the mystery. This book explained a lot, from the past books, including Nick and Tesla’s name.
With the great humor, mystery, and experiments, Nick and Tesla’s Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove is one of my favorite books, but I am not sure it's my favorite of the four. I really liked the first and the third books. But this one is still worth reading and reading again!
I have read all of the books....more than once. Usually I read the book to myself first. Then I do some of the experiments. Then I read the book again, outloud, to my little brother. He could read them by himself, but I don't want to share my copy!
I liked all the experiments you can do at home by yourself. In the book, the mystery (story) is linked to science as four kids create a gadget glove to solve a mystery and save a museum. The gadget glove was a glove improved with electronics. Those functions were used to solve the mystery. What are some of the things the glove can do? It can blink a L.E.D., sound an alarm, record voice, and track fluorescent ink.
I really enjoyed that Nikola Tesla was in the story and the mystery. This book explained a lot, from the past books, including Nick and Tesla’s name.
With the great humor, mystery, and experiments, Nick and Tesla’s Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove is one of my favorite books, but I am not sure it's my favorite of the four. I really liked the first and the third books. But this one is still worth reading and reading again!
November 24, 2014
I just love these mysteries. All of the standards are there: central puzzle, clues, suspects, and daring attempts to get evidence. In addition, all the Nick and Tesla books add humor, science, and inventions you can build at home.
This installment centered on a science museum that seems to be being sabotaged from within. Nick and Tesla must find the culprit and save the museum.
I really enjoyed this one because there was even more humor than in the other three. This time most of it was provided by Nick and Tesla's best friends and some of the museum staff like an owl mascot and an IT man obsessed with his rock band. In previous books, I didn't like that a lot of the humor came from their uncle's science mishaps and lack of social skills. However, the authors have Uncle Newt a more positive light, but still quirky. A terrific change!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. My only concern is how my students will handle so many references to historical figures and scientific history since they won't recognize much of it.
This installment centered on a science museum that seems to be being sabotaged from within. Nick and Tesla must find the culprit and save the museum.
I really enjoyed this one because there was even more humor than in the other three. This time most of it was provided by Nick and Tesla's best friends and some of the museum staff like an owl mascot and an IT man obsessed with his rock band. In previous books, I didn't like that a lot of the humor came from their uncle's science mishaps and lack of social skills. However, the authors have Uncle Newt a more positive light, but still quirky. A terrific change!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. My only concern is how my students will handle so many references to historical figures and scientific history since they won't recognize much of it.
November 3, 2014
Nick and Tesla are amateur inventors. When everything starts running haywire at the museum they have to race against time to figure out how to save science. Their two friends and an uncle, a scientist help them. As they try to figure out who is trying to sabotage the exhibits they add more gadgets to their glove to help solve the mystery.
Science and electronics come together in this story to create a fascinating and entertaining story for the young readers. The book will encourage children to look at science in a fun new way. The plot moves quickly and smoothly. The illustrations and graphics bring the story to life. The instructions for making the gadget glove and the secret message ink are included in the book. The instructions are simple and easy to understand. Readers will love getting involved with the story. The story is fourth in a series, but can work well as a stand-alone book.
I received this book free of charge from Children's Lit in exchange for my honest review.
Science and electronics come together in this story to create a fascinating and entertaining story for the young readers. The book will encourage children to look at science in a fun new way. The plot moves quickly and smoothly. The illustrations and graphics bring the story to life. The instructions for making the gadget glove and the secret message ink are included in the book. The instructions are simple and easy to understand. Readers will love getting involved with the story. The story is fourth in a series, but can work well as a stand-alone book.
I received this book free of charge from Children's Lit in exchange for my honest review.
July 26, 2016
Twins, Nick & Tesla and friends, Silas & DeMarco accompany the twins' uncle and his associate on a repair job the the museum.
While there, they encounter some mysterious people acting suspiciously.
Tesla insists on sleuthing, and Nick and friends are persuaded to work together on another action adventure, with humorous and comedic scenes. The elements of mystery add to the adventure.
The twins demonstrate a good knowledge of science and technology. The detailed instructions and diagrams embedded in the book make this an exciting interactive adventure for the readers as well.
We all learn some new and interesting facts, while having fun!
Enjoy the book, everyone!
DISCLAIMER: received this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
While there, they encounter some mysterious people acting suspiciously.
Tesla insists on sleuthing, and Nick and friends are persuaded to work together on another action adventure, with humorous and comedic scenes. The elements of mystery add to the adventure.
The twins demonstrate a good knowledge of science and technology. The detailed instructions and diagrams embedded in the book make this an exciting interactive adventure for the readers as well.
We all learn some new and interesting facts, while having fun!
Enjoy the book, everyone!
DISCLAIMER: received this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
November 9, 2014
Nick and Tesla are helping their uncle finish up the animatronics for the grand reopening of the learnasium in town. However, when the animatronics go haywire, Tesla is certain someone is sabotaging them. Is she right? Can they do stop it before the reopening that night?
This is another delightful entry in the series. The plot is complex enough it kept me interested, and I sailed through in one day. The familiar characters are here and grow a little bit. The new characters are developed, too. And there are lots of funny scenes that kept me grinning and laughing. Just watch out for that Mark Carstairs guy.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This is another delightful entry in the series. The plot is complex enough it kept me interested, and I sailed through in one day. The familiar characters are here and grow a little bit. The new characters are developed, too. And there are lots of funny scenes that kept me grinning and laughing. Just watch out for that Mark Carstairs guy.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
September 27, 2014
I first started this series because I thought my nephews would like these books. They do but so do I. I have grown close to Nick, Tesla, their uncle, and friends. I enjoy seeing what fun mischief that Nick and Tesla will find themselves in next. Each book is a grand adventure in itself. Plus, I like the fact that the books feature step by step instructions on how to make some of the cool gadgets that Nick, Tesla and their friends use to help them solve each mystery. The one featured in this book really has me excited. So much in fact, that I just might have to make a super-cyborg gadget glove or two of my own.
December 24, 2014
My 7 year old loves the Nick and Tesla series-- WE read the first 3 books. He says the first and second are the best, primarily because we constructed a couple of the experiments in the book at home for each. He also mentioned this story was a little harder to follow. I thought all three books were a nice adventure for both boys and girls interested in inventing, the experiments are written in plain language and include where to find items to make various gadgets ( if one chooses to make any of the items)
November 30, 2020
I received my copy in the mail today from Goodreads First Reads - this isn't related to content but the book SMELLS awesome, so that's a bonus.
For kids who love science and technology, Nick & Tesla is an amazing series with related experiments. In this adventure, Nick & Tesla must save the opening day at a new museum from sabotage.
Great for fans of Night at the Museum, Theodosia & the Serpents of Chaos, or any book/movie that involves running amok at a museum and smart children who save the day!
For kids who love science and technology, Nick & Tesla is an amazing series with related experiments. In this adventure, Nick & Tesla must save the opening day at a new museum from sabotage.
Great for fans of Night at the Museum, Theodosia & the Serpents of Chaos, or any book/movie that involves running amok at a museum and smart children who save the day!
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