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The DATA Set #1
March of the Mini Beasts
Danger! Action! Trouble! Adventure! Introducing The DATA Set, a brand-new chapter book series for young readers.
What would happen if your next-door neighbor were a mad scientist?
Gabe, Laura, and Cesar live on a quiet cul-de-sac. They are the whiz kids of Newtonburg Elementary and each specializes in their own subject. In fact, everyone in town lovingly refers to them as the Data Set. However, their quiet days of learning take a sudden turn for the exciting when they meet Dr. Gustav Bunsen—a mad scientist who throws the kids into a wild spiral of adventures.
When Dr. Bunsen’s latest invention, a growth ray, hits several tiny animal toys, the mini beasts don’t just grow, they come to life! The DATA Set love their new tiny pets…until they continue to grow. Now there’s an actual elephant in the room—not to mention a chimp, a giraffe, and a dinosaur. When the beasts wander off, it’s up to the DATA Set to track them down. But will they catch the mini beasts before they grow big enough to start trouble in town?
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The DATA Set chapter books are perfect for beginning readers!
What would happen if your next-door neighbor were a mad scientist?
Gabe, Laura, and Cesar live on a quiet cul-de-sac. They are the whiz kids of Newtonburg Elementary and each specializes in their own subject. In fact, everyone in town lovingly refers to them as the Data Set. However, their quiet days of learning take a sudden turn for the exciting when they meet Dr. Gustav Bunsen—a mad scientist who throws the kids into a wild spiral of adventures.
When Dr. Bunsen’s latest invention, a growth ray, hits several tiny animal toys, the mini beasts don’t just grow, they come to life! The DATA Set love their new tiny pets…until they continue to grow. Now there’s an actual elephant in the room—not to mention a chimp, a giraffe, and a dinosaur. When the beasts wander off, it’s up to the DATA Set to track them down. But will they catch the mini beasts before they grow big enough to start trouble in town?
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The DATA Set chapter books are perfect for beginning readers!
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2016
18 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Ada Hopper
14 books12 followersPen name for Meredith Rusu.
Meredith Rusu is a children’s book author and editor specializing in titles based on television and movies. She has written more than one hundred books from preschool to young adult for licenses such as The LEGO Movie, LEGO Ninjago, Peppa Pig, Disney Princess, American Girl, and Star Wars. She is also the author of The DATA Set chapter book series under the pen name Ada Hopper. Meredith lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young sons who provide much of the inspiration for her writing. When she isn’t working, Meredith enjoys karaoke, spending time with family, and going on the occasional adventure or two.
Meredith Rusu is a children’s book author and editor specializing in titles based on television and movies. She has written more than one hundred books from preschool to young adult for licenses such as The LEGO Movie, LEGO Ninjago, Peppa Pig, Disney Princess, American Girl, and Star Wars. She is also the author of The DATA Set chapter book series under the pen name Ada Hopper. Meredith lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young sons who provide much of the inspiration for her writing. When she isn’t working, Meredith enjoys karaoke, spending time with family, and going on the occasional adventure or two.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
June 12, 2023
As a book to read for my 7 and 9 year olds. it was fun. Nice story that reminds me quite a bit of the Magic Treehouse series. I have seen criticism that it is not really a STEM book or delved into facts as much as they would like. It really is just a fun fiction read but the boys loved it and it is a great series to read and/or listen to. As a boom to get my children interested in reading, it was great
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February 20, 2021I'm not really sure how to rate this. Parts of it were really fun and my seven-year-old had many smiles, and even a few giggles, as we read. (I even smiled a few times, like when Dr. Bunsen's ex-partner, who is disputing his theory, is introduced as Dr. von Naysayer.) I appreciate the (attempt!) at something STEM-related and that the main characters are Latino. However, this is shelved as Science-Fiction and do note it is very light on the "science" and very heavy on the FICTION. This is really more "mad scientist" with impossible experiments like time machines and machines that can make toy animals come to life. If you want a book about children doing real science, look elsewhere. (I can recommend the excellent Zoey and Sassafras series by Asia Citro and even something like Dream Machine has more STEM than DATA Set.) I also thought it was sad that the toy animals that were brought to life had to go live at a zoo (also, really ridiculous that the zookeepers didn't notice that the "new" baby animals hadn't been there before and just accepted them into the enclosures!). My son was sad that Also, wasn't a big fan of eight-year-old kids walking into a total stranger's house with no parental supervision and just starting to hang out with him and look at his experiments. Um, no. Also, this ends on a total cliffhanger. I may have to get the second book for my son from the library cause I feel mean not to, but I'm not sure if we'll continue after that.
February 22, 2020
This book was alright. It was a very fast read through.
My issue is that it doesn’t teach much when it comes to stem. I feel like they were so focused on showcasing hispanic culture that it lost its stem related genre.
I picked this up for the learning through stem and fun story experience. I did not choose this book to get closer to Hispanic roots.
It’s unfortunate but so many stem based books keep deterring from where they originated. I’ve seen this multiple times whether they’re touching on race or another big one is feminist propaganda.
I just hate these authors take such an awesome genre and turn it into a platform for other agendas.
Other then that, the story was good.
If your using this for your child to read themselves I suggest placing this as may be a level five or so due to the nature of the language style. There are a few words that are a bit more advanced.
My 4 year old son enjoyed but was a tad bit sad towards the end, when Stego had to go back to prehistoric times.
My issue is that it doesn’t teach much when it comes to stem. I feel like they were so focused on showcasing hispanic culture that it lost its stem related genre.
I picked this up for the learning through stem and fun story experience. I did not choose this book to get closer to Hispanic roots.
It’s unfortunate but so many stem based books keep deterring from where they originated. I’ve seen this multiple times whether they’re touching on race or another big one is feminist propaganda.
I just hate these authors take such an awesome genre and turn it into a platform for other agendas.
Other then that, the story was good.
If your using this for your child to read themselves I suggest placing this as may be a level five or so due to the nature of the language style. There are a few words that are a bit more advanced.
My 4 year old son enjoyed but was a tad bit sad towards the end, when Stego had to go back to prehistoric times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 7, 2019This series is silly and science-y and perfect for those grade-school readers who are at a literacy level higher than picture books but they still want something with pictures - it's a nice in-between book with chapters and somewhat advanced words that also has illustrations. And, it has BROWN KIDS. Aaaaaand it's BOGO at Barnes and Noble, so when my first grader liked one, I bought the whole damn set, and he's been taking them everywhere with him since.
February 22, 2020
I was sad when the “not so mini beasts” had to go live in the zoo and I was especially sad when Stego had to go back in time. But it’s a nice surprise that the Data set kids went with them. I can’t wait to borrow the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2019
inquiring little series should appeal to beginning readers who ask a lot of questions and need to know what/why/where/when.
Not too many words on a page and lots of fun illustrations.
Not too many words on a page and lots of fun illustrations.
June 21, 2021
Fun adventure story featuring three young scientists … all about 4th-6th grade maybe. A good first chapter book for young readers, accessible vocabulary and a fun plot to follow throughout.
January 5, 2023
Recommended to me because of that sweet, sweet magic science combo.
April 25, 2021
3/31/2021 ~ A new to me transitional chapter book series. The DATA Set consists of 4 "science whiz kids" and stands for Data, Action, Trouble, and Adventure. In this volume, the kids meet Dr. Bunsen, a crazy scientist who lives on their street. His experimental growth ray accidentally causes their toy animals to come to life.
The characters are flat, and it's difficult to tell them apart. The physics are completely wrong, not to mention having unethical science (yes, you can have sci-fi that works, and even our youngest readers deserve better). I'm withholding judgement about whether to order them for my elementary school library.
The characters are flat, and it's difficult to tell them apart. The physics are completely wrong, not to mention having unethical science (yes, you can have sci-fi that works, and even our youngest readers deserve better). I'm withholding judgement about whether to order them for my elementary school library.
August 8, 2016
As rated by my 7 year old.
April 11, 2018
Three school friends are raising money for a field trip and selling candy door-to-door when they meet Dr. Bunsen. Dr. Bunsen is a scientist of the quirky kind and offers to buy ten boxes of chocolates and the trio figure they are on their way to the "sweet, sweet new neutron generator on display in Teslaville" with the science club. While he is obtaining some "currency" they notice that his house is filled with unusual scientific devices and before they know it he's asking them if they'd like to try his newest invention. When it doesn't work, Bunsen is so distraught that the kids leave without the cash. Bunsen turns up at their treehouse later with a new prototype of his "growth ray" and the kids offer to let him try it on some of their toys. The growth ray doesn't work exactly as planned and the kids end up with some mini-beasts that eventually start to grow. Hijinks ensue as the doctor and kids have to think up a plan to care for the animals before anyone notices that they have a herd of real live exotic animals plus a dinosaur.
Once all the animals except the dino are safely ensconced in a local zoo, the doctor tells the kids that he has been developing a time machine and this will be a perfect chance to try it out. The second book in the series is neatly set up as the kids --oopsie -- end up traveling back in time with the dinosaur and don't know their way back. With cheerful, supporting illustrations on every spread and short chapters that move the plot along, this is a transitional reader series that will be welcomed by the target audience.
Besides the obvious stranger-danger issues that go unmentioned, this is an easy chapter book that covers a lot of ground -- a few light STEM topics, diversity (all the kids are Hispanic and a bit of Spanish is sprinkled in), and friendship. This series is just right for young readers that aren't quite ready for the Magic Tree House series.
Once all the animals except the dino are safely ensconced in a local zoo, the doctor tells the kids that he has been developing a time machine and this will be a perfect chance to try it out. The second book in the series is neatly set up as the kids --oopsie -- end up traveling back in time with the dinosaur and don't know their way back. With cheerful, supporting illustrations on every spread and short chapters that move the plot along, this is a transitional reader series that will be welcomed by the target audience.
Besides the obvious stranger-danger issues that go unmentioned, this is an easy chapter book that covers a lot of ground -- a few light STEM topics, diversity (all the kids are Hispanic and a bit of Spanish is sprinkled in), and friendship. This series is just right for young readers that aren't quite ready for the Magic Tree House series.
August 6, 2020
Read aloud with my younger kids. Like many books this length and style we read the whole thing in one sitting. I offered to stop halfway through but by that point they wouldn’t hear anything about stopping.
This book is silly, fun, and exciting. It’s a fantastic early chapter book series and I love reading this style of book aloud because even my younger kids and special needs kid can follow and stay focused. This is not really a STEM book in that science is sort of there as a plot point, but it’s mostly just for fun. The plot is over the top in a way that kids love, but I found the writing engaging and I enjoyed reading it aloud, not skipping over badly formed sentences or repetitive words. Also, the ending of this one surprised even me! That does not happen often in these types of books. I’m so excited to find another series like this and we will be picking up book 2 ASAP.
This book is silly, fun, and exciting. It’s a fantastic early chapter book series and I love reading this style of book aloud because even my younger kids and special needs kid can follow and stay focused. This is not really a STEM book in that science is sort of there as a plot point, but it’s mostly just for fun. The plot is over the top in a way that kids love, but I found the writing engaging and I enjoyed reading it aloud, not skipping over badly formed sentences or repetitive words. Also, the ending of this one surprised even me! That does not happen often in these types of books. I’m so excited to find another series like this and we will be picking up book 2 ASAP.
October 17, 2021
Gabriel Martinez, Laura Reyes, and Cesar Moreno are second graders at Newtonburg Elementary School. Calling themselves the DATA (Danger! Action! Trouble! Adventure!) Set, they hang out in their super-futuristic treehouse and solve mysteries. After Dr. Gustav Bunsen, a mad scientist neighbor, uses his growth ray machine on their plastic toy animals, they come to life and begin to grow exponentially, and the children must find a way to take care of them. When Dr. Bunsen uses his time portal machine on Stego, Gabe’s favorite toy, the dinosaur gets whisked back to the Jurassic Period, and so do they. In Book 2, Don’t Disturb the Dinosaurs (2016), the DATA Set must figure out how to return home from the Age of the Dinosaurs. With short chapters, numerous black-and-white illustrations, and fast-paced adventure, this series is a good choice for readers ready for transitional chapter books.
July 20, 2020
Second and third grade readers will love this adventure! A group of friends who loves science and technology meets a mysterious neighbor who turns out to have a pretty cool laboratory. When he excitedly shows them his new discoveries, what could go wrong? :-)
This book is definitely missing some back matter including cool science facts. It’s very fictionalized and I would love some factual information thrown in, especially for the science and technology lovers at our school who might be excited to pick this up with hopes to enjoy a story but also learn from it. Hoping that will be added to the next book in the series!
3.5 stars
This book is definitely missing some back matter including cool science facts. It’s very fictionalized and I would love some factual information thrown in, especially for the science and technology lovers at our school who might be excited to pick this up with hopes to enjoy a story but also learn from it. Hoping that will be added to the next book in the series!
3.5 stars
May 13, 2021
Laura, Gabe, and Cesar are three friends who are crazy about all things science. They are selling chocolate bars to raise money for a science fieldtrip when they meet Dr. Bunsen --just think of Back to the Future's "Doc", the crazy scientist, and that's the kind of character he is. Dr. Bunsen has a growth ray that isn't fully working yet, but he fixes it and it does much more than expected!
I thought this was a really fun introductory sci fi book. The font is big and easy to read for lower elementary levels. This is the first book of the Data series, and it ends with a cliff hanger, leading readers to want to get to book 2.
I thought this was a really fun introductory sci fi book. The font is big and easy to read for lower elementary levels. This is the first book of the Data series, and it ends with a cliff hanger, leading readers to want to get to book 2.
January 24, 2023
Sci for the lower grades. The Data Set, a group of three science loving friends, start out working on a fundraiser for their science club. They come to a strange home that they finds belongs to an eccentric scientist Dr. Bunsen. Dr. Bunsen enthusiastically invites them in to see some of his creations, but one doesn't work quite the way he imagined. The kids soon learn it may not work the way it was designed to, but it works and they find themselves in a sticky situation. A humorous scifi story with a cliff hanger at the end. Also good for those readers who like animal stories.
June 1, 2019
Gabe, Laura and Cesar share an interest in science and technology. The free friends are known as the DATA set. This first book in the series introduces them and their special areas of study. We also meet Dr. Bunsen when they sell him chocolate bars. He demonstrates his growth ray on some stuffed animals. They come to life and do grow. The story shows how they solve this problem and ends with them being sent back in time with Gabe's stegosaurus.
Looking forward to the next adventure.
Looking forward to the next adventure.
September 30, 2022
We ventured into science fiction and we didn't regret it. I loved this book because it has 3 Hispanic kiddos (1 of them a girl!) who are into science. The story was fun and Eliana kept asking for 1 more chapter which is rare.
Eliana's review: "I liked all of it. Can we buy them off Amazon? My favorite part was when they were trying to catch the mini beasts in the yard. Did you see the elephant's face? It was so funny!"
Eliana's review: "I liked all of it. Can we buy them off Amazon? My favorite part was when they were trying to catch the mini beasts in the yard. Did you see the elephant's face? It was so funny!"
July 7, 2018
Sci-fi adventure story about three 2nd graders who love science. They meet a “mad” scientist while selling chocolate. He tests out his new growth ray on some of their toy animals, and chaos erupts.
I was fine with the sci-fi elements, but zoos know how many animals they have and wouldn’t just accept a new animal into their zoo.
Lots of pictures and larger text. Ends in a cliffhanger...
I was fine with the sci-fi elements, but zoos know how many animals they have and wouldn’t just accept a new animal into their zoo.
Lots of pictures and larger text. Ends in a cliffhanger...
September 14, 2018
A quick read that will appeal to kids who are in early elementary school and like adventure with a dash of science. The book is slightly wordier than an easy reader making it ideal for grades 2-3 but I can see a 1st grader or even a kindergartner enjoying this book for the story. (Also? I really liked that the three main characters were all Latinx characters. Yay representation!)
February 6, 2019
My first grader has started reading "first" chapter books but will only choose the Humphrey's Tiny Tale books by Betty G. Birney. I found this series but the words were a little more challenging and Science based. He still doesn't like these books as much as the Birney books but, the cliff hanger at the end definitely has him asking for the sequel.
April 3, 2019
A fun and quirky read. Great for younger children who know how to read and are getting their legs under them. Good pictures and and interesting story that will keep the pages turning. I loved the characters and the way this was written. It had me smiling almost the entire time and made we wish this had been out when I was younger. My love of books would have started sooner. Enjoy!
June 17, 2019
This book is so amazing. I had a 5 year old who loves to read. We came across this series because Barnes and Noble was having a sale and we can not get enough of this series! We are on book 2. I won’t give away anything but if you have a kid that loves to read please check this book out. Illustrations on ever page and the characters are perfect for all!
January 5, 2021
G1-2
Friendship
Problem solving
Unrealistic for kiddos to be going door to door selling fundraising chocolates. Made me giggle a bit about their first attempt trying to sell chockies to a lady on a diet. Entering a strangers house unsupervised is questionable. Toys come to life, problems solved but has a fun link to the next volume.
Friendship
Problem solving
Unrealistic for kiddos to be going door to door selling fundraising chocolates. Made me giggle a bit about their first attempt trying to sell chockies to a lady on a diet. Entering a strangers house unsupervised is questionable. Toys come to life, problems solved but has a fun link to the next volume.
May 1, 2022
Very cute series opener about three smart kids interested in gadgets, science and technology. I am moderately concerned their former stuffed animals will not know how to adapt as live animals, but I can imagine any young reader would love the same to happen to their own bedtime buddies. I'll be ordering the following titles to see how the adventure continues.
October 28, 2016
I mean for a primary book, I really liked it. It trucked along at a good pace, it was a mostly silly rather than science-y, but the characters were fun and the writing not too painfully dumb (as with many primary books). It was genuinely amusing and entertaining (for a primary book).
-Kirsten
-Kirsten
December 3, 2017
This is another Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award book this year. It was a quick read, but I did not find it as enticing as other books selected this year. The writing ok, but not great. The illustrations are wonderful. I would recommend this short chapter book for emerging readers.
July 28, 2019
Good for young readers who are into science. I liked that it included diverse characters. I didn't like that the kids entered a stranger's house uninvited; I'd recommend having a talk with younger kids reading it about safety and privacy.
July 11, 2024
Reading to proof for some young readers. Absolutely adorable. Clean, harmless adventure with some good humor and mad science. I'll definitely be looking into the rest of this series for my young readers.
May 20, 2017
amazingly cute book!! loved how easily it turns into the next book! the pictures were cute and loved the plot! great for kids!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews