The Tick-Tock Man

Gadgets and Gears #3

by Kersten Hamilton, James Hamilton (Illustrator)

Wally and Noodles are back to the business of scientific innovation—and fun. In London, they meet a young pickpocket named Dobbin who works for a mysterious criminal called the Tick-Tock Man. Soon they are racing through secret tunnels in a bid to help Dobbin’s little sister. Can the brave boy-scientist and his loyal sidekick find the one person who can save her before it’s too late? History and technology collide in this humorous series brimming with mad science. 

Genres: Chapter Books

144 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2016

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

When Wally and Noodles meet a young pickpocket, they are intrigued by him. His sister and friend have clock parts and the inventor in Wally, whose parents are famous inventors, is intrigued. He is looking forward to meeting the great doctor, writer, and sleuth Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but that plan may change as Dobbin, the pick pocket, sends an urgent note to meet at midnight as a matter of life and death. Young Wally likes to help and despite the danger of midnight meetings with a known criminal, he goes, so Noodles follows. The dark streets of London as backdrop to this missing person with a My Fair Lady consistency to the language of the rich versus the poor is quite a lot of fun. Noodles, a dachshund, is mostly a narrator which adds to an interesting plot. The crossover of the very well-known author and the police as well as a science fiction as reality case of humans with working clocks keeping them alive is fascinating. Book 3 of the Gadgets and Gears series by Hamilton is well worth a read. This one might be harder for my elementary students who won't likely have the language awareness, but it would be wonderful as a read aloud with class discussions, I bet.

[Heather Gunnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Staff Pick
Heather

Steampunk adventure and mystery continue in this third installment in the Gadgets and Gears series. Wally and Noodles meet a young pickpocket and a group of mechanical misfits, and soon they are on a mission to save a young girl's life. Will they be in time?

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this at a library surplus sale because it involved Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and I am a Sherlock Holmes fan. It was a fun tie.

This is a steampunk children's chapter book. Fun characters!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the great elements you've come to expect from the first two books (see my goodreads reviews for more) plus even more excitement as they encounter more foes and some new friends. This one includes a great race, travels through the sewers, and some nefarious characters. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gets to know them and they use detective work, medical knowledge and technology to save lives. The ending will choke you up. I highly recommend this and hope there will be more tales to come. (I received this book in a goodreads giveaway.)

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Alistair Grim's Odditorium will find another adventure waiting with Wally and his dog, Noodles. In this 3rd book of the series, Wally and Noodles must help find the Tick Tock man, an elusive criminal who holds the only thing keeping young Briney alive, the key to her clockwork heart. With humor and adventure at every turn (along with some great vocabulary words), this tale is sure to please lovers of steampunk fiction.