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Nick Newton #1
Nick Newton Is Not a Genius
Nick Newton is not a Genius. He’s just a merely average boy from the country of Thauma. He may not be brilliant like his mom and dad or a child prodigy like his sister, but he won’t let that stop him from uncovering the mysteries of a clockwork factory or revealing a war hero’s greatest secret. With help from two new friends and his butler named Jude, Nick embarks on an adventure that will change his life forever.
117 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2016
3 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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February 4, 2025
“Nick Newton Is Not A Genius” Book One of Nick Newton
Review By Brett Salter
Opening Line: “The headmaster slowly pulled papers from an envelope on his desk. My feet dangled from the leather chair. Mom sat in a matching chair next to me. As usual, Dad sat in his wheelchair."
Favorite Lines: “My eyes wandered around mom's lab. It didn't look like Dad's art studio. Mom stored stuff in big plastic bins with no labels. The bins were scattered on the tops of shelves and all over the floor. The shelves were crammed with books, bottles, and tools. A preserved frog stared out of a glass jar. A telescope lens looked down from the top of a cabinet .”
The Review:
“Nick Newton Is Not A Genius" is book number one of author S. E. M. Ishida's series which follows Nick Newton, the main protagonist on a series of adventures in his home country of Thauma.
Nick Newton is an average fourth-grader. And that's the problem. His entire family is littered with geniuses. His mother is a super scientist, his father an artiste savant, his sister is going to the most prestigious school in the country, and even his baby sister seems to goo-goo ga-ga her way into smarter situations than Nick. But, Nick is about to go on an adventure that will prove he's just smart enough to be a good person and that's perfectly acceptable in life. A little help from his grandfather's old mystery trunk leads Nick on a series of events that really grow on the reader including meeting some zany characters and setting up a sequel (already written).
I'd like to talk about a couple of things that really jumped out to me when I read this Kindle version, starting with the characters. They really stole the show, including Nick himself. He's relatable and funny in is own way, playing the fish out of water role pretty well. Also, the characters evolved as the story went on, which is always cool. Erma started off being a total brat, but she eventually came around to help her brother solve the mystery of Mr. Volk and his factory/school (more on that later). Jude, the family butler held an interesting secret foreshadowed in the beginning and paid off at the end. And Plink, my favorite character, brought some Disney-like lightheartedness to most scenes. And then, there's Elliot Twain, who I thought might be an amalgamation of T.S. Eliot and Mark Twain until I heard him go on and on about his toilet research project and cheese. LOL. But I thought the fact that the Dad called the Mom "Carbon" was like the cutest little nickname for someone. Because we can live without "honey", but not without "carbon". Genius!
I want to talk about the structure of the book too. To me, I felt like there was a definite switch in tone and structure about halfway through. The book is divided into 3 parts, and Part One felt more aimed at a younger audience with its short sentences and repeating lines ("do this tomorrow" at the end of each chapter). Not that it was bad that the sentences were designed that way. There's something very poetic about short, impactful sentences, and it really works here. However, Parts Two and Three shifted into longer, more complex sentences and much more descriptive imagery. They also changed settings more frequently, taking us from the confines of the Newton home to places like educational facilities and Mr. Volk's assembly line. With this contrast of structure and wordplay, I found myself wondering if this book was written in two separate seasons of the author's life. Like, the second part being when they had a better grasp of creativity, form, and flow. Both structures are cool and work extremely well for the target audience, but I just wanted to see if maybe that was the case. Even my own work has multiple instances of where I put it down and picked it up later and the tone changes along with the style..
The pictures in this book were fantastic too. I love having pictures to help figure out what the author wants us to see, and these were perfect. Mad props to Dana Thompson for taking the author's vision and creating something whimsical to aid the reader. In most cases, the author's superb writing not only matched the illustrations but synched up exactly the way I imagined in my head. That shows true skill with writing. And a masterful symbiosis of the author and the illustrator's talents. Congrats!
One Last Thing: I like to add this "one last thing" section as an insight into how weird I am when I read books. So, all these characters are expertly named, but I can't help but include my musical proclivity when I read. So, when I read certain names, my brain automatically associates the name to a song. It can be distracting, but it also makes for a very musical journey through the pages. Every time I read Jude's name, I immediately did my best McCartney impression, especially in Part One where the title character literally said, "Hey Jude". I know I'm weird.
I would recommend this book and the entire series for anyone interested in Sci-fiction between the ages of 8-12. If you know someone who likes this genre or has kids who are having trouble getting into reading, "Nick Newton Is Not A Genius" might be the perfect book for them. I instantly made parallels to other fantastical, imaginative authors like Lemony Snicket, Norton Juster, and Judy Blume. I especially got Roald Dahl vibes as I likened the entire second half of the book to something like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". And I totally think with a little more development, Mr. Volk can earnestly become a Willy Wonka-type character to be adored by generations of readers to come.
Final verdict: 4.7 robotic hearts out of 5.
Review By Brett Salter
Opening Line: “The headmaster slowly pulled papers from an envelope on his desk. My feet dangled from the leather chair. Mom sat in a matching chair next to me. As usual, Dad sat in his wheelchair."
Favorite Lines: “My eyes wandered around mom's lab. It didn't look like Dad's art studio. Mom stored stuff in big plastic bins with no labels. The bins were scattered on the tops of shelves and all over the floor. The shelves were crammed with books, bottles, and tools. A preserved frog stared out of a glass jar. A telescope lens looked down from the top of a cabinet .”
The Review:
“Nick Newton Is Not A Genius" is book number one of author S. E. M. Ishida's series which follows Nick Newton, the main protagonist on a series of adventures in his home country of Thauma.
Nick Newton is an average fourth-grader. And that's the problem. His entire family is littered with geniuses. His mother is a super scientist, his father an artiste savant, his sister is going to the most prestigious school in the country, and even his baby sister seems to goo-goo ga-ga her way into smarter situations than Nick. But, Nick is about to go on an adventure that will prove he's just smart enough to be a good person and that's perfectly acceptable in life. A little help from his grandfather's old mystery trunk leads Nick on a series of events that really grow on the reader including meeting some zany characters and setting up a sequel (already written).
I'd like to talk about a couple of things that really jumped out to me when I read this Kindle version, starting with the characters. They really stole the show, including Nick himself. He's relatable and funny in is own way, playing the fish out of water role pretty well. Also, the characters evolved as the story went on, which is always cool. Erma started off being a total brat, but she eventually came around to help her brother solve the mystery of Mr. Volk and his factory/school (more on that later). Jude, the family butler held an interesting secret foreshadowed in the beginning and paid off at the end. And Plink, my favorite character, brought some Disney-like lightheartedness to most scenes. And then, there's Elliot Twain, who I thought might be an amalgamation of T.S. Eliot and Mark Twain until I heard him go on and on about his toilet research project and cheese. LOL. But I thought the fact that the Dad called the Mom "Carbon" was like the cutest little nickname for someone. Because we can live without "honey", but not without "carbon". Genius!
I want to talk about the structure of the book too. To me, I felt like there was a definite switch in tone and structure about halfway through. The book is divided into 3 parts, and Part One felt more aimed at a younger audience with its short sentences and repeating lines ("do this tomorrow" at the end of each chapter). Not that it was bad that the sentences were designed that way. There's something very poetic about short, impactful sentences, and it really works here. However, Parts Two and Three shifted into longer, more complex sentences and much more descriptive imagery. They also changed settings more frequently, taking us from the confines of the Newton home to places like educational facilities and Mr. Volk's assembly line. With this contrast of structure and wordplay, I found myself wondering if this book was written in two separate seasons of the author's life. Like, the second part being when they had a better grasp of creativity, form, and flow. Both structures are cool and work extremely well for the target audience, but I just wanted to see if maybe that was the case. Even my own work has multiple instances of where I put it down and picked it up later and the tone changes along with the style..
The pictures in this book were fantastic too. I love having pictures to help figure out what the author wants us to see, and these were perfect. Mad props to Dana Thompson for taking the author's vision and creating something whimsical to aid the reader. In most cases, the author's superb writing not only matched the illustrations but synched up exactly the way I imagined in my head. That shows true skill with writing. And a masterful symbiosis of the author and the illustrator's talents. Congrats!
One Last Thing: I like to add this "one last thing" section as an insight into how weird I am when I read books. So, all these characters are expertly named, but I can't help but include my musical proclivity when I read. So, when I read certain names, my brain automatically associates the name to a song. It can be distracting, but it also makes for a very musical journey through the pages. Every time I read Jude's name, I immediately did my best McCartney impression, especially in Part One where the title character literally said, "Hey Jude". I know I'm weird.
I would recommend this book and the entire series for anyone interested in Sci-fiction between the ages of 8-12. If you know someone who likes this genre or has kids who are having trouble getting into reading, "Nick Newton Is Not A Genius" might be the perfect book for them. I instantly made parallels to other fantastical, imaginative authors like Lemony Snicket, Norton Juster, and Judy Blume. I especially got Roald Dahl vibes as I likened the entire second half of the book to something like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". And I totally think with a little more development, Mr. Volk can earnestly become a Willy Wonka-type character to be adored by generations of readers to come.
Final verdict: 4.7 robotic hearts out of 5.
July 19, 2018
3.5
Three stars seems rather low, but four stars is too high, so I guess I'll have to do the half stars … for the first time ever!
I loved the characters in this book, although they were rather interesting. They did weird things and dressed strange as well.
But, Nick who is not a genius like his family and friends, was hilarious!! While his family and friends were inventing all sorts of neat things, he was in the side-lines watching. He was named after his Grandfather who was also an inventor - he made the first mechanical heart, which obviously isn't possible yet?
Why the two and half stars off then? Well, the whole book is about inventions (which isn't bad) and a lot of them are robots! Now, I don't dislike robots, but I don't really like them either. I didn't exactly find it interesting to read about, but I'm sure someone else might!!
I also think there's something odd about the timeframe of this book, although it never says what year it is. With all the inventions and strange-way-of dressing, it feels like it's sometime in the future, but other times, it doesn't feel that way. So yeah, I don't know.
I recommend this to young readers, as I'm sure they'd enjoy it more than I did!
*I received a copy of this book from its publisher on NetGalley
Three stars seems rather low, but four stars is too high, so I guess I'll have to do the half stars … for the first time ever!
I loved the characters in this book, although they were rather interesting. They did weird things and dressed strange as well.
But, Nick who is not a genius like his family and friends, was hilarious!! While his family and friends were inventing all sorts of neat things, he was in the side-lines watching. He was named after his Grandfather who was also an inventor - he made the first mechanical heart, which obviously isn't possible yet?
Why the two and half stars off then? Well, the whole book is about inventions (which isn't bad) and a lot of them are robots! Now, I don't dislike robots, but I don't really like them either. I didn't exactly find it interesting to read about, but I'm sure someone else might!!
I also think there's something odd about the timeframe of this book, although it never says what year it is. With all the inventions and strange-way-of dressing, it feels like it's sometime in the future, but other times, it doesn't feel that way. So yeah, I don't know.
I recommend this to young readers, as I'm sure they'd enjoy it more than I did!
*I received a copy of this book from its publisher on NetGalley
September 23, 2017
It’s okay if you’re not a genius—unless you come from an entire family of them. Nick is perfectly average in a household of excellence. Nick must attend a new school (having been asked to leave the Institution for Children of Superior Intellectual Merit), and this introduces the entire Newton family to an eccentric robot-making inventor.
This is a fun, humorous book. Every member of Nick’s family has his or her own set of quirks. Nick is an endearing character who quickly has the reader cheering him on as he explores his family’s famous history. I hope Nick will appear in future books, as he has the potential to be a strong series character.
I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
This is a fun, humorous book. Every member of Nick’s family has his or her own set of quirks. Nick is an endearing character who quickly has the reader cheering him on as he explores his family’s famous history. I hope Nick will appear in future books, as he has the potential to be a strong series character.
I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
January 20, 2017
This is a fun book for children ages 8-12 and their parents. The main character is a perfectly normal little with average intelligence who lives with a family of eccentric geniuses. I loved all the characters from the mom who is obsessed with making things fly--many of them with her baby along for the ride to the rude sister, and somewhat absent minded, artist father. There is also a butler who has a secret and the grandfather who passed away but is very important to the story.
I hope this is the first book in a series, because there appears to be more interesting things in the attic to be discovered, and inquiring minds will be anxious to find out what Nick discovers next.
I hope this is the first book in a series, because there appears to be more interesting things in the attic to be discovered, and inquiring minds will be anxious to find out what Nick discovers next.
October 6, 2022
Excellent first book on this series! Nick is your average kid living in a family of unique geniuses. I loved the characters and the steampunk theme throughout. It had an old world feel with some modern tech!
I would absolutely recommend this for kids that are interested in science, robots, tech, and it was a pleasure to read aloud.
Charming novel, I can’t wait to read #2 in this series and hope it continues on after that, too!
I would absolutely recommend this for kids that are interested in science, robots, tech, and it was a pleasure to read aloud.
Charming novel, I can’t wait to read #2 in this series and hope it continues on after that, too!
May 22, 2018
First let me Thank Netgalley for this digital copy. This is a very cute Steampunk'ish book. It follows a little boy named Nick Newton, son of a genius mother and father. Nick was tested and found that he is not a genius so he had to go to a new school for average kids. Nick loved to hear stories about the war that his grandfather invented weapons for and all his other creations. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it but I do recommend this book to everyone of all ages.
January 6, 2023
Entertaining. I'm not sure where we picked up this book, but I've had it for a while. Fantasy in a modern setting. Likeable if eccentric characters. A plot with enough tension that my boy still wanted to hear two or three chapters a night.
April 3, 2018
This was a GREAT story about recognizing gifts and skills in everyone!
Love the inventiveness and family importance!
Love the inventiveness and family importance!
August 16, 2018
Nick Newton is Not a Genius, by S. E. M. Ishida, is a fantastic middle grade adventure with a steampunk aesthetic. It's perfect for a read aloud or for a child to read to themselves.
November 12, 2018
"Nick Newton is not a Genius" showcases compassion, friendship, curiosity, understanding, and a healthy family dynamic in a delightful, middle-grade steampunk tale.
July 30, 2022
fun kids' story with its own alternate world.
September 6, 2023
I like this book because have neck words and kind to Mr Volk and then he offered a his bird.
June 11, 2024
I like it but i was expecting more mysteries.
July 5, 2018
I enjoyed this Middle Grade story and its charming illustrations. My rating 4.5.
Nick Newton is a fourth grader who is not a genius like his parents and his older sister. His mother is a genius scientist and his father is a genius artist. His annoying sister, Erma, is a child prodigy with several talents. Nick’s testing reveals he is a normal kid and won’t be able to attend the school for the genius children. This sets his parents on a search for an appropriate alternative school.
Meanwhile, Nick is happy to be working on a project he found in the attic, among his grandfather’s things. His grandfather, for whom Nick is named, was a war hero and famous inventor of weapons. Nick is sure that greandfather developed other things besides war weapons. Nick has found the parts of a clockwork bird and instructions and he is intent on piecing the bird together.
When Nick begins his new school the founder of the school, Mr. Volk, wants Nick’s mechanical bird as a collector’s piece. Nick is cautious of the man especially in light of negative rumors regarding him and his robotic inclinations. Will Nick be safe in the school and can he protect his treasured clockwork bird? Can they unlock the secrets hiding in grandfather’s locked trunk?
This is a fun story with engaging, uncomplicated illustrations. The secondary characters, including his family, the butler and Mr. Volk, have their individual charming, quirks which add interest. The story reads easily and I think middle school students would certainly enjoy this as I did. Nick learns from mistakes and adventures as all normal children should/can. I enjoyed Nick’s discoveries and realizations at the end of the story even though the ending seemed a bit abrupt.
The tag words at Amazon include "Christian" however I did not see any overt religious message. I think perhaps the implications of a mechanical heart may be involved in that tag. I do recommend this especially for students (and adults) who enjoy clockwork or model elements and a little mystery too. I am encouraging my eight-year-old granddaughter to try the story.
I received this title through NetGalley.
Nick Newton is a fourth grader who is not a genius like his parents and his older sister. His mother is a genius scientist and his father is a genius artist. His annoying sister, Erma, is a child prodigy with several talents. Nick’s testing reveals he is a normal kid and won’t be able to attend the school for the genius children. This sets his parents on a search for an appropriate alternative school.
Meanwhile, Nick is happy to be working on a project he found in the attic, among his grandfather’s things. His grandfather, for whom Nick is named, was a war hero and famous inventor of weapons. Nick is sure that greandfather developed other things besides war weapons. Nick has found the parts of a clockwork bird and instructions and he is intent on piecing the bird together.
When Nick begins his new school the founder of the school, Mr. Volk, wants Nick’s mechanical bird as a collector’s piece. Nick is cautious of the man especially in light of negative rumors regarding him and his robotic inclinations. Will Nick be safe in the school and can he protect his treasured clockwork bird? Can they unlock the secrets hiding in grandfather’s locked trunk?
This is a fun story with engaging, uncomplicated illustrations. The secondary characters, including his family, the butler and Mr. Volk, have their individual charming, quirks which add interest. The story reads easily and I think middle school students would certainly enjoy this as I did. Nick learns from mistakes and adventures as all normal children should/can. I enjoyed Nick’s discoveries and realizations at the end of the story even though the ending seemed a bit abrupt.
The tag words at Amazon include "Christian" however I did not see any overt religious message. I think perhaps the implications of a mechanical heart may be involved in that tag. I do recommend this especially for students (and adults) who enjoy clockwork or model elements and a little mystery too. I am encouraging my eight-year-old granddaughter to try the story.
I received this title through NetGalley.
February 11, 2017
This is a fun kid's steampunk adventure about a boy who's not a genius like his parents, but has his own way of doing things. He works to discover more about how his grandfather's mechanical creations work. The reading level is good for younger kids, but the plot has enough intricacies to keep older readers involved too. Looking forward to more from Ishida!
February 18, 2017
I enjoyed this book a lot (even though this review may not make it look that way. The thing is that I struggle with reviewing short books). I'm going with 5 stars here!
1: This book is perfect for third-fifth graders I would say. It was a pretty quick read for me, but it'd probably not be for them.
2: This was a really unique book. I've never read a children's book quite like it(especially from this publisher). The plot was really creative! And it had a really happy, satisfactory, fulfilling ending.
3: I loved all the characters. They were really well-rounded, especially for a kid's book! And unique! Especially Jude! Also, don't believe all the rumors you hear about people, especially about them being robots! Plink is so cute! She's guaranteed to capture the heart of every reader! I want a Plink!
4: The pictures and especially the cover are all amazing!
5: I laughed (a lot) with this book! Especially finding out who the owner of the purple mansion was. This book will probably have kids in stitches!
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
1: This book is perfect for third-fifth graders I would say. It was a pretty quick read for me, but it'd probably not be for them.
2: This was a really unique book. I've never read a children's book quite like it(especially from this publisher). The plot was really creative! And it had a really happy, satisfactory, fulfilling ending.
3: I loved all the characters. They were really well-rounded, especially for a kid's book! And unique! Especially Jude! Also, don't believe all the rumors you hear about people, especially about them being robots! Plink is so cute! She's guaranteed to capture the heart of every reader! I want a Plink!
4: The pictures and especially the cover are all amazing!
5: I laughed (a lot) with this book! Especially finding out who the owner of the purple mansion was. This book will probably have kids in stitches!
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
September 24, 2017
What a fun middle grade read! Nick is surrounded by a family of geniuses yet finds out that he is only normal. And yet, it doesn't seem to bother him all that much - he knows his parents still love him. The beginning of the book focuses on Nick finding a box of parts and a diagram for them left by his grandfather, another genius inventor and war hero. He wants to put the pieces together but faces multiple failures. I loved how each failure ended with Nick's resolve to try again the next day. The second half of the book focuses on Nick and his quest to learn more about his grandfather and has him working to open a trunk in the attic. It was fun to see how Nick tackled his research. I would read more books about Nick and his quirky and fun family!
I received an eARC from the publisher; this is my honest review.
I received an eARC from the publisher; this is my honest review.
Want to read
October 20, 2016Note: I received a digital review copy of this book through NetGalley.
February 16, 2018
Charming, creative, gentle. Ideal for children and a pleasure for grown-ups.
March 30, 2017
Nick Newton is not a Genius by S.E.M. Ishida is a children's book about a boy from a family of geniuses. Nick is not a genius, he is a merely average boy from the country of Thauma. He may not be brilliant like his mom and dad or a child prodigy like his sister, but he won’t let that stop him from uncovering the mysteries of a clockwork factory or revealing a war hero’s greatest secret. With help from two new friends and his butler named Jude, Nick embarks on an adventure that will change his life forever.
Nick Newton is not a Genius is a good story about Nick Newton, trying to live up to his family name while still using his unique perspective and interest to be happy. I like that his skill set is still outstanding, but not considered on par with his family's based on standard measures. However, his intelligence just takes a different path. Sometimes being different, and thinking differently, is the key to being happy. I was glad to see Nick's journey being one that highlights this idea rather than him suddenly wowing the world by really being who they wanted him to be. I liked that most characters ended up being different than the perceptions others had about them. I would have liked a little more information on the world the story was taking place in, and its particulars. I feel like we were kind of dropped into a story and missing an introduction, and then we were missing a bit of an ending. While there was a conclusion, there was just way too much unanswered to make me happy. I really wanted more, on both ends of the story. Part of this was because I liked the world and the characters and honestly wanted to know more about them all, and part of it was that I do not feel like I got the whole picture.
Nick Newton is not a Genius held my interest and told a story about finding yourself, and being happy with your own gifts. My only biggest issue with the book is the ending. It was left open ended, with clear paths of continuation. I felt more like I was missing the last chapter than there was a sequel to come.
Nick Newton is not a Genius is a good story about Nick Newton, trying to live up to his family name while still using his unique perspective and interest to be happy. I like that his skill set is still outstanding, but not considered on par with his family's based on standard measures. However, his intelligence just takes a different path. Sometimes being different, and thinking differently, is the key to being happy. I was glad to see Nick's journey being one that highlights this idea rather than him suddenly wowing the world by really being who they wanted him to be. I liked that most characters ended up being different than the perceptions others had about them. I would have liked a little more information on the world the story was taking place in, and its particulars. I feel like we were kind of dropped into a story and missing an introduction, and then we were missing a bit of an ending. While there was a conclusion, there was just way too much unanswered to make me happy. I really wanted more, on both ends of the story. Part of this was because I liked the world and the characters and honestly wanted to know more about them all, and part of it was that I do not feel like I got the whole picture.
Nick Newton is not a Genius held my interest and told a story about finding yourself, and being happy with your own gifts. My only biggest issue with the book is the ending. It was left open ended, with clear paths of continuation. I felt more like I was missing the last chapter than there was a sequel to come.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews