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The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook
Super-smart Julian Calendar thinks starting junior high at a new school will mean he can shed his nerdy image-but then he meets Ben and Greta, two secret scientists like himself! The three form a secret club, complete with a high-tech lair. There, they can work to their hearts content on projects like the Stink-O-Meter, the Kablovsky Copter, and the Nightsneak Goggles.
All that tinkering comes in handy when the trio discovers an evil scientist's dastardly plan to rob a museum. Can three inventors, armed with their wacky creations, hope to defeat this criminal mastermind?
All that tinkering comes in handy when the trio discovers an evil scientist's dastardly plan to rob a museum. Can three inventors, armed with their wacky creations, hope to defeat this criminal mastermind?
160 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2009
16 people are currently reading
1842 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Davis
36 books375 followersMy name is Eleanor Davis. I’m a cartoonist and illustrator. A collection of my short comics for adults, How To Be Happy, is out now from Fantagraphics Books. I have two graphic novels for kids: The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook (2009) which I created with my husband Drew Weing, and the easy-reader Stinky (2008). I live in Athens, Georgia.
Clients include: The New Yorker, The New York Times, Google, The Wall Street Journal, Plansponser, MIT Tech Review, Lucky Peach, Nautilus, Time Magazine, Telerama, Slate, BusinessWeek, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Oxford American, Nobrow Press, BUST Magazine, Charlex NYC, Fantagraphics Books, Dutton, TOON Books, First Second Books, Houghton Mifflin, Workman Publishing, and Bloomsbury Books.
Awards and recognition include: Society of Illustrators – Gold and Silver; Eisner Nominee (Secret Science Alliance); Print Magazine’s New Visual Artists 2009; Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (Stinky); Russ Manning Award (Stinky); Best American Comics 2008 + cover & Best American Comics 2013. In nursery school I got a ribbon for “Best Fine Motor Skills.”
Clients include: The New Yorker, The New York Times, Google, The Wall Street Journal, Plansponser, MIT Tech Review, Lucky Peach, Nautilus, Time Magazine, Telerama, Slate, BusinessWeek, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Oxford American, Nobrow Press, BUST Magazine, Charlex NYC, Fantagraphics Books, Dutton, TOON Books, First Second Books, Houghton Mifflin, Workman Publishing, and Bloomsbury Books.
Awards and recognition include: Society of Illustrators – Gold and Silver; Eisner Nominee (Secret Science Alliance); Print Magazine’s New Visual Artists 2009; Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor (Stinky); Russ Manning Award (Stinky); Best American Comics 2008 + cover & Best American Comics 2013. In nursery school I got a ribbon for “Best Fine Motor Skills.”
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
February 4, 2017
Julian Calendar is off for his first day at a new school when his mother cheerfully suggests, " . . . just be yourself, and you'll make lots of friends!" Julian was himself at his last school, and was picked on for being a nerd. This time around, he's determined to fit in. He professes to enjoy "hanging out" at the local mall and watching sports on TV all in an effort to make friends. Too bad he almost blows it by being caught reading a book in the cafeteria. But one day, when the teacher is talking about aviation, and Julian is daydreaming about the Glopter - a glider/helicopter he's inventing, he blurts out an impossibly well educated statement about acceleration and thrust, and GOTCHA! Everyone now knows Julian's a BRAINIAC!
But . . .
Could it be?
There are others in the school . . . just like Julian?
And when they team up, they may just be unstoppable.
This is a terrific middle-grade graphic novel with great artwork, and a fun, involving storyline.
End of review.
And now, the rant.
How sad, and yet so very realistic that Julian was ashamed of his interest in science. Intelligent people are not valued in America; the term "rocket scientist" has never been a compliment. Rick Santorum was cheered when he called those wishing to go to college "snobs." Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, many lawmakers deny the existence of global warming. And now, a large percentage of this country's population has elected an ignoramus to our highest office. We need to change this, people, before we're back to depending on leeches and the power of prayer to cure all our ills.
Please don't let idiots like this guy rule our future . . .
But . . .
Could it be?
There are others in the school . . . just like Julian?
And when they team up, they may just be unstoppable.
This is a terrific middle-grade graphic novel with great artwork, and a fun, involving storyline.
End of review.
And now, the rant.
How sad, and yet so very realistic that Julian was ashamed of his interest in science. Intelligent people are not valued in America; the term "rocket scientist" has never been a compliment. Rick Santorum was cheered when he called those wishing to go to college "snobs." Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, many lawmakers deny the existence of global warming. And now, a large percentage of this country's population has elected an ignoramus to our highest office. We need to change this, people, before we're back to depending on leeches and the power of prayer to cure all our ills.
Please don't let idiots like this guy rule our future . . .
August 29, 2009
You know a book’s gotta be good when the first thought that enters your brain after reading it is, “I bet this took the author YEARS and YEARS to finish!” If you’re reading a novel then it’s probably a good bet you thought that because the story is long and convoluted. But if you think it about a graphic novel, there’s really only one reason for that. It must be heavily detailed, complicated, well written, and intense. Meet The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook then. A little book that, at the outset, didn’t interest me much. The cover didn’t lure me in and the title was meh all over. It really wasn’t until my boss handed it to me to read that I decided to give it a go and see whether it was worth checking out. I’m so glad he did too since this is one of the most eye-popping, ambitious, intelligent graphic novels for kids I’ve seen in a long time. And I can guarantee you that it’s like nothing your children have ever seen before.
When Julian Calendar starts school in a new town he is determined to fit in. No longer shall he be unceremoniously dumped into garbage cans for the crime of being a nerd. No! Julian is determined to hide his intelligence and smarts for as long as it takes to fit in. His plans, as it happens, are thwarted when two of his classmates (a girl and a jock) discover his secret and let him in on one of their own. Unbeknownst to the population at large, these kids are science geniuses. With Julian as their third they begin “The Secret Science Alliance”. But dark machinations are afoot. When their Invention Notebook is purloined and a local scientist of questionable morality takes credit for their inventions, they are determined to get their property back. In doing so, however, they find that the villain plans to rob the local museum for an item of inestimable cost. Will they be able to stop him in time? Stay tuned, faithful readers.
Since I grew up with comics I’ve always been a little baffled by adults who tell me that they never “learned to read” comics. There’s something about the sequential art that throws them for a loop. They have problems integrating the words and the images in their brains (thereby giving lie to the assumption that comics are less sophisticated than literature and art merely because they combine the two formats). Anyway, I always thought this was a pretty silly thing to say. Reading The Secret Science Alliance, however, suddenly I understand that perspective. It’s a logical series of sequences, but Davis is playing with some incredibly sophisticated paneling here. Open up to the first page and you’ll see what I mean. The book begins with a four part cause and effect sequence where the arrows containing the “before” sections lead you to see the “after” effects. The first three lead to the right and the last one leads downward. And amazingly enough, on this single page you learn everything you need to know about the character of Julian. Now kids with a love of comics will be able to figure all this out on their own, but it will take some effort on their part. Davis is making you work for her storyline and she’s basically warning you of the complexity right from the start.
And speaking of complex, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a graphic novel for kids this chock full of tiny details. Some of them I’m pretty sure are in-jokes (Julian reads a paper that declares an Ann, E, and Leta as being the number one family in town) but others are there for the noticing (as when Julian is discovered to be excessively intelligent and behind his head the seal of “Operation Act Ordinary” appears with a large “Failed” sticker on top of it). Every single page is just teeming with the tiniest elements (love The Great Kablovsky Skiffle sheet music, by the way). Do you think Ms. Davis would get offended if I called her the Chris Ware of children’s literature? Like Ware, Davis has a fine appreciation for a neat cutaway. Her crisp clean lines are indicative of Ware too (though she is diametrically opposed to him in terms of cheeriness). To be fair, let’s just say that Eleanor Davis is the literary lovechild of Chris Ware and British artist Peter Cross (with maybe a touch of Jill Barklem for spice).
And can I tell you how much I love a book where a brilliant character does badly in school and it’s because he’s not good at tests? Davis takes her time thwacking preconceptions over the head when she has a notion to do so. Sure, Julian is pretty much your stereotypical nerd. But Ben is a jock who also happens to be brilliant, though his poor testing convinces him that he’s actually dumb. And Greta may appear to be a dangerous maniac at first (Julian’s words, not mine) but she’s also brilliant and willing to take risks (and not wear pink unless she’s in disguise).
Interestingly enough, the book this comic bears the closest resemblance too is a similarly strange concoction that has never been replicated. Got kids inspired to make their own inventions after reading The Secret Science Alliance? I think it’s time you handed them Howtoons, a book that uses comics to show kids how to create everything from marshmallow guns to tiny ecosystems. Pair the two books together and you’ve a miniature Edison in the making. Heck, throw in Sir John Hargrave’s Mischief Maker’s Manual while you’re at it, since Davis is particularly good at working in innovative pranks when she has half a mind to do so. But really, this book isn’t like anything else out there. I’ve had a hard time reviewing it because every time I pick it up I start poring over the pages, finding new things to see and additional things to read. I don’t know what else Ms. Davis has up her sleeve, but if she doesn’t kill herself with overwork, I hope we can look forward to more books in this series soon. This is the kind of title that rewards the reader over and over again. Kids’ll get their money’s worth.
Ages 9 and up.
When Julian Calendar starts school in a new town he is determined to fit in. No longer shall he be unceremoniously dumped into garbage cans for the crime of being a nerd. No! Julian is determined to hide his intelligence and smarts for as long as it takes to fit in. His plans, as it happens, are thwarted when two of his classmates (a girl and a jock) discover his secret and let him in on one of their own. Unbeknownst to the population at large, these kids are science geniuses. With Julian as their third they begin “The Secret Science Alliance”. But dark machinations are afoot. When their Invention Notebook is purloined and a local scientist of questionable morality takes credit for their inventions, they are determined to get their property back. In doing so, however, they find that the villain plans to rob the local museum for an item of inestimable cost. Will they be able to stop him in time? Stay tuned, faithful readers.
Since I grew up with comics I’ve always been a little baffled by adults who tell me that they never “learned to read” comics. There’s something about the sequential art that throws them for a loop. They have problems integrating the words and the images in their brains (thereby giving lie to the assumption that comics are less sophisticated than literature and art merely because they combine the two formats). Anyway, I always thought this was a pretty silly thing to say. Reading The Secret Science Alliance, however, suddenly I understand that perspective. It’s a logical series of sequences, but Davis is playing with some incredibly sophisticated paneling here. Open up to the first page and you’ll see what I mean. The book begins with a four part cause and effect sequence where the arrows containing the “before” sections lead you to see the “after” effects. The first three lead to the right and the last one leads downward. And amazingly enough, on this single page you learn everything you need to know about the character of Julian. Now kids with a love of comics will be able to figure all this out on their own, but it will take some effort on their part. Davis is making you work for her storyline and she’s basically warning you of the complexity right from the start.
And speaking of complex, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a graphic novel for kids this chock full of tiny details. Some of them I’m pretty sure are in-jokes (Julian reads a paper that declares an Ann, E, and Leta as being the number one family in town) but others are there for the noticing (as when Julian is discovered to be excessively intelligent and behind his head the seal of “Operation Act Ordinary” appears with a large “Failed” sticker on top of it). Every single page is just teeming with the tiniest elements (love The Great Kablovsky Skiffle sheet music, by the way). Do you think Ms. Davis would get offended if I called her the Chris Ware of children’s literature? Like Ware, Davis has a fine appreciation for a neat cutaway. Her crisp clean lines are indicative of Ware too (though she is diametrically opposed to him in terms of cheeriness). To be fair, let’s just say that Eleanor Davis is the literary lovechild of Chris Ware and British artist Peter Cross (with maybe a touch of Jill Barklem for spice).
And can I tell you how much I love a book where a brilliant character does badly in school and it’s because he’s not good at tests? Davis takes her time thwacking preconceptions over the head when she has a notion to do so. Sure, Julian is pretty much your stereotypical nerd. But Ben is a jock who also happens to be brilliant, though his poor testing convinces him that he’s actually dumb. And Greta may appear to be a dangerous maniac at first (Julian’s words, not mine) but she’s also brilliant and willing to take risks (and not wear pink unless she’s in disguise).
Interestingly enough, the book this comic bears the closest resemblance too is a similarly strange concoction that has never been replicated. Got kids inspired to make their own inventions after reading The Secret Science Alliance? I think it’s time you handed them Howtoons, a book that uses comics to show kids how to create everything from marshmallow guns to tiny ecosystems. Pair the two books together and you’ve a miniature Edison in the making. Heck, throw in Sir John Hargrave’s Mischief Maker’s Manual while you’re at it, since Davis is particularly good at working in innovative pranks when she has half a mind to do so. But really, this book isn’t like anything else out there. I’ve had a hard time reviewing it because every time I pick it up I start poring over the pages, finding new things to see and additional things to read. I don’t know what else Ms. Davis has up her sleeve, but if she doesn’t kill herself with overwork, I hope we can look forward to more books in this series soon. This is the kind of title that rewards the reader over and over again. Kids’ll get their money’s worth.
Ages 9 and up.
August 5, 2009
A humble suggestion:
If you see this book, open it up, flip through it. The sheer amount of creativity and inventiveness is stunning. Eleanor Davis (creator of last year’s Geisel Honor-winning easy reader graphic novel Stinky) takes ideas that have been done before, adds elements that are brand new, churns it all through her imagination, and creates an highly detailed graphic novel that makes most others look half-baked. In doing so Davis proves herself as a talent to watch. The result is a wildly entertaining book full of humor and action, sure to go down as one of the best graphic novels of ‘09.
The short, geeky Julian Calendar has trouble fitting in. When his family moves to a new town, Julian sees it as his opportunity to finally find friends. His intelligence gets in the way however, as Julian overthinks things and exposes his inner nerd. The situation looks bleak until our hero receives a coded message, leading him to tough-girl Greta Hughes and basketball star Ben Garza. The three become fast friends, practicing their scientific endeavors in a secret underground lab. When scientist Dr. Wilhelm Stringer steals the group’s invention notebook, with plans to pull a museum heist, The Secret Science Alliance use all their know-how (and gadgets) to stop the theft.
Every element of The Secret Science Alliance, down to the use of word bubbles and panels, has been carefully considered and fully realized. The amount of detail makes the mind reel. Cut-aways and diagrams are liberally used, encouraging readers to pore over pages at close range. Not a spread goes by without some sort of unique way of moving the story ahead. Panels that are the shape of arrows, pointing you in the right direction. Panels in the form of clouds when Julian is daydreaming. Panels waived altogether, allowing objects to lay on the page as if they were sitting on a table. It’s a joy to see what comes next.
Funny, yes. Entertaining, no doubt. Magnificently illustrated, to be sure. But it’s more than that. The Secret Science Alliance may be capable of a difficult feat – drawing in readers who have never been interested in graphic novels before. A must add.
If you see this book, open it up, flip through it. The sheer amount of creativity and inventiveness is stunning. Eleanor Davis (creator of last year’s Geisel Honor-winning easy reader graphic novel Stinky) takes ideas that have been done before, adds elements that are brand new, churns it all through her imagination, and creates an highly detailed graphic novel that makes most others look half-baked. In doing so Davis proves herself as a talent to watch. The result is a wildly entertaining book full of humor and action, sure to go down as one of the best graphic novels of ‘09.
The short, geeky Julian Calendar has trouble fitting in. When his family moves to a new town, Julian sees it as his opportunity to finally find friends. His intelligence gets in the way however, as Julian overthinks things and exposes his inner nerd. The situation looks bleak until our hero receives a coded message, leading him to tough-girl Greta Hughes and basketball star Ben Garza. The three become fast friends, practicing their scientific endeavors in a secret underground lab. When scientist Dr. Wilhelm Stringer steals the group’s invention notebook, with plans to pull a museum heist, The Secret Science Alliance use all their know-how (and gadgets) to stop the theft.
Every element of The Secret Science Alliance, down to the use of word bubbles and panels, has been carefully considered and fully realized. The amount of detail makes the mind reel. Cut-aways and diagrams are liberally used, encouraging readers to pore over pages at close range. Not a spread goes by without some sort of unique way of moving the story ahead. Panels that are the shape of arrows, pointing you in the right direction. Panels in the form of clouds when Julian is daydreaming. Panels waived altogether, allowing objects to lay on the page as if they were sitting on a table. It’s a joy to see what comes next.
Funny, yes. Entertaining, no doubt. Magnificently illustrated, to be sure. But it’s more than that. The Secret Science Alliance may be capable of a difficult feat – drawing in readers who have never been interested in graphic novels before. A must add.
August 3, 2014
This would probably be a big hit with science-minded middle grade readers. I liked it well enough, for the sheer energy and imagination that's in abundance on virtually every page. But for me, the story was a bit predictable, and the characters were a bit thin. Not even remotely a bad book, but not great, not for me.
February 21, 2017
Story: 4 stars
Art: 5 stars
Three science-loving kids form a secret club to design and create inventions. That concept, while not new, is really well-executed in this children's graphic novel. With prototypes of their inventions, the kids battle it out with an evil adult villain who has stolen their inventors' notebook. Plot is predictable, and moves somewhat slowly in the first half of the book. Detailed art takes up the slack where the story drags in places. While the characters are stereotypes on the surface (nerdy boy, male jock, female tomboy), a surprising amount of emotional depth is added along the way. Busy art style demands a slower, more intense read, but the reward of beautiful full-color art is well worth readers' time and attention. Kids are sure to appreciate all the wacky inventions. And don't you just love smart kids making friends and kicking ass?
Art: 5 stars
Three science-loving kids form a secret club to design and create inventions. That concept, while not new, is really well-executed in this children's graphic novel. With prototypes of their inventions, the kids battle it out with an evil adult villain who has stolen their inventors' notebook. Plot is predictable, and moves somewhat slowly in the first half of the book. Detailed art takes up the slack where the story drags in places. While the characters are stereotypes on the surface (nerdy boy, male jock, female tomboy), a surprising amount of emotional depth is added along the way. Busy art style demands a slower, more intense read, but the reward of beautiful full-color art is well worth readers' time and attention. Kids are sure to appreciate all the wacky inventions. And don't you just love smart kids making friends and kicking ass?
November 11, 2016
This is so wildly different from Davis's adult comics it's wonderful to see her breadth in terms of style and storytelling. And this is a fun little book. A bit predictable, as many gr reviewers have pointed out, and kind of Scooby Doo silly in moments, and yet, also wonderfully, er, inventive.
I tend to appreciate the message that being an outsider in a particular school or other specific context/temporary location, doesn't mean you'll be an outsider forever. And I also appreciate another message in here: that one is most fulfilled when one finds one's people. These are nice and hopeful messages for kids (that many kids need to hear over and over again).
Add to that the wacky inventions and fantastic adventures and some compelling windows into the emotional lives of the three protagonists, and you have a fun and sweet little book. Ben and Greta are certainly more complex than they seem when Julian first meets them. And, while the good guys are good guys and the bad guys are bad guys without any gray area, we do see our three protagonists struggling with self-esteem (complexity) and finding ways to form a kind of resistance against creepy adults (including school teachers.)
So, a lot happening in here. In some ways it is very layered and complicated and in some ways super simple and goes where one expects such a book to go. But the art is always intriguing and fantastically detailed even when the storyline feels a little meh.
Glad I found this one and look forward to more works by E.D.
I tend to appreciate the message that being an outsider in a particular school or other specific context/temporary location, doesn't mean you'll be an outsider forever. And I also appreciate another message in here: that one is most fulfilled when one finds one's people. These are nice and hopeful messages for kids (that many kids need to hear over and over again).
Add to that the wacky inventions and fantastic adventures and some compelling windows into the emotional lives of the three protagonists, and you have a fun and sweet little book. Ben and Greta are certainly more complex than they seem when Julian first meets them. And, while the good guys are good guys and the bad guys are bad guys without any gray area, we do see our three protagonists struggling with self-esteem (complexity) and finding ways to form a kind of resistance against creepy adults (including school teachers.)
So, a lot happening in here. In some ways it is very layered and complicated and in some ways super simple and goes where one expects such a book to go. But the art is always intriguing and fantastically detailed even when the storyline feels a little meh.
Glad I found this one and look forward to more works by E.D.
August 14, 2019
This comic is unquestionably amazing.
June 25, 2012
Age Range: from 7-? The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook has everything going for it: whiz-bang plot with intricate details, super-cool and super-nerdy characters, dozens of awesome kid-inventions, one of the best hideout laboratories ever and an insanely inventive and tireless illustrator whose graphic strengths and story-telling skills are boundless. Eleven year-old Julian Calendar’s move gives him a second chance at junior-high. Trying to avoid being pegged for a nerd, Julian struggles to appear dim. Happily he’s terrible at being brainless. Once he teams up with bad-girl Greta and super-jock Ben the Secret Science Alliance is born. The creativity, style, detail and elegant function of the illustrations have to be seen to be believed. This is a groundbreaking work, whose quality is staggering, and oh so fun.
March 27, 2013
I am curently reading The Secret Science Alliance. I am at the part where Stringer steals Juilan,Ben,and Greta's notebook filled with blueprints of
inventions that thay thought of. I think me and Ben have some in common like we both like basketball and like to build stuff.I think the theme of this book is to be who you are and eventuality someone will like you because Juilan was trying to be athletic to get friends but he did so he stuck to being himself and got 2 amazing friends. I think the author does a good job of describing Juilan's characters background like he makes Juilan get all his grades 100 or above and makes his room filled with science stuff.I think you should read this book you like action and adventure.
inventions that thay thought of. I think me and Ben have some in common like we both like basketball and like to build stuff.I think the theme of this book is to be who you are and eventuality someone will like you because Juilan was trying to be athletic to get friends but he did so he stuck to being himself and got 2 amazing friends. I think the author does a good job of describing Juilan's characters background like he makes Juilan get all his grades 100 or above and makes his room filled with science stuff.I think you should read this book you like action and adventure.
April 11, 2019
Loved the super scientific labeling and charting of the comics. The story was definitely exaggerated, but so entertaining.
April 4, 2016
Eleven-year-old Julian Calendar is tormented by his classmates because he wears giant glasses, is rotten at sports, and loves science and math. When his family moves to a new city, Julian sees it as a chance to hide his nerdiness and try to fit in with one of the popular cliques at his new school. His attempt to reinvent himself isn’t very successful, but his prospects start to improve when he receives a coded message inviting him to join a mysterious club. With his new friends in the Secret Science Alliance, Julian gets to let out his inner ultra-nerd and invent awesome gadgets and create wild pranks in their amazing hideout/workshop/laboratory. All is fine and dandy until the gang’s top secret invention notebook is stolen by an unlikely thief, and the Secret Science Alliance has to use all of their cleverness to get it back.
The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook is the kind of graphic novel that sucks you into its world and makes you want to join in on the action. Eleanor Davis brings you inside the hyperactive imagination of an eleven-year-old, stuffing each panel with the kind of detail that rewards multiple readings. The story is a lot of fun, and behind all the action there’s a nice message about friendship, diversity, and how we shouldn’t always judge a person by their appearances. This is a great pick for kids in the 8 to 12 year-old range, especially those who love comics, science, math, puzzles, espionage, and gadgets galore.
- John D.
Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.
The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook is the kind of graphic novel that sucks you into its world and makes you want to join in on the action. Eleanor Davis brings you inside the hyperactive imagination of an eleven-year-old, stuffing each panel with the kind of detail that rewards multiple readings. The story is a lot of fun, and behind all the action there’s a nice message about friendship, diversity, and how we shouldn’t always judge a person by their appearances. This is a great pick for kids in the 8 to 12 year-old range, especially those who love comics, science, math, puzzles, espionage, and gadgets galore.
- John D.
Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.
February 22, 2011
I love Eleanor Davis's comics & artwork. She knows how to tell a story. As someone who knows her through her more "adult" work, I was curious how she would tackle a children's story and was excited to see this book at my local library.
Overall, I thought the story was good, albeit simple and a bit predictable. I liked the characters and can definitely see this being the beginning of a series in which the three main characters and their families become more fully developed. I was hoping for something a little more innovative than your standard museum-heist action/mystery. Too simplistic for me but I'm not really the intended audience. Kinda left me feeling like the villain should have mumbled something about meddling kids, ya know?
The characters are the strong point of this book, but I also really enjoyed the layout, which is full of fun details. Davis takes full advantage of the graphic novel format and uses some interesting visual motifs that carry throughout the story and reinforce the science-y theme.
Overall, a fun read that is supported by nice illustrations. Definitely something I would give to my kids to read, if I had any (ha).
Overall, I thought the story was good, albeit simple and a bit predictable. I liked the characters and can definitely see this being the beginning of a series in which the three main characters and their families become more fully developed. I was hoping for something a little more innovative than your standard museum-heist action/mystery. Too simplistic for me but I'm not really the intended audience. Kinda left me feeling like the villain should have mumbled something about meddling kids, ya know?
The characters are the strong point of this book, but I also really enjoyed the layout, which is full of fun details. Davis takes full advantage of the graphic novel format and uses some interesting visual motifs that carry throughout the story and reinforce the science-y theme.
Overall, a fun read that is supported by nice illustrations. Definitely something I would give to my kids to read, if I had any (ha).
October 19, 2010
I love a museum caper and I enjoyed this vividly illustrated graphic novel. The characters are smart and have more depth than I would have expected. It was really a fun read. However, I did not like that some of the speech bubbles were obscured by other graphics. I could read enough to know what the obscured bubble was all about but it was nevertheless annoying. Readers of graphic novels such as Bone, Bionicle, Hardy Boys, etc., should enjoy this one.
March 17, 2013
i love this story. i love the adventure and the suspense. the way julian is afraid of showing his dorkiness at first, then learns to show people who you really are. his two friends who at first he thought were nothings turned out to be his best friends. i just LOVE this book.
October 5, 2012
Fun - with lots of science/ inventor tie ins. My ultra sciencey sons both inhaled it and insisted I read.
abandoned
January 20, 2017I don't do microscopic print
March 9, 2011
A fantastic graphic novel for science-minded readers. Reminds me of Disney's Kim Possible show.
August 7, 2018
I really like this graphic novel, the author use funny word of adventure, of science, also I learn a lot of science that I should learn in high school. This book tells that three little classmate all know that they love science, and two of them decide to build a science lab and entitle the main character to join, from some news paper they knew a famous scientist is trying make the world modern and when they try to visit the factor of the famous science were, they found a very secret information in the lab, they feel, annoyed. So they start to an adventure of what the famous scientist would do.
March 1, 2019
The author of the book is Eleanor Davis and the genre of the book is realistic fiction. This book is about a journey of a geeky kid named Julian. He starts going to this new school and tries to fit in. When doing so, he is not himself and starts acting all awkward. He then finds a group of kids who have the same interest in science as him and they kick it off. Then suddenly their notebook, with a bunch of their great work got stolen by a famous scientist who is trying to steal their ideas. Then they begin to plan an elaborate break-in and escape to get their notebook back. They succeed in the journey and start making new and fun inventions again.
May 31, 2018
This book is by Eleanor Davis. It is a book about a boy, a girl and a high school student. The boy come to the school, but many people bit him, then the girl protect him, the high school student is the girl’s brother, the boy know many thing about the science, they they make the plane together, they learn by go to the museum, read the books, and make the juice gun, glue bomb. Untill they know an old scientist want to steal some thing in the museum, they take everything can stop him and they even use plane and fly to the museum. They finally stop it.
January 3, 2018
Is this mind-blowingly original? No, probably not. Is it earnest and funny? Yes and yes.
I found a couple of scenes particularly heart-wrenching: one when Julian is rejected an older scientist and he wonders what he did wrong to warrant such treatment (the comic panel behind him literally shatters), and the many moments when Ben doubts himself (a brilliant kid who tests poorly and suffers intense self-doubt).
I hope this is a series!
I found a couple of scenes particularly heart-wrenching: one when Julian is rejected an older scientist and he wonders what he did wrong to warrant such treatment (the comic panel behind him literally shatters), and the many moments when Ben doubts himself (a brilliant kid who tests poorly and suffers intense self-doubt).
I hope this is a series!
January 14, 2018
Synopsis: awkward young nerd finally finds his people, and together they unlock a superpower (the self-assurance of being accepted by your peers). They also foil a dastardly plot by the villain of the piece using SCIENCE. Rating for any 8-12 year-old who is interested in STEM subjects: 5 out of 5. Rating for adults interested in same: 5 out of 5. This book is absolutely stuffed full of detail on every page, and definitely benefits from more than one read through. Highly recommended!
December 27, 2016
Sometimes it's hard to find books that have a great message but don't hit you over the head with it.
And I think this book has a great take on, be yourself, it's okay to be smart in a fun middle grade graphic novel.
Recommended for your 7-12 year old.
Of course, I enjoyed it, and I'm 45.
And I think this book has a great take on, be yourself, it's okay to be smart in a fun middle grade graphic novel.
Recommended for your 7-12 year old.
Of course, I enjoyed it, and I'm 45.
November 19, 2018
Good book.It talks about those three kids they are really naughty like to make troubles.also really smart.They have there own room like a science lab, pretty cool.I love those kids because they’re having a lot of fun everyday.They are free, after school they stay together at there science lab and do the work.
December 10, 2020
Way too busy and chock-full of details. I had to stop reading all the little background labels and just focus on the dialogue bubbles. I did not find the main boy Julian likable, and I wish we had been given some backstory of the villain. For all the tiny details, not much happened. Overall, the plot was far too simple and the characters were not flushed out enough for me.
March 28, 2021
Cool inventions from three kids, who also have very different families, from the clueless to the angry to supportive. They all have different strengths, but enjoy working together. The introduction was a bit long, setting up Julian, the prankster and newest member, but once the teamwork started it was a lot of fun.
January 12, 2018
the book need to be a little more realistic and the kids are bland. and the logic is just bad like why hide a book in a safe take it home and how did they not see that ben as the birdwatcher i mean the gruad saw him like how are you so dumb. when they first met
July 6, 2017
This graphic novel is a great story about science and friendship. This will appeal to young readers with its bright, dynamic pictures and fun cast of characters.
September 5, 2017
Great book to teach various reading skills through.
February 6, 2018
This book is amazing.
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