Nick and Tesla and the Secret Agent Gadget Battle
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About the Book
Uncover a secret agent and build spy gadgets with twin sleuths Nick and Tesla in this zany, action-packed middle grade adventure by “Science Bob” Pflugfelder!
After rescuing a kidnapped heiress and taking down a robot army, 11-year-old twins Nick and Tesla could really use a break. But before they can kick back and relax, the young sleuths discover there’s a spy in their midst! Someone in the town of Half Moon Bay is spying on their Uncle Newt, an eccentric inventor. To uncover the true identity of this secret agent, Nick and Tesla must build their own spy gadgets, from burglar alarms and code wheels to a water balloon trap and more.
Now in paperback, this third book in the popular Nick and Tesla series features laugh-out-loud jokes, fun illustrations, and five DIY science projects with step-by-step instructions for readers to try at home.
Praise
“This high-speed caper with comical characters, clever kid detectives, and an ever-deepening mystery (with a cliff-hanger, of course) will keep the pages turning.”—Booklist
“With the promise of more mystery, science, and humor to come, children will be anxiously waiting for more adventures—and more inventions—from Nick and Tesla.”—School Library Journal
“Fast-paced, suspenseful and enlivened with grayscale illustrations, this is appealing middle-grade reading . . . [and] the continuing mystery will keep readers wanting more.”—Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab
“Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab has the perfect formula: Mega-watts of funny writing plus giga-hertz of hands-on science equals fun to the billionth power!”—Chris Grabenstein, New York Times best selling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
“Real project blueprints are included along with this tale of 11-year-old siblings who create outrageous contraptions and top-secret gadgets.”—Los Angeles Times
“…the combination of exciting elements and innovative DIY projects in action yields a guaranteed pager turner.”—ScienceBuddies.org
“[Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab is] a great way to show kids that problems can often be solved by applying a bit of creative energy with some tech know-how. And Nick and Tesla (and Uncle Newt) are the perfect companions for your young reader looking for some (safe) adventures.”—Geek Dad
“A mystery, adventure, and activity book all rolled into one entertaining story….Plenty of excitement, with science.”—Common Sense Media
“Part mystery, part mad science…the story will leave readers wondering what mayhem will be forthcoming.”—School Library Journal
“…a strong start…”—Publishers Weekly
“How do you connect students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) with fiction reading? Look for science adventures. Get started with the NICK AND TESLA series. Each book contains an engaging adventure revolving around a “build-it-yourself” science project.”—Teacher Librarian
“Engaging characters and brisk plotting make this a fun and educational read.”—Jennifer Ouellette, author of The Calculus Diaries and The Physics of the Buffyverse
“A promising first offer in a series that offers plenty of appeal for middle-grade and middle school readers.”—Kirkus
“Suspenseful, funny, and loaded with do-it-yourself robots, rockets, and burglar alarms. Nick and Tesla are an unforgettable new detective team, sure to inspire an entirely new generation of scientists and readers. Can’t wait for the next book!”—Amy Herrick, author of The Time Fetch
“A book with action, adventure, mystery, humor — and instructions on how to build rockets and robots. What more could young readers possibly want? ‘Nick & Tesla’ is a great book that will keep your kids enthralled with its intriguing story — and inspire them with its clever science experiments. I can’t wait for the further adventures of these fascinating characters.”—Stuart Gibbs, Edgar-nominated author of Spy School and Belly Up
“I love the book! It combines science, intrigue and great fiction together in a wild ride for the reader. Nothing tickles me more than seeing a story really charged up with science. And the projects are so much fun! More please!”—Lynn Brunelle, four-time Emmy Award–winning writer for “Bill Nye the Science Guy” and the author of Pop Bottle Science
“What kid wouldn’t want to join Nick and Tesla and their wacky family? This is a great way for budding scientists to have fun while exploring the intricacies of physics, chemistry, and more–up close, personal, and hands-on!”—Jane Hammerslough, author of Owl Puke: The Book and Dino Poop: And Other Remarkable Remains of the Past
“Pflugfelder and Hockensmith debut a captivating series about crime-solving kid inventors in the spirit of Tom Swift and Alvin Fernald. But Nick and Tesla give us what their literary predecessors always omitted: blueprints for whiz-bang inventions that kids can actually build themselves (with some adult assistance). Electromagnets, tracking devices, rockets and the like. Hands-on science has never been so cool.”—Joseph D’Agnese, author of Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci
About the Author
“Science Bob”Pflugfelder
“Science Bob” Pflugfelder is an educator, maker, and speaker who loves to experiment and build. He has appeared on many TV shows in the US including several morning and evening talk shows, and as a guest star on the Nickelodeon network. Bob is also a beekeeper and a collector of movie props. When not experimenting, he shares his home experiments with the world at www.sciencebob.com. He currently lives in Massachusetts.
Steve Hockensmith
Steve Hockensmith is the author of the Edgar Award–nominated Holmes on the Range mystery series. His other books include the New York Times best seller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls and, with Lisa Falco, a tarot-themed mystery, The White Magic Five and Dime. He lives with his wife and two children about forty minutes from Half Moon Bay, California.
