Hilarious, mysterious read for middle grade boys and girls, complete with step-by-step instructions on creating home-made spy gear.

Tesla and Nick are strong, determined and admirable. Uncle Newt is the storybook definition of mad scientist.

Perfect for reading clubs, because of the built in activities and the broad appeal of the characters and story.

**eARC netgalley** ( )

This book was really intresting. I enjoyed the creativeness of the twins and the gadgets they made. This book would be great for those who want a easy, fun, quick, read. ( )

This brother and sister duo along with their eccentric, mad scientist uncle have proven once again that it pays to be smart. With even more fun and adventure, I enjoyed this book even more than the last. Sharp and witty with a few characters that were hilarious. A Russian accented Australian? and two cleaning lady ninjas, honestly the fun never stops. I received this copy in exchange for an honest review. ( )

My thoughts on the series:
This is a lot of fun. I am way out of the target age range, but I enjoyed the stories. Middle-grade detectives, crazy scientist uncle, and international intrigue all converge. The projects are the type that kids in the target group will enjoy—my (bright) third-grader can’t wait to try some out. The illustrations could be clearer for the technically inept such as myself. However, there are videos available, as well as other cool information, at http://www.nickandtesla.com . It’s an entertaining website—fun even if you don’t have the books. Overall, though, the instructions are fairly clear and the parts needed are not too exotic. The earlier books give Radio Shack part numbers—alas, Radio Shack is no more.

The characters themselves range in believability. Nick and Tesla interact like real children. Other characters are more stereotypical, stock characters. However, the intended audience is not generally looking for sophisticated literary material. The characters, overall, are entertaining. There could be more female characters—beyond Tesla, the female characters tended to be minor. There are characters of color.

Possible objectionable material:
Squeaky clean, no cursing. Some perilous situations, kids sneaking out at night, and somewhat oblivious adults.

Who would like these books:
Kids with an interest in science and inventing, and their adult helpers. Fans of mysteries, adventure, and spy stories.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance reader e-books.

Details on the series at my blog: www.bibliouquacious.com ( )

As with the other two books in this series, this book was quite enjoyable for my 12 year old. The interaction between the characters is cute! Keep them coming. ( )