Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad

June 1, 2020
Izzy Newton is anxious about starting middle school, but with a little help from her good friends, she conquers her fears. Izzy's best friends, pretty Charlie Darwin and adventurous Allie Einstein, are loyal and supportive, but Izzy doesn't know what to think when she learns that Marie Curie, a former member of the trio's circle of friends, is back from a year in Paris during which they fell out of touch. Izzy hopes to win Marie's friendship back, but Marie is cold to them on the first day of school. The school building is cold too--the air-conditioning system is malfunctioning, making the school like a refrigerator inside. Izzy convinces her friends to help solve the mystery behind this, partly hoping that if the STEM club she's proposed doesn't draw Marie to them, this will. They are all passionate about science, and they form several hypotheses and do observations, but it isn't until they resolve things with Marie that their efforts are successful. This series opener highlights diverse, sympathetic characters using their smarts and their emotional intelligence to solve scientific and social challenges. Charlie has light-brown skin and speaks Spanish with her two moms, Allie presents white, Marie presents Asian, and new girl Gina Carver is black; Izzy is a winning black protagonist who steadily challenges herself and nurtures her friendships. Bowers' half- and full-page grayscale illustrations add personality to the characters. Backmatter offers further information on the characters' real-life inspirations and women scientists. Wholesome entertainment for preteens, offering positivity without didacticism. (glossary) (Fiction. 9-12)

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September 25, 2020

Gr 2-6-Izzy Newton started middle school with two big problems; the fourth member of her friend group, Marie Curie, isn't talking to Izzy, Charlie Darwin, or Allie Einstein anymore; and the school's air conditioning is broken, leaving everyone freezing. Luckily, she has the scientific method for solving the air conditioning problem and determination for her friend issue. This book tackles both problems simultaneously and introduces readers to basic scientific concepts along the way. Each girl's scientific interests mirror those of their namesakes, and short introductions of the real-life scientists are featured in the back matter. By the end, the friendship issue has been resolved as a misunderstanding, and the girls, along with a new friend, Gale Carver, have formed the S.M.A.R.T. (Solving Mysteries And Revealing Truths) Squad. United as the S.M.A.R.T. Squad, the girls put their science minds together to solve the air conditioning problem. While this book is longer and meant for an older audience, the writing style has a sentence structure and vocabulary level similar to the "American Girl" series. The result is a story that is simple and a bit clich�d for older readers, but a good read for younger readers who can handle a longer book. The first chapter is a bit disjointed, but once the story gets started, it is a truly fun read that many kids will not want to put down. The characters are racially diverse, with traditional and nontraditional family units. Fabulous black-and-white illustrations bring the characters to life and further align the book with a younger audience. Despite its minor issues, this series debut is sure to be popular. VERDICT This first book in the upcoming series will be a hit, especially with younger proficient readers and hi-lo readers.-Katherine Rao, Palos Verdes Lib. Dist., CA

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