Nick and Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular

felicisowl - MEGA SPOILER ALERTS! (Warned you..) The thing is, I'm not big on science. Or movies. *collective gasp* I'm more interested in other things, and reading is one of them. When I first picked up this book, I had a lot of uncertainty and prejudice because well, I just didn't like any of the things the front and back cover talked about.. Consider my opinion absolutely flipped. I love this book - it's not just the same plot used over and over again in books, it's actually something fresh and new, with mystery wrapped into one big huge package. As the story unfolds, it keeps on getting better and my curiosity kept on building and building until - boom - the climax! (You should prepare to drop your jaw, it's that surprising). Anyway, on with the summary (which is the spoiler part.) Apparently this book is the latest in a series (got to remember to borrow one of the other books in the series, because I haven't read any of them..) Nick and Tesla are kid detectives. Their parents went missing while on a mission. Nick's mind is fully occupied on the problem and he is trying to find information or evidence about their parents by searching on the computer 24/7. Tesla wants to take her mind off of the looming problem by doing experiments and things like that - because she's afraid of what will happen if Tesla and Nick interfere. Anyway, Nick reluctantly helps Tesla build a camera for their friend (and action-flick maniac) Silas, who is directing-producing-writing-and-acting his own small film, Bald Eagle. Their other best friend, DeMarco, promises to take everyone onto the set of "Metalman," (rip-off of Iron Man.) How, you ask? Why, his aunt is the line producer of Metalman, which is directed by Cash Ashkinos, Silas' favorite director! While at the set, Nick and Tesla notice protesters making up horrible chants about the star of Metalman, Damon Wilder. Shortly after, the foursome oversee one of Damon Wilder's scenes.. and he goes wild? Damon Wilder goes absolutely bonkers during the scene, but when they investigate the armor, they find orange stuff all over it! They think it's definitely itching powder, which is really serious and causes your body to itch like crazy? Who could have done such a thing - and it's narrowed down to three suspects. Throughout the book, Nick and Tesla investigates the trailers and rooms of the three suspects, and even Damon Wilder's trailer.. but is able to find nothing but a draft of the script Damon Wilder and Jack Wiltrout (the writer of the movie) is working on. They also find out that the protesters were yelling about Damon Wilder because of a viral video online. The viral video online showed Damon Wilder hurting people, screaming, and "acting" (pun intended) even worse than the itching powder incident. Don't you think they have full right to think that he's kind of crazy + really hurtful and shouldn't deserve to be the star? Meanwhile, someone inside the set wants to sabotage DeMarco's Aunt Zoe's movie and fire Aunt Zoe and Cash Ashkinos? What do they do to solve the mystery now? They do just what Nick and Tesla, the genius detectives would do. They play Sudoku against a security guard, go dumpster diving, use a grappling hook to retrieve all kinds of stuff, fly a stunt dummy named Michael, wear zombie makeup and pretend to be an extra, sneak inside trailers, watch viral videos of crazy actors, and just about everything you can think of.. but will they make it? Will they save Aunt Zoe and Cash Ashkinos' movie and propel them toward the Hollywood path.. or will they push them backward into a pit of car-washing commercials? But...

April 1, 2015

Gr 4-6-Twin brother and sister Nick and Tesla Holt find themselves involved in a dual mystery: the disappearance of their parents who are abroad (supposedly) and the sabotage of their favorite comic book hero. To distract themselves from solving the first "grown-up mystery," the twins and their friends dive into action to save the job of a line producer who happens to be Demarco's aunt. With the help of movie aficionado Silas, and aspiring stuntman Demarco, the friends help to solve the mystery and weirdness on the set of The Stupefying Metalman. There's a smorgasbord of characters: Uncle Newt, Elisha and Monique (Demarco's sisters), Aunt Zoe, Mr and Mrs. Holt, all of the characters on the set of the movie, among others. All of these figures, many with shallow development, provide for a slow and confusing read. Thankfully, the main characters provide some balance and, refreshingly, all of the female protagonists, including Aunt Zoe, avoid negative gender stereotypes, proving themselves to be critical thinkers and leaders. Fans of cinematography and action movies will enjoy this series installment, which includes step-by-step instructions for creating movie props. VERDICT Readers who like the "Nick and Tesla" series, detailed mysteries, and learning how to make movie paraphernalia will enjoy this offering.-Gwen Collier, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, NY

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