Frank Einstein and the Electro-Finger (Frank Einstein series #2): Book Two - Hardcover

Scieszka, Jon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 141971483X ISBN 13: 9781419714832

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, 2015

Synopsis

New York Times Bestseller

"Huge laughs and great science—the kind of smart, funny stuff that makes Jon Scieszka a legend."
—Mac Barnett, author of Battle Bunny and The Terrible Two
 

More clever science experiments, funny jokes, and robot hijinks await readers in book two of the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein chapter book series from the mad scientist team of Jon Scieszka and Brian Biggs. The perfect combination to engage and entertain readers, the series features real science facts with adventure and humor, making these books ideal for STEM education. This second installment examines the quest to unlock the power behind the science of "energy."

Kid-genius and inventor Frank Einstein loves figuring out how the world works by creating household contraptions that are part science, part imagination, and definitely unusual. In the series opener, an uneventful experiment in his garage-lab, a lightning storm, and a flash of electricity bring Frank’s inventions—the robots Klink and Klank—to life! Not exactly the ideal lab partners, the wisecracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank nonetheless help Frank attempt to perfect his inventions. In the second book in the series, Frank is working on a revamped version of one of Nikola Tesla’s inventions, the “Electro-Finger,” a device that can tap into energy anywhere and allow all of Midville to live off the grid, with free wireless and solar energy. But this puts Frank in direct conflict with Edison’s quest to control all the power and light in Midville, monopolize its energy resources, and get “rich rich rich.” Time is running out, and only Frank, Watson, Klink, and Klank can stop Edison and his sentient ape, Mr. Chimp!

Integrating real science facts with wacky humor, a silly cast of characters, and science fiction, this uniquely engaging series is an irresistible chemical reaction for middle-grade readers. With easy-to-read language and graphic illustrations on almost every page, this chapter book series is a must for reluctant readers. The Frank Einstein series encourages middle-grade readers to question the way things work and to discover how they, too, can experiment with science. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews raves, “This buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to ‘keep asking questions and finding your own answers’ fires on all cylinders,” while Publishers Weekly says that the series “proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful.”

Read all the books in the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein series: Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor (Book 1), Frank Einstein and the Electro-Finger (Book 2), Frank Einstein and the BrainTurbo (Book 3), and Frank Einstein and the EvoBlaster Belt (Book 4). Visit frankeinsteinbooks.com for more information.

 

About this title

About the Author

Jon Scieszka has sold more than 11 million books, including The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, the Time Warp Trio series, Guys Read, Spaceheadz, and most recently, Battle Bunny with Mac Barnett. Scieszka lives in Brooklyn, New York. Brian Biggs has collaborated with Garth Nix, Cynthia Rylant, and Katherine Applegate, in addition to working on his own picture books in his Everything Goes series. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Reviews

Gr 2–4—Boy genius Frank Einstein is back and is studying different types of energy. With Grandpa Al's electricity bill skyrocketing, Frank wants to find an alternate way to run all his gadgets. Meanwhile, Frank's archenemy, T. Edison, has purchased the local town power plant and is destroying all his competition. With no alternate source of energy, everyone will have to pay his ridiculous prices. Can Frank stop his nemesis from destroying the town's energy sources? The two-color cartoon illustrations are detailed and engaging. Although a little one-dimensional, the characters are fairly likable and it is easy to root for them. Although the facts are educational and presented in an interesting way, they tend to sideline the story. The plot is straightforward and draws readers into the book with its boy-friendly hijinks, but tends to feel a little forced. VERDICT This book teaches kids a lot in an accessible, easy-to-read format, but may disappoint some of Scieszka's longtime fans.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT

Edition details

• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 141971483X
• ISBN 13: 9781419714832
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 176
• Illustrator: Biggs Brian