BOOK REVIEW: TESLA'S ATTIC

TESLA'S ATTIC
Neal Shusterman &
Eric Elfman
Hyperion
2014

Available: hard copy, Kindle, audible

   Fourteen-year-old Nick, his younger brother and father move in to an old Victorian house once owned by some great aunt. The house has been neglected since her death years ago. But they have no choice. Their home was destroyed in a fire, along with many memories of Nick's mother. Forced to move to a new state, a new town, and a new school are the least of Nick's problems. His new room, the attic, is filled with with an unbelievable pile of junk. He decides to make a little cash and sells most of it in the weirdest yard sale ever. People can't seem to pay him enough and although he's suddenly rich, strange things begin
to happen. When he discovers all of the junk he's sold has extraordinary properties, he realizes has to get it all back, one piece at a time. Plus, he's not the only one hunting down the mysterious objects. It seems the objects are Tesla's lost inventions. Nick enlists the help of three unlikely new friends from school. All they have to do is find the objects and get them back before disaster strikes.
     This was a great read; fast paced, a little crazy, and exciting. The inventions are marvelous and create their own set of complications for Nick and his friends. The characters are strong, unique and likable in their own quirky ways. Both boys and girls will enjoy this.

Target audience: Grades 7-9

Mystery / suspense: excellent

Kid appeal: Great!