Benjamin Franklinstein Meets the Fright Brothers

by Matthew McElligott, Larry David Tuxbury

Overview

The next book in the hilarious series about history's greatest undead inventors!

Before Victor can figure out why Benjamin Franklin awoke from his two-hundred-plus years of sleep, giant bat planes and mysterious attacks bring mayhem to Philadelphia. Only two of history's inventors could pilot such high-flying creations--the famous Wright brothers! But the red-eyed brothers don't seem quite like themselves . . . could the brothers really want to take over Philadelphia--and can Victor and his friends crash their plans in time?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101535561
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	09/01/2011
Series:	Benjamin Franklinstein Series , #2
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
Lexile:	590L (what's this?)
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Matthew McElligott lives in Selkirk, New York.

Larry Tuxbury lives in Green Island, New York.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 4–6— This sequel picks up right where Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! (Putnam, 2010) ends. Can there really be vampires prowling the skies and streets of Philadelphia? That's what the newly reawakened Benjamin Franklin and his friends Victor and Scott must find out, and quickly, if they have any chance of thwarting the evil plans of the mysterious Emperor. This book includes several new characters and gives more depth to established ones. Readers also discover the current fate of the Modern Order of Prometheus, the organization Franklin founded to suspend, then reawaken, gifted scientists and inventors in the future, when their talents will be needed once again. The characters are interesting and believable, and the plot has just the right mixture of fun, adventure, suspense, and mystery. The short chapters are peppered with delightful black-and-white illustrations and diagrams ranging from a Tesla Coil to Other Uses for a Bathtub Besides Throwing It. This entertaining book should have readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.—Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX

School Library Journal

Renowned inventors square off in a battle for modern Philadelphia in this daffy sequel to Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! (2010).

Reanimated in the previous episode after centuries of suspended animation, genial Ben and his two young Karloff Street cohorts—serious minded Victor Godwin (son of Mary) and his deceptively idiotic buddy Scott—must swing back into action. They find themselves johnnies on the spot when a wave of giant-bat sightings is followed by one city official after another suddenly acquiring spots on their necks, glowing eyes and robotlike behavior. Checking out strange doings at the just-opened "Right Cycle Company," the investigators find two likewise reanimated gents in antique clothing engaged in turning bicycle parts into a huge flying machine designed to finish the job and take over the city at the behest of a shadowy "Emperor." Enhanced by frequent charts, diagrams, lists and other visual aids, a spirit of rational (if often reckless) scientific inquiry pervades the tale, as Ben and his allies translate coded messages, analyze evidence, get a lesson in meteorology and conduct experiments using both real and science-fictional gear on the way to a literally electrifying climax. The Emperor's identity is revealed at the end but as he remains at large, expect further sequels.

The authors have way too much fun taking the opener's premise and evil conspiracy to the next level. Readers will too. (Sci-fantasy. 10-12)

Kirkus Reviews