The Secret Notebook

by D.A. D'Aurelio

Overview

Riley Green is certain her lie detector pen will improve her status in a school full of kids from the most powerful families of Washington, D.C. But her plan collapses when her invention idea is stolen, her favorite teacher goes missing, and mysterious threats begin to appear around capital. Before vanishing, Riley's teacher entrusts her with her most prized possession, the lost notebook of Nikola Tesla, legendary inventor and scientist. Now Riley and her friends must protect the notebook from thieves who want to steal the details it holds about a dangerous invention. When Riley discovers another secret, she must decode a mysterious message before it's too late. Her teacher's life depends on it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684461929
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	08/01/2020
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,154,901
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	HL590L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

Interviews

At the heart of the story is Riley Green, a six-grader who struggles with a sense of belonging in her exclusive private school, but learns that believing in herself means she can belong anywhere;  The middle-grade mystery involves a likable female protagonist and the famous scientist Nikola Tesla, and it includes a strong STEM tie in its compelling plot;  There has been a resurgence of interest in Tesla, who was a fascinating figure and trailblazing scientist. (Some might say he was a mad scientist.);  The novel meets curriculum needs for the study of inventions and inventors, and the study of physics and electricity;

Editorial Reviews

Riley is a STEM loving, spy-in-training inventor that kids will love. An "electric" debut!

award-winning author of Hope in the Holler Lisa Lewis Tyre

Middle Grade Mojo is proud to announce the release of the debut novel of Mojo member, Debbie D’Aurelio! We’re super proud of her and we love this book! The first place 12-year-old Riley Green goes when she arrives at her school is to the STEM lab to show her favorite teacher her invention for the Invention Convention. But when her teacher opens the door to the classroom, Riley forgets all about her invention. The classroom has been ransacked! A disturbing message is scrawled on the white board— “CEASE AND DESIST OR DIE”. Apparently, someone wanted something important and thought Riley’s teacher had it. Later that night, Riley finds out what. Her teacher had slipped a notebook into Riley’s backpack with a note that reads “Give this book to the Professor.” This isn’t just any notebook, but the personal notes of Nikola Tesla! Riley is going to need the help of her friends Henry and Charlotte to find her now-missing teacher and figure out who the professor is and keep a priceless artifact safe from whoever has threatened to kill for it. Set in Washington D. C. and New York, the young sleuths visit museums and libraries and even Wardenclyffe (Tesla’s workshop) while they try to find their teacher and save the notebook. Besides the mystery, readers will enjoy the fascinating information about Nikola Tesla. Readers will also enjoy getting to know Riley Green, a precocious, but insecure girl, who like a lot of middle school kids, feels like she doesn’t truly belong. Even with a few tense situations, the humorous tone keeps it from being too frightening so it’s great for readers ages eight and up. And the fast-paced action and fun historical and science facts makes this a perfect book for reluctant readers.

Middle-Grade Mojo - Kim Zachman