The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis

Release Date: Available Now from Bloomsbury USA

Source: School Library

Synopsis:

Super-smart Julian Calendar thinks starting junior high at a new school will mean he can shed his nerdy image–but then he meets Ben and Greta, two secret scientists like himself! The three form a secret club, complete with a high-tech lair. There, they can work to their hearts content on projects like the Stink-O-Meter, the Kablovsky Copter, and the Nightsneak Goggles.

All that tinkering comes in handy when the trio discovers an evil scientist's dastardly plan to rob a museum. Can three inventors, armed with their wacky creations, hope to defeat this criminal mastermind?

This has basically become and unofficial Graphic Novel Week here on Carrie's YA Bookshelf. Since I enjoyed Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack so much, I'm on the lookout for other awesome graphic novels to read. When one of my Junior Library Guild orders came in, I saw this book which was the graphic novel choice of the month. It immediately caught my eye, because the cover illustration is completely badass and the name is beyond awesome.

Needless to say, I took it home before it even hit the shelves to give it a read. Let me just say, my students are going to love this one. It is fantastic!! It's definitely one of the best children's graphic novels I've read in a long time. Eleanor Davis is a genius. And if you want to know why I am so fangirl gushy over this book, just take a look at the pages from the book shown below.

Davis' illustrations are all this detailed. It's like part graphic novel, part Where's Waldo. She has created a fully-realized world populated by these kids who secretly love science. They make all of these wonderful inventions and then must use them to defeat a dastardly evil scientist. I know, right? Awesome!!

She perfectly captures the feelings not only of being the "smart kid" at school, but also those painful feelings of trying to fit in. You know, those moments that are so embarrassing you have to look away. I love that this group of kids becomes their own clique and that they have a secret world away from all that schoolhouse pressure.

I'm hoping that there are sequel plans for The Secret Science Alliance. I want to get back into their hideout soon and see what they'll come up with next. To learn more about Eleanor and the Alliance visit the website here.