At the Bottom of the World (Jack and the Geniuses #1)

by Bill Nye (Author) Nicholas Iluzada (Illustrator)

At the Bottom of the World (Jack and the Geniuses #1)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
New York Times bestselling authors Bill Nye the Science Guy and Gregory Mone take middle-grade readers on a scientific adventure in the launch of an exciting new chapter book series, Jack and the Geniuses. The perfect combination to engage and entertain readers, the series features real-world science along with action and a mystery that will leave kids guessing until the end, making these books ideal for STEM education.

In the series opener, Jack and the Geniuses: At The Bottom of The World, readers meet Jack and his foster siblings, Ava and Matt, who are orphans. But they're not your typical kind of orphans--they're geniuses. Well, Ava and Matt are, which sometimes makes life difficult for twelve-year-old Jack. Ava speaks multiple languages and builds robots for fun, and Matt is into astronomy and a whiz at math. As for Jack, it's hard to stand out when he's surrounded by geniuses all the time.

When the kids try to spy on Dr. Hank Witherspoon, one of the world's leading scientists, they end up working for him in his incredible laboratory. Soon, Hank and the kids travel to Antarctica for a prestigious science competition, but they find that all is not as it seems: A fellow scientist has gone missing, and so has any trace of her research. Could someone be trying to use her findings to win the contest? It's up to Jack, Ava, and Matt to find the missing scientist and discover who's behind it all--before it's too late.

Integrating real science facts with humor and suspense, and featuring an ensemble cast of loveable boy and girl characters, this uniquely engaging series is an irresistible chemical reaction for middle-grade readers. With easy-to-read language presented in a fun, motivating, and accessible way, this series opener is a great book for both inquisitive kids and reluctant readers. The book also includes information about the science discussed and used to solve the mystery, as well as a cool science project about density that kids can do at home or in the classroom.

Bill Nye's brand new talk show series for Netflix, "Bill Nye Saves the World" is set to launch in Spring 2017.
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An adventure replete with both cool gadgets and working scientists of both sexes...The cast and plotline are strong... and two appendices fill in details about Antarctica and some of the episode's techno wizardry. For inveterate geeks, there's even a relevant science project!

Kirkus Reviews

Fast-paced enough to engage even reluctant readers, informative without being didactic, and entertaining: a solid series start. 

Publishers Weekly

This first book in the Jack and the Geniuses series from science educator/TV personality Nye and coauthor Mone introduces 12-year-old Jack and his genius foster siblings, Ava and Matt, resourceful emancipated minors. Soon after they accept positions as assistants to Henry "Hank" Witherspoon, an eccentric scientist and inventor, they are off to Antarctica to help judge an award for innovative desalination techniques. Upon arriving at McMurdo Station, they learn that Hank's friend Anna Donatelli has gone missing. Determined to solve the mystery, the siblings use their science smarts (and, in Jack's case, charm and intuition) to figure out who might have wished her harm. All of the inventions used and discussed are based in reality--endnotes offer additional information on self-driving cars, robotic exoskeletons, and other technologies--and the Antarctic setting is well researched and fully realized. Readers will appreciate Jack's humor and candor, and will quickly recognize that, although he may not be an official "genius," intelligence takes many forms. This fast-paced, science-themed mystery is a strong first outing, sure to leave readers awaiting this team's next adventure. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 
Bill Nye
Bill Nye is a science educator and media personality known for his children's television show Bill Nye the Science Guy. He splits his time between New York and Los Angeles. Gregory Mone is a novelist, science journalist, and speaker who has written several books for children. He lives on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781419732881
Lexile Measure
680
Guided Reading Level
V
Publisher
Harry N. Abrams
Publication date
April 20, 2018
Series
Jack and the Geniuses
BISAC categories
JUV036000 - Juvenile Fiction | Science & Technology
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
JUV013070 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Siblings
Library of Congress categories
Brothers and sisters
Adventure and adventurers
Adventure stories
Orphans
Scientists
Science fiction
JUVENILE FICTION / Action & Adventure / Gener
Antarctica
JUVENILE FICTION / Science Fiction
Genius
JUVENILE FICTION / Science & Technology

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