Monday, February 28, 2011

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday - The Atomic Weight of Secrets


Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 
Shannon Whitney Messenger decided it was time to give middle grade stories the attention they deserve, and "Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays" was born. I couldn't resist being a part of such brilliance. Others who can be counted on for a great MMGM review each week:

The Atomic Weight of Secrets
or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black


Expected publication: March 15th 2011 by Bancroft Press 


Goodreads blurb:
  • In 1903, five truly brilliant young inventors, the children of the world's most important scientists, went about their lives and their work as they always had. But all that changed the day the men in black arrived.

    They arrived to take twelve-year-old Jasper Modest and his six-year-old sister, Lucy he with his remarkable creations and she with her perfect memory from their London, England home to a place across the ocean they'd never seen before. They arrived to take nine-year-old Wallace Banneker, last in a long line of Africa-descended scientists, from his chemistry, his father, and his New York home to a life he d never imagined.Twelve-year-old Noah Canto-Sagas, already missing his world-famous and beloved mother, was taken from Toronto, Canada, carrying only his clothes, his violin, and his remarkable mind. And thirteen-year-old Faye Vigyanveta, the genius daughter of India's wealthiest and most accomplished scientists, was removed by force from her life of luxury.

    From all across the world, they've been taken to mysterious Sole Manner Farm, and a beautiful but isolated schoolhouse in Dayton, Ohio, without a word from their parents as to why. Not even the wonderful schoolteacher they find there, Miss Brett, can explain it. She can give them love and care, but she can t give them answers.


    Things only get stranger from there. What is the book with no pages Jasper and Lucy find in their mother's underwear drawer, and why do the men in black want it so badly? How is it all the children have been taught the same bizarre poem and yet no other rhymes or stories their entire lives? And why haven't their parents tried to contact them?

    Whatever the reasons, to brash, impetuous Faye, the situation is clear: They and their parents have been kidnapped by these terrible men in black, and the only way they're going to escape and rescue their parents is by completing the invention they didn't even know they were all working on, an invention that will change the world forever.

    But what if the men in black aren't trying to harm the children? What if they're trying to protect them? And if they're trying to protect them, from what?

    An amazing story about the wonders of science and the still greater wonders of friendship, The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Mysterious Men in Black , the first book of the Young Inventors Guild trilogy, is a truly original novel. Young readers will forever treasure Eden Unger Bowditch's funny, inventive, poignant, and wonderfully fun fiction debut.


I know that's a LONG blurb, but this is such a unique story that it kind of needs one. Even all of that doesn't really explain the million and one things going on. 

At first, I was a bit irritated by the amount of backstory time taken with each character, but I realized later on just how necessary it was. The Atomic Weight of Secrets is so original that I can think of nothing to compare it to--nothing. It's the first of a trilogy, and I believe book 2 is going to be quite an adventure. The main characters felt so comfortable and familiar by the end of the story, that I think I'm going to miss them.

I recommend this book, especially for its unusual and original storyline. It will be released in just a couple of weeks, so add it to your Goodreads list now so you don't forget.


Happy Monday!

    29 comments:

    Heather Hellmann said...

    Wow, that sounds really good.

    Ben Langhinrichs said...

    That sounds very intriguing. I will certainly get a copy and give it a try. Thanks!

    Candice said...

    Anything that will get kids interested in science in a fun way is great in my book!

    Leah (aka Mary_not_Martha) said...

    Sounds fascinating! I'll keep an eye out for it at the library.

    Kenda Turner said...

    Wow, does this ever sound intriguing. Thanks for the heads up--had not heard about this book before :-)

    Natalie Aguirre said...

    This sounds unique. Thanks for spotlighting it.

    Sherrie Petersen said...

    Sounds like something my 11yo would enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation!

    Jen said...

    This sounds amazing! Yet again, another book to pile onto the ever growing stack :D Thanks for the review!!

    Jen

    Susan Kaye Quinn said...

    Holy Cats, I need to get this book. Er, for my kids. Right. :)

    Heather said...

    This one sounds really interesting and I love the cover. I'll be looking for it when it releases!

    Erica Mitchell said...

    I'm not highly familiar with MG books but you caught my attention with this one :) I will definately have to check this one out!

    Golden Eagle said...

    It sounds like a really good book! Definitely putting this one on my TBR list.

    Joanne R. Fritz said...

    Sounds fantastic. And I've never even heard of it before! Must add to TBR list.

    Thanks for the linkage. You're awesome. I just now posted my own MMGM post (late, I know) and added linkage to yours.

    Tales of Whimsy said...

    Cool. I hadn't heard of this one :)

    Mary Aalgaard said...

    That does sound different. Is it in the Steampunk genre? Might be fun to check it out.

    RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

    This is new to me, found it to be very good.

    Yvonne.

    Shari said...

    That sounds like a really interesting book and I really like the cover. Thanks for sharing!

    Melissa said...

    This sounds really good!!! I like original!

    Stina said...

    I'll have to tell my 11 yo. He might be interested in it. :D

    Old Kitty said...

    I love these mysterious Men in Black!!! Ooooh sounds so terrifying!!!!

    Thanks for the info and this great review! take care
    x

    Sharon K. Mayhew said...

    It sounds like an interesting read, Shannon! Thanks for sharing. :-)

    Anonymous said...

    What a novel concept ... kids of famous scientists from their POV. This one sounds like a winner. Best wishes for its success!

    Meredith said...

    Oooh, this looks amazing! That synopsis has me hooked!

    Renae said...

    This sounds great! Thanks for sharing!

    Valerie Geary said...

    Yes, this sounds like something I might enjoy... off to goodreads!

    Hardygirl said...

    Wow! This sounds amazing--but I might need a flow chart to keep up with all of these storylines!!

    I love getting to know a character so well that you actually miss them when the book is over.

    sf

    S.A. Larsenッ said...

    Loving the setting of this one. Thanks for sharing the blurb.

    Heather Zundel said...

    I've never heard of this book before, but it sounds like something from a dream, just by the title alone.

    Myrna Foster said...

    Thanks for the recommendation, Shannon. I hadn't heard of this one.

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