Module 13: The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis

"In any endeavor, confidence is the most important tool you can have."

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Citation

Davis, E.  (2009).  The secret science alliance and the copycat crook.  New York:  Bloomsbury Children's Books.

Summary

Julian Calendar is actually excited to start at a new junior high school.  Hoping to leave his dorky reputation behind, he makes every attempt not to appear smart on the first day of school.  His best efforts are unsuccessful, but he does catch the eye of two unlikely friends.  Ben Garza and Greta Hughes invite Julian to be a part of their group who create wacky (but useful?) inventions in their secret hideout.  Calling themselves the Secret Science Alliance, they are soon met with their first challenge:  the grouchy scientist Dr. Wilhelm Stringer has stolen their top-secret notebook of invention blueprints.  It is up to the three inventors to get their book back--and prevent Dr. Stringer from carrying out the plans he has for them. 

My Impressions

I very much enjoyed this smart and funny graphic novel.  The illustrations are bright, with simple, bold lines.  Davis makes creative use of panels, word balloons, and sound effects, allowing the story to jump off of the page.  The characters are cartoony, yet expressive, many of which possess caricatures of traits everyone encountered during their school days.  Julian, Greta, and Ben are all convincing junior high students, who form an unlikely, yet completely believable trio.  This comic book is an excellent execution of a good old fashioned adventure combined with a healthy dose of scientific fact and invention and middle-school humor.  I would love to see this book become a series.  Of course, I'm a fan of anything that supports science and shows how fun it can be!

Reviews

Kirkus Reviews
"Julian Calendar has a plan to avoidbeing afriendless nerd at his new school: Play dumb and pretend to love sports. Two weeks later, he's not been labeled a nerd, but he still has no friends. Then an encrypted invitation arrives. Julian is surprised to find supposed trouble-maker Greta and superjock Ben waiting to invite him to join their inventor's club, and the Secret Science Alliance is born.The three happily invent in their secret underground clubhouse until they incur the disdain of stodgy, mean, local inventor Dr. Stringer. When their idea book vanishes, there's only one suspect. In getting the book back, the SSA uncovers an even more dastardly plot. With its frenetically eye-catching, full-color panels chock-full of humorous and informative detail, Davis's first (of many, one hopes) graphic adventure of the SSA pumps new life into the kids'-secret-society formula. With its bounty of factlets slipped in for learning on the sly, it's a sure kid and teacher pleaser--a perfect package for tweens.  (Graphic fiction.  8-12)"


[Review of the book The secret science alliance and the copycat crook by E. Davis].  (2009).  Kirkus Reviews, 77(14), 155.  Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com.


School Library Journal

"Gr 3-7--Julian Calendar, 11, is a supersmart transfer student trying desperately to fit in at his new middle school. Just when he starts to believe that he'll never find his place, he discovers two other brilliant minds and together they form the Secret Science Alliance. These three braniacs create their own book of blueprints for such cunning creations as "the stinkometer," sticky and dangerous gluebombs, and the flying "Kablovsky Copter." However, their blueprints are stolen by evil Dr. Stringer, who has plans for them. Davis's first long-form comic is packed full of detail down to every minute tool in the Alliance's workshop, and the flying words and panels move the story at a quick pace. Davis's creativity is evident from the myriad gadgets and schemes of the story. Children will see, through these inventions and the triumph of the protagonists, that science can be cool."

Rogers-Whitehead, C.  (2009).  [Review of the book The secret science alliance and the copycat crook by E. Davis].  School Library Journal, 55(9), 187.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com.

Suggested Library Uses

• Host an invention fair at the library.  Children can create their own wacky inventions at home and bring them to the library for display, or they can create them within a given time limit and with the library's supplies.  Patrons and/or the participants can vote on the inventions, with a variety of categories, such as "Funniest," "Most Useful," "Most Dangerous," etc.
• This book would make a great addition to a display showcasing fun books about science--both fiction and nonfiction.  

Find it @ Your Library - Albany County Public Library

J COMICS DAVIS, ELEANOR


Notes
Booklist Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth, ALA, 2010
Kirkus Best Children's Books, 2009