Ada Lace, on the Case is the first book in a new series that shows a lot of potential. The first book seems to set up who Ada is and that she has a deep love of science and exploration. In this book, Ada and her family have just moved to San Francisco and, to add insult to injury, she has broken her leg. Since she can't go outside much, she winds up keeping a field guide of her neighborhood to keep herself occupied. She winds up befriending a neighborhood girl who joins her on her voyeuristic adventure. When the find that a neighbor's dog seems to have disappeared, they go on the case to find out what happened to her.

This is a neat combination of science, mystery, and friendship aimed at kids transitioning from really short books to slightly longer chapter books. There are black and white illustrations on some of the pages and the plot is not difficult to follow. I love that there are new transitional chapter books that have such strong characters and interesting plots. While I didn't love this book, the others in the series look pretty amazing and I've already encouraged our librarian to purchase them.

Ada Lace, on the Case

by Emily Calandrelli

Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers



Children's Fiction

Pub Date 29 Aug 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Ada Lace on the Case through Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Netgalley:

Ada Lace is an eight year old third grade scientist with a knack for solving cases using technology. Soon Ada learns her neighbors Yorkie is Dognapped, and her quirky neighbor Nina is certain it was aliens that kidnapped her dog.

During the case Nina grows in Ada, teaching her that opposites do attract.

Wil Ada be able to find the wrong doer, and gets Nina's dog back? Find out in Ada Lace on the Case five out of five stars.

Happy Reading!

Scientifically-minded eight-year-old Ada Lace is stuck in her new house in her new city with a broken leg (after attempting to bungee jump from a tree). She gazes down on her new street (or, ecosystem as she calls it) and observes the comings and goings of her neighbors in her field journal.
Her new friend, Nina, has a different way of looking at the world. She believes in four-leaf clovers, alien abductions, and other highly unscientific things.
When their neighbor’s dog goes missing the two friends wonder what’s happened to poor Marguerite. Armed with gecko gloves, walkie talkies, and a wireless camera, Ada and Nina vow to find the dog and restore her to her owner.
This fun tale of friendship, mystery, and science featuring two very different girls and a cast of characters from their neighborhood will capture kids’ imaginations. And the facts behind the science in the back of the book will also fascinate them - did you know gecko gloves really exist? Expect your young readers to start their own field journals and discover that science is fun. And that it’s even better with friends.