Ada Lace is a child scientist whose varied interests are the focus in this series. In this entry, the focus is HAM radio. Ada gets an old HAM from her neighbor, Mr. Peebles, and begins experimenting with talking to others from the HAM community. Her friend, Nina, gets spooked by strange transmissions that she hears from it when Ada is out of the room or asleep, and Ada makes it her mission to convince Nina that it wasn't aliens she heard. Her neighbor, Milton Elliott, is a constant presence as well, though his role evolves through the text as Ada tries to sort out her her opinion of him. He's portrayed as a bit of a troublemaker at first, but as the story progresses, Ada begins to realize that there is more to him than his pranks would indicate (though the pranks are still a part of him). Personally, my favorite character, if it can be accurately called that, is George, Ada's bedroom robot assistant. George's role is small, but it's hard not to envy Ada for having a robotic friend like him. For an early chapter book series with a STEM focus, this is a worthwhile read. The text is approachable, the characters are relatable, and the plot is engaging enough that readers would certainly pick up the next book in the series after this one. Nicely done.

Another addition to a great series, Ada Lace Take Me To Your Leader will appeal to all young readers. A fun main character and easily accessible science and tech make for a highly engaging story. The explanations at the end of the book will satisfy readers who want more information. Teachers would easily be able to use this series for crops-curricular connections between language arts and science.