Ada Lace Sees Red

Ada Lace Adventures #2

by Emily Calandrelli, Tamson Weston (Primary Contributor), Renee Kurilla (Illustrator)

From Emily Calandrelli—host of Xploration Outer Space, correspondent on Bill Nye Saves the World, and graduate of MIT—comes the second novel in a brand-new chapter book series about an eight-year-old girl with a knack for science, math, and solving mysteries with technology.

Ada Lace is building a new robot! She’s determined to beat Milton in the upcoming robotics competition. But she’s distracted—Ada finds her dad’s art class impossible, while Nina is the star of the class, basking in the glory of being Mr. Lace’s star pupil.

When Mr. Lace suggests that Nina put on an art show, Ada becomes jealous and loses her temper. Now Ada isn’t speaking to her dad, she’s falling behind in art class, and she still doesn’t know how to fix her robot. As the competition looms closer, Ada starts to wonder if there might be a way to use both science and art to solve her problems.

Will Ada make up with her father in time to test her hypothesis? Or will her hurt feelings leave her seeing red and without a medal at the end of the day?

Genres: Childrens, Chapter Books, Science, Art, Middle Grade, Stem, Robots

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2017

Reviews

[Cyndi]

Since I am the proud grandmother of two brilliant kids I try to sneak in some of the books I would like them to read. This is the kind of series I would recommend to anyone! Of course, I was already predisposed to love it because I am a huge fan of Emily's Wonder Lab. My grandson can't wait for her episodes. (I am working very hard to help these kids become proper science geeks)
In this book we see wonderfully strong relationships between kids and their parents and learn the value of friendship. We also see the importance of accepting ourselves for who we are.
Awesome book!

[Haleigh DeRocher]

Cute story that my kindergartner enjoyed. Rather predictable, and the characters aren't very well developed. Very archetypal and stereotypical, but interesting nonetheless.

[Cheryl]

I can't believe nobody noticed that Ada is color-blind yet. Nor that she'd be hesitant to tell her family. Nor that her little brother has no redeeming qualities. Nor that a robot could do all the things that George does (but this one I could be wrong about). Such a let-down after the first in the series.

"... been nice trash-talking with you."

[Jo Oehrlein]

Interesting book about Ada navigating her relationship with her dad, who is also her art teacher.

It's also about her relationship with art as she starts worrying about getting a grade for it.

There's some cool robotics here and a nice mentoring relationship with a guy in the neighborhood. I like how it shows that she struggles with getting things to work (and with coming up with a cool idea).


I wonder what age kids normally get diagnosed with color blindness?

[Namratha]

This is a book that I picked up as a gift for a little reader but being the book glut that I am, I could not resist reading the tale about science-girl Ada Lace who is super smart but riddled with insecurities.

Ada is putting together a robot for an upcoming Robot Show and is doing a slap up job about it with the help of her mentor/neighbour. But while her technical side is strong, she seems to failing miserably in her art class. This is especially infuriating because her art teacher is her father and he makes it a point to leave all paternal affection outside the classroom. As he keeps finding fault with Ada’s artwork and praises her artistic best friend Nina to the rafters, Ada can’t help but feel the green-eyed monster of envy raising its ugly head.

But maybe Ada’s inability to distinguish between the various hues of red and orange is more serious than just a lack of inclination towards painting. As Ada discovers a new facet about her personality, she also struggles to put together an exciting robot, exchange barbs with her big-mouthed competitor and secure a passing art grade.

This was such a clear and well-executed book. Aimed at young readers with a scientific bend of mind, it also explores the relationship between children and their parents. I haven’t read the first book in the series but I was definitely enchanted enough to go on a book series shopping spree.

[Elaine Bearden]

gr 3-5
When I first started reading this I thought it was a "first chapter" book, but it actually isn't. So this would be a perfect book for kids who are above the magic tree house level but are not quite ready for longer books. This is good story writing with interesting characters - including the main character Ada Lace. I did not read the first book in this series, but did not have any trouble jumping into this story. The juxtaposition between the logical/scientific Ada and her artist parents is fun (along with her artistic friend) bring both art and science together in a refreshing way, suggesting we need it all. Ada does a lot of problem-solving on her own. The author has advanced degrees in science, so can write with authority on the things Ada is doing. (The author also works with Bill Nye and has a passion for girls in science.) Fun, fresh and grounded in the daily dilemmas and developmental space of a middle grade school student whose artist father has just started teaching her art class.

[Erin *BookDragon_Library*]

Ada is color blind. What an interesting (and ironic) twist considering her artistic parents. Another great story with a science-minded girl. This book has a little jealousy over attention a friend is getting from Ada's art teacher dad, along with a competition against her "kid-enemy" for the best robot. Good, solid relationships, fun dialogue and an all around good read. I'd love to see more science-loving girls in middle grade lit!

[Christine]

This book held my 6 year old’s attention from start to finish over several nights of reading. The book has just enough pictures to keep her nearby, and some basic language so she can read along if wanted. I do have to question how nobody realized Ada was colorblind until now, but otherwise it’s a cute story of a girl who loves science and robotics.

We have the entire series, so I don’t know why we started with the second book, but I’m sure we’ll be reading more of these.

[Kristin]

**4.5 stars**

I thought this second book in the series was more engaging with more kid appeal and connections than the first! There is still plenty of science strewn throughout the story, but the story of relationships with peers and parents was more believable to me. I felt more emotion towards Ada in this second installment.

[Tammie Smith]

This is a great book about Ada. She is in her Dad's art class and is having a hard time. She is also working on a robot for a robotics competition. I enjoyed reading it and I would recommend if for kids who like to read.

Thank you to Goodreads and Emily Calandrelli and Tamson Weston for this book.

[Christine]

The genetics do not match up. In order for Ada to be color blind, her mother would have to be a carrier and her father would have to be color blind. Since her dad is an art teacher, I'm assuming he is not. I also have to imagine a pediatrician would have discovered this earlier in Ada's life. The author is a well known science TV/YouTube personality. I have to imagine she would have known this.

[Tracie]

Ada loves science/engineering but art not so much. As Ada avoids her art assignments in favor of working on her robot, her stress increases until she discovers a way for art and science to compliment.

[Sara]

As a colorblind female, there are few books that discuss the uniqueness of this disability. It be great if George the robot can lay out the clothes! My only suggestion is that the author included the genetic aspect of colorblindness.

[Aubrey V]

The girls are still loving these books. Like other reviewers, I'm less enchanted. It does spark great conversation but even my 6 year old is baffled by the lack of trust, communication, and awareness within Ada's family unit.

[Nicole]

I love this new series! Ada is building robots and solving problems. I love her character and enjoy a series that strongly represents females being successful with STEM.

[Pam]

Terrific science roll model character plus acknowledgement of art as well.
Ada struggles with painting color spectrums and discovers that she's color blind.

[Erica Flory]

I love this series

[Maya V S]

Tion 677

[Jeanne Wald]

I love Ada Lace and her adventures! This story is particularly interesting for a wonderful combination of science and art.

[Avy B]

I like her robot George and the ham radio.

[Claire Hopkins]

It is full of art. It is inspiring. There are a lot of surprises.

[Tim Robinson]

After Ada Lace on the Case, I was expecting another mystery. But this is just school blues. Disappointing.

[Julie]

Good science and story for kids!

[N.A.]

This was a great read aloud with my kids. Both my son and daughter enjoyed this second book in the series.

[BooktothePointe]

Cute story about jealousy and working hard to accomplish goals

[Gina]

Mom & Emme

[Alexis]

This book lacked a lot of the things that I appreciated in the first one. Ada is mostly angry and ornery in this one and her familial relationships were not the same.

[Lindsey]

DNF

[Ayansh Agarwal]

My biggest lesson from this story is that we should not tease handicapped people because they are different from us. It may make them feel bad.

[Christina]

Another fun read with M. This one was more interesting, because Ada gets jealous of her free-spirited, artistic friend who has a knack for making art. Ada attempts to get around her father's art assignments by programming her robot to do it for her, but along the way, discovers that she's color blind! A lot of interesting layers here, which gets at some honest portrayals of how one can love a friend and celebrate their gifts while also being jealous of them. Having her dad start teaching art at her school is a nice twist too, since that is a real experience of teacher kids... the dance of how to navigate a parent as a teacher at school yet parent at home.