The Case of the Evil Engineer: Book 1

by Ada Newton

Girls Excelling at Maths and Science! Four friends use their smarts to solve mysteries. Young inventor Eden can't believe her luck - she's spending her summer holidays in California, at the high-tech headquarters of Vance Corps! She and the other clever campers get to build robots, do super-cool science experiments and test out awesome gadgets. But not everyone is a happy camper . . . Someone is sabotaging their robots, so Eden and her new friends - Gemma, Malika and Sophie - team up to catch the culprit. The science sleuths uncover dark secrets about the company and its mysterious owner, who is developing sinister software. Can the four girls outsmart the evil engineer and prevent a global disaster?

192 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2019

Reviews

[Nina Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is good but it took me a while to get into it though😅

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have loved this book as a middle school kid. Marie is bright and loves to tinker with things. When she is selected to go to an exclusive camp for young inventors, she is beyond excited. Upon arriving at the camp though, she can tell that things are a little off. The latest tech release has a ton of bugs and someone is trying to sabotage the company. She bonds together with her friends to figure out what's happening.

[Cara B]

Fun read for an upper-elementary/middle school girl! Tech, teamwork, and a mystery to solve…. Hang out with Marie- girl genius - and her new friends at science camp as they solve a mystery and save the world.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It doesn’t matter how right you think you are if you’re willing to hurt innocent people to get revenge.”

Ahhh this book had it all!
✅ A great storyline with a mystery to solve
✅ Plenty of lines that had my kids laughing out loud
✅ Positive morals that are great conversation starters
✅ Lots of diversity, including the protagonist!

I read this aloud to my kids (ages 11, 9, and 7) and they are begging to start the next book in the series immediately. Definitely recommmed this!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just one thing: Why, why, WHY does a computer genius's main skill always have to be hacking? Why can't it be programming?

Other than that, this was a good book. I like the fact that Mr. Vance wasn't the main bad guy in the end, even if he did questionable things.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marie wants to be an inventor - has since she was 5 - hence her nickname "Marie Curious". She is chosen to attend a select inventor's camp/competition in LA (she's from the UK) along with kids from around the globe. The camp's run/sponsored by an Elon Musk type - a tech billionaire - but what are his true motives for the competition? Fostering youth's ambitions, or furthering his own empire?
I loved this book because Marie is drawn as 3 dimensional. She's not a science geek- she's a well rounded character with middle school issues like wanting to fit in, love for family, and a desire to create and better the world. A great STEM based series. Science and tech fans will have much to enjoy, but all girls will enjoy- and cheer- this "girl power" tale.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through this book. Read it in less than 18 hours (as an adult), including time to sleep.

A good story about 30 kids from across the world going to a science/tech camp and the adventures they have there. It is mostly focused on a group of girls, including the main character Marie, who likes to invent things to help people.
Looking forward to the next couple of books. I wish my students were ready to read a book at this level.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excited to read more of this series! It's a fast-moving, fun story that includes themes of science and tech, new challenges, mystery, friendship, and working together.

I love that there are lots of science and tech pioneers' names sprinkled into the story, too, wonderful for encouraging readers to go, research, and learn a little more non-fiction, too.

[Shannon Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely! It is a tech filled story that reminded me very much of Silicon Valley. The kids at science camp, as well as their counselor, are well-developed, engaging characters. This was a definite page turner, with a plot twist I did not see coming! I cannot wait to read more in the series!

[Kim Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another kids' book where the reader must suspend reality so the children can outthink adults.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creative story about some smart girls with some suspense thrown in!

[Rayan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book and is balancesd in different ways and shows the power of teamwork and friendship

[Laura Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good! I enjoyed the setting of science camp and the mystery of the story kept me guessing. I’m sure my daughter is going to love this when she’s old enough to read it.

[Emmie Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that kids will enjoy!!! Marie is a very intelligent character that will inspire her readers to dream, be a loyal friend, example kindness, and use their brain!