Review by Booklist Review
Fourth-grader Jake Everdale is in serious danger of failing science. He just bombed his quiz, and he hasn't thought of a project for the science fair, which is only days away. He knows his parents, especially his mom, will be disappointed and angry if he doesn't get his grade out of the gutter. Jake's only chance lies in the wishing well (actually, a drainage ditch) behind the elementary school. Hoping that the rumors surrounding the well are true, he throws in his most special possession, his Heroes of History figurines. His wish is granted in a most unexpected way when two of the figurines, Sir Isaac Newton and Amelia Earhart, come to life to help him create a winning science-fair project. Bryant adroitly blends fantasy and history and features a strong, realistic protagonist with whom readers will relate. Fans of classic books with tiny characters, like Mary Norton's The Borrowers (1952), will get a kick out of the new Tiny Geniuses series; this copublishes with the second volume, Set the Stage!--J. B. Petty Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-Jake Everdale is a classic procrastinator, and as his science fair project sneaks closer, he is desperate for help. Local legend says that kids who throw their most prized possession into the wishing well behind school will have their wish granted, so Jake gives it a try with his Heroes of History action figures. At first, nothing seems to happen, but Jake is taken by surprise when Sir Isaac Newton and Amelia Earhart suddenly appear. These two pocket-size heroes wreak havoc in Jake's life, while helping him see the advantage of putting in hard work. Jake will appeal to many kids who find it hard to stay focused and on track, and the two historical heroes are funny and frustrating foils. The story moves quickly and reluctant readers and procrastinators alike will find common ground with Jake's plight. VERDICT Fans of the "Hank Zipzer" or "Time Warp Trio" will likely enjoy this funny school story.-Ellen Conlin, Naperville Public Library, IL © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
With a little help from some little friendsnamely, Amelia Earhart and Sir Isaac Newtona failing fourth-grader scores a science fair triumph.Mom insists that Jake do well in the upcoming expo or quit baseballso when his equally desperate wishes that someone do his project for him bring two figurines in his "Heroes of History" set to life, he thinks his problems are over. Unfortunately they're only just beginning, as both of his tiny advisers turn out to be so wrapped up in delighted explorations of the wonders of Jake's bedroom and the world beyond that he spends most of his time and energy just trying (with mixed success) to keep them secret. In the meantime, though, their courage, curiosity, and enthusiasm for tinkering turn out to be so infectious that when they do present Jake with a small working airplane and notes on the principles of flight, he decides that it would be better to do his own workand does. Along with digestible bits of history and Newtonian physics, Bryant infuses the tale with comical incidents while showing that Jake's gloomy conviction that he's "too dumb" to succeed is demonstrably wrong. Jake is depicted on the cover as white (along with Earhart and Newton); the cast otherwise seems to adhere to a white default.Intriguing premise + themes with wings + a light hand on the rudder = a flying start. (Fantasy. 8-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
