Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad: Absolute Hero (Book 1)

When middle school mishaps happen, five friends form the S.M.A.R.T. Squad and use their collective skills and the power of science to bring order to their school.

Science reigns supreme with this squad of young brainiacs. Join Izzy Newton and her friends in the first adventure of this fun new middle-grade fiction series from National Geographic Kids. A crowded new school and a crazy class schedule is enough to make Izzy feel dizzy. It may be the first day of middle school, but as long as her best friends Allie Einstein and Charlie Darwin are by her side, Izzy knows it'll all be okay. However, first-day jitters take an icy turn when Izzy's old pal Marie Curie comes back to town. Instead of a warm welcome, Marie gives her former pal the cold shoulder. The problems pile up when the school's air-conditioning goes on the fritz and the temperature suddenly drops to near freezing. The adults don't seem to have a clue how to thaw out the school. Cold temperatures and a frigid friendship? Izzy has had enough of feeling like an absolute zero. She rallies the girls to use their brainpower and science smarts to tackle the school's chilly mystery ... and hopefully to fix a certain frozen friendship along the way. Will the girls succeed and become the heroes of Atom Middle School?

From the acclaimed co-creator of the American Girl books series, this new series celebrates girl-power, STEM, friendship, diversity, and the power of being yourself.

It's one thing to have children's books about scientists or podcasts or stories about strong women in STEM, but it's another world entirely when your children get to feel represented by the characters they're reading about. -Romper


Loved Absolute Hero? Check out the second book in the Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad series: Newton's Flaws

Author: Valerie Tripp
Publisher: Under the Stars
Published: 09/08/2020
Pages: 192
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.50h x 6.00w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781426338694
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 06/01/2020
School Library Journal 09/25/2020 pg. 1

About the Author
VALERIE TRIPP is the co-creator of the American Girl book series that includes titles featuring Felicity, Josefina, Kit, Maryellen, Molly, and Samantha. Tripp also wrote American Girl's WellieWisher titles, Hopscotch Hill School titles, and numerous leveled readers, songs, stories, skills book pages, and plays for other educational publishers. Tripp is writer and editorial director of the Boys Camp series, and a writer, editor, and art editor for Sterling Publishing Company. Tripp received a B.A. and honors as a member of the first co-educated class at Yale University and has a master's degree in education from Harvard University.

GENEVA BOWERS is a self-taught illustrator who lives in the North Carolina mountains. Her drawing career started at age seven, when she wanted to draw horses better than her sister. Bowers works mostly digitally, using a vivid palette and simple shapes to create interesting images. She enjoys hiking mountains, playing dungeon-crawling video games, and cracking bad puns.