Families who loved Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray by Jess Keating often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book if your child feels like a 'misfit' because of their intense intellectual interests or finds school socially isolating. This fast-paced mystery follows Nikki Tesla, a brilliant young inventor whose genius often gets her into trouble. When she is whisked away to a secret academy for gifted children, she finally finds a community that understands her, even as they race across the globe to recover a dangerous stolen invention. It is an ideal choice for children who need to see that being different is a superpower, not a defect. The story balances high-stakes adventure with the vulnerable reality of making friends for the first time. It is appropriate for middle-grade readers, offering a secular and modern take on responsibility and belonging. Parents will appreciate how it validates the 'weird kid' while emphasizing that even a genius needs a team to succeed.
