This is the third book in the Gadgets and Gears series by Kersten Hamilton. The series takes place in the early 1900s when idustrialization is booming. In this book, Kersten Hamilton introduces the readers to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, whom she fictionalizes as a friend of Aunt Rhodope and to the Sisters of Suffrage.   The story is being told by Noodles, the dachshund,  pet of Walter Kennewickett, aka Wally. (Noodles uses quite a few ‘BIG’ words, but always explains them for the reader, much like in the Lemony Snickett series.) Wally’s parents- Oliver and Calypso are scientists and Wally is a scientist-in-training. The Kennewicketts are inventing gadgets all the time for the betterment of society. Their use of batteries and electricity is new for this time period.

As this book opens, Wally’s parents are taking part in a three country Electromobile Rally in London, England. Wally is helping his Aunt Rhodope photograph the rally when a strange ticking sound is noticed. Aunt Rhodope and Wally, also, notice a poor man in tattered clothes, who later turns out to be known as the villain The Tick-Tock Man. After the rally leaves town ,Wally is informed by a street performer (Dobbin) he’s been watching that the Tick-Tock Man is out to nap him. Wally and Dobbin talk. Later, Dobbin sends Wally a note asking to meet with him. It is a matter of life and death. It turns out Dobbin’s sister, Briney, has a wind-up heart. Dobbin needs to find Tick-Tock to save Briney’s life. Tick-Tock has the keys needed to wind up Briney’s heart to keep her alive (like a Grandfather clock), but Tick-Tock is missing. Wally will help find Tick-Tock because that’s what Kennewicketts do. Wally and Aunt Rhodope enlist the help of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to help solve the whereabouts of Tick-Tock.  Along the way Hamilton adds flavor to the plot using London’s famous thick fog, constables, Scotland Yard, and in this case, wild swine who live in the sewers of London, much like the rats and alligators of other cities urban legends.

Tick-Tock comes to Briney’s aid, for he truly cares for the little girl, but it is too late for his keys to help her. What Briney needs is a bigger, new heart for she has outgrown the one she has. Tick-Tock holds Dobbin to the promise he made in exchange for Tick-Tock’s helping Briney. Dobbin will be required to “be a good man. From this day on…” and with that, Tick-Tock removes his own wind-up heart to save Briney. (114)

In the Epilogue, Oliver and Calypso Kennewickett will take Dobbin and Briney to live with them in America.

Readers should not skip reading the Author’s Note on pages 127-130. Here they will find some interesting information about the real Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

It could be titled, “Dozens of Ways to Die.”  Ninety percent of the 24 possible ending end in death.  Which makes it a great choice for those reluctant reader boys who will be eager to try a new path and find a new way to die.  And they’ll get a little history along the way.  The interactive nature of the book, the simple text, and the comfort in knowing you don’t have to read the whole thing before you get to “The End” are other contributing factors that will draw in the reluctant reader.  It even kept the actual dialogue to a minimum, which I appreciate, as that is one element of these choose-your-path-through-history books that I think calls the non-fiction designation into shady territory.

It is a really quality work: very thorough and well-written, illustrated with lots of full-color photographs.  This is a series I have been generally very impressed with, and I would probably recommend it for middle school or high school, but I hesitate because this is not my area of expertise.  As an elementary librarian, I am happy to put it on my shelf, and it may find some limited interest (particularly if I make a point of pulling up the video feed to the webcam that watches the nests).  The photos would draw some students in, and the text is broken up sufficiently into assorted captions and sidebars so that younger readers may browse through the photos, reading bits and pieces, but I doubt elementary students would read the whole thing, as it’s a bit text dense.

This is fun! I want to try it out with my students! And I want to get the other books in the series (there are 4).  It begins with a basic introduction to what coding is, and defining some key concepts like input and output.  It explains that there are different computer languages and tells where readers can download, or access online two different free resources, Logo and Scratch.  It then goes on to explain quite clearly how each of these work, giving lots of simple exercises to try.

I LOVE the illustrations! They are whimsical and fanciful and delightful, and they totally suit the nonsensical spirit of Wonderland.  They were almost enough to win me over from my usual distaste of abridgments.  But this isn’t even a whole abridgment.  Only if one takes the time to read the inside flap of the dust jacket does one know that this is the first half of Alice’s adventures.  It could have been really fabulous if they’d created a larger volume to include the complete story.  This way it falls a bit flat.