by Jess Keating
In case you’re wondering, the most important step when building a death ray is to keep your pet ferret away from it.
I learned this the hard way.
Pickles is my best friend. You might think it’s weird that my best friend is a ferret, but I promise you she’s very friendly and only bites when you startle her. Can you say that about your best friend?
She’s escaped her cage twenty-seven times, so I’m pretty sure she’s a genius. But she also eats her own poop sometimes, so maybe I’m completely wrong. Anyway, before I started working today I checked that Pickles was in her cage, and even filled it with French fries to make sure she would stay in there. But apparently the lure of accidentally vaporizing me was too great for her. She jimmied the lock on the door and shimmied out of that cage with a mouthful of fries before I could say “Eureka!” Then that little so-and-so hopped onto my desk and started batting my death ray with her furry little paws.
The death ray slipped, and the next thing I knew, I was flat on my back with Pickles staring down at me, her brown paw resting on the trigger of the death ray like it was no big deal.
That brings us up to right now.
“Uh … Pickles?” I squirmed against the floor, angling myself as best I could away from her aim. I was afraid to move too fast and spook her.
She cocked her head. Her tiny pink nose was snuffling. Maybe I should have given her gravy on those French fries.
“Would you mind moving away slowly from that gun, sunshine?” I asked her. I don’t know why I bothered asking, really. She never listens.
“Come on,” I coaxed. I glanced over to her cage. I was sure the pile of French fries was still inside, waiting for her. “Can’t you smell how yummy those fries are? All greasy and salty. Triglyceride city. How about you go eat and let me clean up this mess? I’ll even get you some gravy for them …”
Pickles huffed. The trigger of the death ray clicked backward slightly as she adjusted her paw.
“Okay! Okay!” I winced. “Cheese, too! I’ll get you some cheese, I promise!”
Pickles narrowed her beady eyes at me, and I started to wonder if holding me hostage for her cheddar fix had been her plan in the first place. She’s had it out for me ever since I threw out the stinky toilet paper roll she used as a hat. Her ears perked at the sound of someone walking up the stairs.
Oh no.
“Nikki!” my mom yelled from the hallway.
“Don’t come in, Mom!” I yelled back, my voice cracking traitorously. Pickles and my mom didn’t get along very well. The last thing I needed was for Pickles to get panicky. Not with the barrel of the death ray still aimed at my eyeball. Plus I’d sort of promised my mom that I wouldn’t mess around with any new inventions anymore ever. Especially dangerous ones.
I was pretty sure a death ray wouldn’t be seen as a safe gadget to her, no matter what cool stuff it could do.
My doorknob twisted. One surefire way to guarantee your mom comes into your room is to tell her to stay out.
“Don’t come in?!” Mom burst in, already in full rant mode. “Young lady, as long as you’re living under this roof—”
Her mouth dropped open when she saw me on the floor. Above me, Pickles gnawed on the trigger of the ray gun. This was some bad luck right here. I really should have put a safety on the thing.
“Mom!” I hissed. “Don’t move!”
But it was too late.
Shout-out to everyone who loves books so much, they even read the acknowledgments! As always, it’s so important to point out that despite it being my name on the cover, this book wouldn’t exist without the help, insights, and guidance of many fabulous people.
To the first-class team at Scholastic: You are an absolute joy to work with, and not a day goes by that I’m not grateful to be part of the Scholastic family. Jenne Abramowitz, Shelly Romero, Dick Robinson, Jordana Kulak, Abby McAden, Keirsten Geise, Josh Berlowitz, Erin Berger, Rachel Feld, Elisabeth Ferrari, Lizette Serrano, Julia Eisler, Anne Marie Wong, Anne Shone, Diane Kerner, Nikole Kritikos, Stella Grasso, Jenn Hubbs, Robin Hoffman, and Denise Anderson … I could go on forever! There are so many stages to making books happen, so whether you’re involved in editorial, design, marketing, publicity, shipping, or social media (or anything in between!), please know that I adore you and am in your debt. You make this job the best in the world.
Lissy Marlin: Nobody illustrates geeky snark and heartfelt tweens like you—thank you for bringing your particular brand of magic to the pages of Nikki’s story. You brought her to life in a way I could have only imagined!
To Kathleen Rushall, my brilliant agent, for always asking “Where to next?” on our little adventure through this bookish life together. Your confidence in me is only matched by your impeccable wit, savvy, and heart, and I couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for always being a North Star in the sky.
Finally, a heartfelt thanks to my friends, family, and readers. You’ve read this far, on the very last pages of a book, and that means the world to me. I hope what you find in my books leaves you feeling curious, powerful, and inspired to chase everything you want in life.
Go get ’em.
As a zoologist and author, Jess Keating has been sprayed by skunks, bitten by crocodiles, and victim of the dreaded paper cut. Her books blend science, humor, and creativity, and include the acclaimed Elements of Genius series, My Life Is a Zoo trilogy, and award-winning picture books, like Shark Lady and Pink Is for Blobfish. Jess lives in Ontario, Canada, where she loves hiking, nerdy documentaries, and writing books for curious and adventurous kids. Jess can be found online at jesskeating.com or on Twitter at @Jess_Keating.
ALSO BY JESS KEATING
Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray
Nikki Tesla and the Fellowship of the Bling
Text copyright © 2020 by Jess Keating
Illustrations by Lissy Marlin, copyright © 2020 Scholastic Inc.
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC, SCHOLASTIC PRESS, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Keating, Jess, author. | Marlin, Lissy, illustrator. | Keating, Jess. Elements of genius; 3.
Title: Nikki Tesla and the traitors of the lost spark / Jess Keating; illustrated by Lissy Marlin.
Description: First edition. | New York: Scholastic Press, 2020. | Series: Elements of genius; 3 | Audience: Ages 8–12. | Audience: Grades 4–6. | Summary: Someone who goes by the name of "V" is planning to unleash a lethal virus that could destroy the human race, and it is up to Nikki Tesla and her friends from the Genius Academy (which has been blamed for an international incident and shut down), to uncover the villain (who is closer to them than they realize) and find a way to stop the biological attack—an effort that will cost Nikki her life.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020003158 (print) | LCCN 2020003159 (ebook) | ISBN 9781338614763 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781338633474 (ebk)
Subjects: LCSH: Gifted persons—Juvenile fiction. | Private schools—Juvenile fiction. | Biological warfare—Juvenile fiction. | Virus diseases—Juvenile fiction. | Secrecy—Juvenile fiction. | Best friends—Juvenile fiction. | Adventure stories. | CYAC: Genius—Fiction. | Gifted children—Fiction. | Schools—Fiction. | Virus diseases—Fiction. | Biological warfare—Fiction. | Secrets—Fiction. | Best friends—Fiction. | Friendship—Fiction. | Adventure and adventurers—Fiction. | LCGFT: Action and adventure fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.K22485 Nm 2020 (print) |
LCC PZ7.K22485 (ebook) | DDC 813.6 [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020003158
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020003159
First edition, July 2020
Jacket art by Lissy Marlin
Jacket design by Keirsten Geise
e-ISBN 978-1-338-63347-4
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