Booklife Review

Twins Sam and Emily Hilbert are back, and this time they’re putting the scientific method to the test. When a mysterious neighbor moves in next door, Sam and Emily's interests are instantly piqued by the strange equipment he stores in his garage—including a large crate he informs the movers no one is to touch but him. The twins dub him “Mr. X” and convince themselves he’s a mad scientist, but when their friend Tanya’s dogs go missing, they start to wonder if he may be more sinister than they originally thought. The pair immediately take on the case, depending on the scientific method to help them determine who’s at fault.

Given Mr. X’s rather secretive nature, he springs into prime suspect position quickly on the twins’ list. In true scientific fashion, they set out to gather evidence supporting that hypothesis, and in the process learn that sometimes the best laid plans do go awry—and that science can be influenced by personal opinion. The pair pull in a little help from their friend Mateo, a character from the previous book in Cole’s Emily and Sam series (after The Case of the Missing Turtle), whose methods are a bit risky but deliver them eye-opening results—and shed a whole new light on Mr. X’s closed-door shenanigans.

Cole’s story is the perfect opportunity for younger readers to grasp the trial-and-error method of gathering scientific evidence, and Matty Mitchell pairs those teachable moments with lively, eye-catching illustrations that ooze adventure, suspense, and a little fun on the side. The educational info is engaging and immersive, as the inquisitive Hilbert twins give in to their passion for science—and learn the hard way “you can’t just find data that proves your hypothesis. You also have to look for data that might prove it is wrong.” Cole closes with a kid-friendly breakdown of the scientific method.

Takeaway: Two precocious twins use the scientific method to unravel a mystery.

Comparable Titles: Asia Citro's Zoey and Sassafras series, Elise Gravel's Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A