The Wells Bequest

Leo was just working in his room, ‘tweaking’ his games controller and trying to get an idea for his school science project when suddenly a miniature version of himself, and an attractive young girl just appeared.  Not your average weekday evening then, but the start of an amazing adventure.  The following day, at the suggestion of a teacher he visits the New York Circulating Material Repository and coincidentally meets the girl from the previous evening.

Those readers who have read The Grimm Legacy will already be familiar with the Repository and the amazing artefacts which are held there.  Some are magical, some are thought a fairy tale, e.g. Seven League Boots, and some are from fiction.  Leo finds himself involved in finding H G Wells’ Time Machine, there is an element of time travel involved, and characters including Tesla and Mark Twain make an appearance.  This story is set several years after the original and the main female character Jaya is the sister of a previous heroine.

The book is imaginative, but with enough links to known events that it should inspire readers to find out about the real science, or read some of the original books mentioned.  It is well plotted, fast paced and full of adventure.  There’s an end section which explains the science and really makes you want to find out more.  A welcome addition to the 11+ age range and I look forward to further adventures in this world.