The Wells Bequest

September 30, 2013
After a time machine appears in his bedroom, a boy named Leo discovers that it is possible to rent any mystical or magical object, tool, or weapon from any science fiction novel ever written at a place called the New-York Circulating Material Repository. Seasoned narrator Johnny Heller delivers an absolutely thrilling performance of this spirited novel from Shulman. Heller’s exuberance and boyhood tenacity are perfect for the role of Leo, who’s imagination runs rampant and often gets him into trouble. Heller’s youthful tone makes the impossible seem possible and the unlikely more than likely to happen at some point, in the spirit of Shulman’s narrative. This keeps listeners on their toes as the plot shifts back and forth, through space and time, and everywhere in between. Ages 10–up. A Nancy Paulsen hardcover.

May 15, 2013
In this stand-alone companion to The Grimm Legacy (2010), the most extraordinary library in the world makes physical impossibilities possible. Sitting glumly at home, Leo notices an object materializing on the floor. The glittering, football-sized machine has "gears and rods and knobs and a little saddle"--and two miniscule humans, one of whom is himself. "I'm you, only later," explains tiny-Leo, exhorting regular-Leo to read H.G. Wells' The Time Machine. Thank goodness for Leo's new job as a page at the New-York Circulating Material Repository, a lending library of historical and obscure objects. There he meets Jaya--recognizable from the tiny machine. When an unstable fellow page claims to possess Nikola Tesla's death ray, Leo and Jaya snap into action using one of the Repository's Special Collections, the Wells Bequest. The Bequest's science-fiction objects (how can they exist? That question is called, delightfully, "literary-material philosophy") let Leo and Jaya dash back in time to Tesla's 1895 laboratory fire and cross the Atlantic in the epouvante from Jules Verne's Master of the World. Hilarious time-travel dialogue keeps the mood light: "Well, she didn't, or you wouldn't have to ask her to now," Leo explains. "So that means she won't, so she can't." In this exhilarating Repository, even the library cataloguing system is juicy.A clever, sparky adventure made of science fiction, philosophy and humor. (author's note, librarian's note) (Science fiction. 10 & up)

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July 1, 2013

Gr 6-9-A mysterious visit from himself on a tiny time machine with a beautiful girl prompts Leo to seek out H.G. Wells's The Time Machine. That and the need to study historical robots for his science-fair project lead him to discover the New York Circulating Material Repository. There he finds not only the mysterious girl, but also a wonderfully unique library that seems to have some magical properties. He becomes a page and gains access to The Wells Bequest, a special collection that houses many of the fantastical items from Wells's books, including the infamous time machine. When another page threatens to destroy all of New York City with Nikola Tesla's death ray, Leo and Jaya, the head page, go back in time to try to stop him. Shulman once again crafts a marvelously engaging story that will have fantasy and sci-fi readers hooked. Tidbits about H.G. Wells and other famous writers are sprinkled throughout and will have readers seeking out their novels. In fact, this is a great tale that explores many aspects of time travel and science fiction without overwhelming readers in meticulous explanation. The adventure, danger, and hints of romance will have readers swiftly turning pages, anxious to discover each new surprise. All libraries serving middle-school readers will want to order this one.-Jessica Miller, West Springfield Public Library, MA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
When Leo comes face-to-face with a miniature version of himself riding a miniature time machine, accompanied by a fascinating girl, a complex plot is put in motion involving time travel, Nikola Tesla, death rays, the New-York Circulating Material Repository (The Grimm Legacy), and jealous library pages. Leo's character, with his enquiring mind and technical know-how, will draw readers in to the science-fiction-made-real landscape.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2013
At the start of the book, Leo is confronted by a six-inch-tall version of himself, accompanied by the most fascinating girl he's ever seen, riding a miniature time machine. His search for how he got to that point leads him to the New-York Circulating Material Repository (first seen in The Grimm Legacy, rev. 7/10), where he meets head page Jaya, the girl on the time machine. Leo's knack for fixing things, along with Jaya's recommendation, lands him a job as a page, with privileges that allow him access to the closely guarded Wells (as in H. G.) Bequest. His friendship with Jaya upsets a jealous fellow page, Simon, who demands use of the Wells Bequest's time-travel devices to go back and mend matters with Jaya -- or else he'll unleash Nikola Tesla's death ray. After that, the race is on for Leo and Jaya to turn back time to prevent Simon's great-great-grandfather from stealing Tesla's plans in the first place. The inside-out plot construction is ably handled, with plenty of book-geek discursions into library and cataloging culture, but the standout feature of this novel is the character of Leo, whose enquiring mind and technical know-how, and whose unique relationship with self-confident Jaya, will draw readers into the science-fiction-made-real landscape. anita l. burkam

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)