Twelve-year old Edison Jones is a prodigy with a passion for technology and inventions. Paralyzed from the waist down since the age of five, he hasn’t let his disability slow him down. Then his world changes overnight when his grandfather, a billionaire tech company owner, decides to enroll him in a public school. Algorithms, quantum physics, and digital engineering are easy. Finding his way in … in the bewildering world of boys and girls his own age is quite another thing…the biggest challenge of his life.
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What an inspirational book! I absolutely love the clear and positive message, throughout, that one is only truly handicapped by their intelligence and imagination. Our hero, young Edison Jones, doesn’t let the fact that he’s a paraplegic, from the waist down, stop him in his quest to make the world a better place. Despite becoming an orphan at the tender age of five, Edison has experienced just about everything the world has to offer except for one thing – the friendship of his peers. You see, he has never been to public school but thanks to his loving grandfather’s insistence that he enroll for his own good, the young hermit’s life changes in ways that the freshest of all freshmen could have never imagined.
Luckily, Edison Jones learns early, from his junior high school contacts, not to explain everything as if he were speaking with an engineer. Even at my grandmotherly age, I could relate when his new friend, Hondo said “I guess I’m going to have Alexa translate for me when we have these talks. Remember, I’m a kid! Not one of your grandfather’s engineers.” That absolutely genius move on the part of the author Michael Scott Clifton, of explaining engineering and science in simple, yet exciting terms that anyone can understand and even aspire to, makes me imagine that most any teen can and will get excited about the concepts this book presents.
I have to say that I particularly loved the idea of using an anti-grav elevator to transport large payloads into space…to the space station and beyond. What a concept! Magnetic rings that push against each other until the module sitting atop them all reaches the exosphere (which I learned from reading this book – happens to be the 5th and final layer of the earth’s atmosphere). This book has many of my favorite elements of science fiction novels but it turned out to be even better than sci-fi because it falls more into the realm of what I’ll just have to call “super science”.
Engineers and Scientists – the world needs more of them and this book encourages me to believe we will have them – along with a bright and clean energy future. Now, that’s what I call inspirational.
Edison Jones is a 12-year-old boy and technological mastermind. Following the death of his parents in a car accident when he was five that also left him paralyzed, Edison has been raised by his wealthy and equally tech savvy grandfather, Stanton. Their relationship is dynamic and profound to witness, especially as Stanton makes the difficult decision to begin sending Edison to public school. Though incredibly gifted and intensely curious, Stanton clearly understands that Edison needs to be surrounded by children his own age and engaged in their youthful activities, which may dramatically assist Edison with his social awkwardness. Ultimately, this is exactly what Edison needed; however, the friends he makes needed Edison in their own lives just as much if not more so.
The story is very fast-paced and packed with thrilling moments, making it a great option for any reluctant or struggling readers in your life. Each chapter is fairly short and concludes on a tense or cliffhanger situation that naturally allows a segue to draw you towards continuing with the story. The interactions between the children and the adults provide for timely and relevant discussions on a tough topic such as bullying as well as solutions that offer both positive and negative real world application. Language choice (use of the word “pussy” for name-calling) for some of the children as well as their actions (smoking) were an issue for me at times, making it difficult to believe that these characters were in fact 12 or 13. Fourteen to 16 year olds would have resonated better with me and created a more authentic voice, but personal preference aside, perhaps those moments may very well resonate for the intended audience. Either way, uncomfortable and/or questionable moments can definitely provide perfect fodder for further discussion.
The science and technology aspects of the story are immensely entertaining and create action sequences that readers of any age will thoroughly enjoy. There are some very fascinating and extensive scientific advancements happening throughout the course of the story that Edison is able to adequately explain in layman’s terms because of his friends’ reminders to “speak like a kid!” Rather than being dumb-downed, the narrative becomes even more compelling and enthusiastic. If you’ve had the chance to read The Martian, then you’ll know exactly what I mean. A sense of adventure and quest for knowledge were always in the forefront and never in doubt!
This unique story will definitely capture your imagination and remind us all to always dream big.
Many thanks to Lone Star Book Blog Tours and the author for providing me with a free copy of the book for review. This is my honest and thoughtful opinion.
I have a thing for middle grade fiction. There’s something so refreshing that I just love. When the chance to read Edison Jones and The ANTI-GRAV Elevator arose, I couldn’t say no. The synopsis sucked me right in, and I figured I’d be in for a great adventure. I wasn’t wrong.
Edison Jones is a 12 year old seventh grader. After a car accident (that really wasn’t an accident) left him paralyzed from the waist down and killed his parents, he’s been living a very sheltered life with his grandpa. Edison isn’t like most 12 year olds though. He’s highly intelligent and has come up with a way to invent a anti-gravity space elevator. He’s just go to prove to NASA that it works. Oh, and he’s also being enrolled into the local public junior high school for the first time which also presents problems of its own. Edison will have to prove his space elevator has what it takes while also navigating the new realm of school and friendship if he’s going to make his dreams come true.
The plot for Edison Jones and The ANTI-GRAV Elevator definitely was an interesting one for sure. While there are similar books out there, Michael Scott Clifton really made his book stand out. I liked how the main character had a disability which made it harder for him when it came to everything. It’s refreshing to see a main character that’s different from the mainstream. There is a bunch of science speak and terminology which can be a little overwhelming for the average person, but eventually, you get used to it. Plus, you don’t need to know all of the terminology to enjoy this book. Context clues are also available to help make the terminology a bit more understandable. Descriptive scenes abound throughout this novel which makes it very easy to get lost in this book. In fact, many times I forgot where I was because I was so focused on this novel. The anticipation that Clifton sets up for major events throughout Edison Jones and The ANTI-GRAV Elevator is done brilliantly. I was definitely holding my breath and turning the page quickly to find out what would happen next especially when it came to scenes with the Breakstone twins, the robotics competition, the last junior high football game, and the launching of Edison’s space elevator! The build up in those scenes was amazing! The ending does leave the possibility of another Edison Jones story being released in the future.
One thing that did irk me quite a bit was the stereotype that all of those who live in mobile homes are trashy. I felt like the author played into that a bit too much during one chapter. Here’s one example which can be found at the end of chapter 26 when discussing Markie Franks who is a bully and Hondo’s house (Hondo, Edison’s friend, comes from a home where his mom chooses her boyfriend over him, and the boyfriend and Hondo don’t get along.): “Markie’s house surprised Edison. Although more modest than Bree’s, it was also a brick home with an immaculate yard and appearance. He wasn’t sure what he expected–maybe a mobile home with rusting cars on blocks in the yard–not the tidy home the bully lived in. Hondo…did live in a mobile home complete with a yard full of foot-high weeds. The only light came from the blue flicker of a TV through a grimy window next to the front door. With a grimace, Hondo got out and waved, his shoes pushing a path through the brown weeds and grass.” It’s stereotypes like this that make those who live in mobile homes easy targets for bullying as well as making those that live in mobile homes feel horrible about their life. It really shouldn’t have been discussed like this at all. Not everyone who lives in a mobile home is trailer trash which is what I felt this book was implying.
I did feel like all the characters in Edison Jones and The ANTI-GRAV Elevator were very fleshed out and realistic. Edison is extremely intelligent when it comes to science, but he struggles with fitting in as he’s been sheltered his whole life. Even though Edison isn’t your average 12 year old when it comes to smarts, it was refreshing to see just how average he was when it came to navigating friendships and romance. I loved reading about Edison’s thought process when it came to his crush on Carly as well as his friendship between Bree, Hondo, and Carly. I liked how Edison, for the most part, wouldn’t give that bully, Markie Franks, the satisfaction of knowing that he bothered him. I admired Hondo after all he had been through. Throughout most of the book, I was trying to figure out if Hondo was a genuine person or if he would end up double crossing Edison. Bree and Carly were great friends to Edison, and it was obvious how much they admired Edison. I liked how they would stand up for him. The Breakstone Twins were also very interesting. I can’t wait to see more of them in future books (if the author chooses to make this a series). I liked how cunning and calculated they both were.
Trigger warnings for Edison Jones and The ANTI-GRAV Elevator include some profanity, name calling including using the word “pussy”, some stereotyping, some violence, bullying, attempted murder, murder, a mention of drugs (being stoned), some underage smoking, and a mention of beer.
All in all, Edison Jones and The Anti-GRAV Elevator is a fantastic story that straps you in for a very exciting adventure throughout its pages. The plot is fantastic, the characters are diverse, and the action abounds. I would definitely recommend Edison Jones and The ANTI-GRAV Elevator by Michael Scott Clifton to those aged 13+ who seek adventure in their life. This would appeal mostly to those interested in science, but I think everyone who enjoys a solid story would like it.
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(A special thank you to Lone Star Literary Life for the tour and to Michael Scott Clifton for sending me a paperback of Edison Jones and The ANTI-GRAV Elevator in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
“You know, sometimes…sometimes I wish I could be more like you.”
Edison Jones and the Anti-Grav Elevator by Michael Scott Clifton is a glorious middle grade/young adult adventure about forging new friendships, overcoming limitations, and battling bullies, both young and old. Twelve-year-old Edison Jones has been in a wheelchair since he was five, disabled from a car accident that claimed the lives of his parents. Only that car accident was no accident. Raised by his wealthy grandfather, owner of LogicTech, Edison has everything he needs at his mansion to nurture his curiosity and natural ability for science and all things technical, but he has no friends his own age. While finally entering public school is a daunting experience because of his disability, Edison discovers something even more important than knowledge: friendship.
When bullies, both at school and at his grandfather’s company, threaten Edison and his new invention that will allow NASA to send higher payloads beyond Earth’s atmosphere both easier and more cost effectively, Edison and his new friends must band together and fight a dangerous battle between right and wrong; life and death.
Michael Scott Clifton knows how to warm the reader’s heart and keep that same reader on the edge of the seat at the same time. As Edison’s friendships with Hondo, Carly, and Bree unfold throughout the chapters, danger seems to lurk around every corner. The technological aspects are fun, engaging, and interesting, and the bullies and evildoers keep the story at an explosive level. No dull moments in this story.
Clifton’s writing is easy to navigate but in no way too simplistic for the mature audience. Although the story may be targeted for the younger reader, everyone can derive enjoyment from this unique story about an unusually smart and gifted boy who finally realizes that he is not defined by his disability but by his honesty, integrity, and the sincere joy he finds in his relationships with his new friends, his doting grandfather, and his body guard/physical therapist, Carney. That moral of the story is crystal clear, but another moral is that home should be a safe haven filled with love, laughter, and safety. Edison’s friend Hondo finally sees how a loving family is supposed to act, and no other gift is greater than having a safe place to land each night.
Edison Jones and the Anti-Grav Elevator is a fun journey that may have you scratching your head at all the technical jargon, but thanks to Hondo, who insists Edison doesn’t speak like the boy genius that he is, quite a bit of that techno-speak is much easier to grasp. Either way, the entire story will capture your attention and imagination and maybe even cause you to ponder your own unique gifts and the wondrous relationships in your life.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.