Hello readers! My name is E. I am here to tell you about another book series perfect for kids 8+. The series I am covering is the N.E.R.D.S book series by Michael Buckley. You may know him from another popular book series of his called Sisters Grimm. It is about two sisters who investigate fairy-tale crimes in modern times.
Today I want to introduce you to another series of his that is just as fun. Let’s take a look at N.E.R.D.S.
The N.E.R.D.S Book Series for Tweens
N.E.R.D.S is an acronym that stands for the National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society. It is a top-secret government program that turns average kids into super-spies. The government uses special nano byte enhancements that are similar to superpowers. Together, the kids save the world from supervillains and other threats. Cool, huh?
The Super Spies
So, who are these kid agents?! The agents of N.E.R.D.S are:
- Jackson “Braceface” Jones, a jock fallen from grace after he gets braces. His enhancements can turn his braces into anything he can imagine.
- Ruby “Pufferfish” Peet, a Jewish girl allergic to almost everything including pizza, nuts, being peppy, dishonesty, and sneak attacks.
- Mathilda “Wheezer” Choi, a Korean-American girl with asthma, whose inhaler’s can make her fly and release sonic blasts.
- Duncan “Gluestick” Dewey, an African-American paste-eater who can shoot glue from his fingertips and climb walls.
- Julio “Flinch” Escala, a hyperactive Hispanic boy who uses sugar to fuel a harness that allows him to lift great weights and run at superhuman speeds.
- Heathcliff “Chompers” Hodges, a boy who uses his oversized front teeth and special toothpaste to control minds.
- Mindy “The Hyena” Beauchamp, a former child beauty queen and wannabe assassin converted to the N.E.R.D.S cause.
As you can see, their superpowers are a little different. The kids’ perceived weaknesses become their strengths. It’s a pretty good lesson for kids. Don’t you think?
Other Heroes and Villains
There are a variety of other interesting heroes and villains in the books. They have characters like Miss Holiday, the Lunch Lady, Dumb Vinci, Dr. Jigsaw, and Albert Nesbit.
There are many well-written character arcs in the series, most notably Heathcliff and The Hyena. The characters are well fleshed-out and have their own habits and personality traits that come out in the books.
However, there isn’t a truly overarching story. The books focus more on character development; kind of like a coming-of-age story for all the kids that are seen throughout the five books.
The five story plots cover:
- a story of a virus that turns people into supervillains
- a plot about a girl becoming a cheerleader to stop a girl from robbing other dimensions
- a revenge plot involving a comic book geek and mind-controlled squirrels
So what are the five books in the series? They are:
- National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society
- M is for Mama’s Boy
- The Cheerleaders of Doom
- The Villain Virus
- The Attack of the B.U.L.L.I.E.S
Another interesting thing about the book series, besides the characters and storylines, is that the author repeatedly interacts with the readers. He uses “security scanners” and different joke quizzes to see whether the reader is worthy to be a N.E.R.D.S. agent. It’s a nice touch and makes the books even more fun.
It should be noted these books are chapter books. You will occasionally find illustrations in the book. Not many, though. The illustrator is Ethen Beavers (who also does illustrations for the covers). He does a good job capturing the personalities and looks of the characters.
Overall Thoughts on the Book Series
In conclusion, the N.E.R.D.S book series is for anyone above the age of eight who wants a fun, easy read with a quirky sense of humor. The N.E.R.D.S series, just like Buckley’s other works, is very well-paced and well-written and has protagonists you root for and villains who are colorful and creatively named. If you are looking for a rainy-day or weekend read, the N.E.R.D.S. series should be your go-to books.
If you want to read other reviews I’ve done, check out:
Happy Reading!
