It started with a spark and led to the lights on Broadway. For the tell-me-why-and-how young reader, this book puts the spotlight on Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla, and highlights the role he played in electrifying the world.
Rusch creates a compelling biography; readers learn about Tesla's initial collaboration with the better-known American electrical engineer Thomas Edison, which devolved into their well-documented rivalry. Told from Tesla's point of view, readers will root for Tesla to win the contract to light up the Chicago World's Fair despite the (not particulary accurate) campaign to show that Edison's direct current (DC) was safer than Tesla's alternating current (AC). The text and back matter, filled with clear scientific notes on electricity, will lead readers to seek out additional information on this fascinating subject. --Susannah Richards, associate professor, Eastern Connecticut State University