Kristina Perez (Sweet Black Waves) delivers an action-packed coming-of-age tale in The Tesla Legacy.
Diagnosed with epilepsy at a young age, 18-year-old Lucinda Minerva Phelps lives a very sheltered life--her professor parents home-school her and keep her on a strict diet, still treating "her like a live grenade despite the fact that she [hasn't] had a seizure for two years." After an argument leaves her restless, Lucy ventures into her father's office, where she stumbles upon a photograph of her younger self with the phrase Liber Librum Aperit ("One book opens another") scrawled on the back. The saying proves prophetic as the picture leads an intrigued Lucy to a hidden lab designed by Nikola Tesla. There, she touches "a copper egg" and discovers she has dormant electrical powers. Surprised and curious, Lucy immerses herself in research and learns about the Current Wars between Tesla and Edison. Her investigation is aided by the "captivating" British teaching assistant Ravi, who helps her explore the extent of her powers and the world her parents hid from her.
Perez merges history and science to create this brilliant contemporary teen novel. Extensively researched, The Tesla Legacy offers historical and scientific facts throughout, including, for example, the alchemist Cleopatra's research and the concept of tessellation. Lucy's development as a character is extensive: a science prodigy who conformed to traditional logic and reasoning, her beliefs evolve as the story unfolds. Lucy learns that "facts" aren't always true and that sometimes, to learn more, she must push her boundaries. An exceptional work, The Tesla Legacy features witty characters, girl-power and true growth, sure to leave fans hooked for the next installment. --Rifal Imam, 17