Bibliography
Gutman, D. (2001). The Edison mystery. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.
Summary of the Plot
13 year old Qwerty Stevens goes back in time to meet the great inventor Thomas Alva Edison. Qwerty lives in New Jersey and when he was mad or in a bad mood he went to the backyard to dig holes. While digging one of these holes he found a box with a message posted on it. The message said "The world is not ready for this. I'm not sure it ever will be." It was dated 1879. Qwerty figures out how to use the machine which transports him back into time but someone must be at the computer to push the escape key to return him to present day time. So he and his sister begin taking turns with the machine seeing different places and times in history. However at one point she follows Qwerty back in time where he is visiting with Thomas Edison. While they are visiting Edison he invents the light bulb, but they have no way to get back to the future where they came from. Finally, the little sister pushes the escape key on the computer to return Qwerty and Barbara to the right time.
Vi's Vibes
The Edison Mystery was very good. It dealt with history as well as adventure in the life of the main character. Qwerty was able to meet the inventor Thomas Edison and be present when the light bulb was invented. The author wove historical facts into this mystery so that students would learn a bit of information while reading a great book.
Reviews
Gr 4-8-After a fight with his mother, 13-year-old Qwerty Stevens retreats to the backyard to dig off his bad mood. He unearths what he thinks is an early Thomas Edison phonograph, a not-completely crazy thought as Qwerty lives in what was once the inventor's backyard. To his surprise, though, his find turns out to be a device that sends Qwerty first to Spain, then back in time to Edison's lab, where the inventor is hard at work on the lightbulb. Through a series of mishaps, Qwerty's older sister, the only other person who knows how to work the machine, ends up with him in 1879. The two teens realize they are stuck in the past unless the famous inventor can get them home. The story is chock-full of interesting tidbits about Edison's life, opinions, and staff, and provides a good glimpse of life in the 19th century. In one scenario, Qwerty escapes outside to "shoot some hoops" with Jimmy Naismith and helps "invent" basketball. Gutman includes photos and patent drawings to bring more detail to Edison's work, as well as a subplot involving a man who has a get-rich-quick scheme and follows Qwerty back in time. Overall, this is an entertaining novel that should draw fans of time-travel stories, Gutman's other books, historical fiction, and light fiction. Pass it on to readers who are looking for something good and funny.-Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA
School Library Journal August 2001
Utilization for Library Classes
For this book, I would have the students pick a historical event that they would like to witness and write about it. How would they go back in time? Why did they pick this event? How would they return to their time frame?
Or perhaps instead of a historical event perhaps a person in history that they would like to meet. Why would they enjoy meeting that person?
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