The Edison Mystery : Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time [Hardcover]

Dan Gutman (Author), John Ward (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Qwerty Stevens Adventures

What is in the mysterious wooden box that Thomas Edison buried in his backyard more than a hundred years ago? Why didn't he feel the world was ready for this amazing invention?

And after thirteen-year-old Qwerty Stevens digs up the secret box in the twenty-first century, why does the creepy Ashley Quadrel want to get his hands on it so badly? How will Qwerty and his sisters, Barbara and Madison, use Edison's machine to save a life and make history?

No need to ask all these questions! Just read Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time: The Edison Mystery, which blends fact and fiction into a thrilling time-travel adventure jammed with surprising twists, eccentric characters, and maybe even a few laughs.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

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

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Dan Gutman is the author of many popular books for young readers, such as The Kid Who Ran for President, Honus and Me, The Million Dollar Shot, and Landslide! A Kid's Guide to the U.S. Elections. He lives in Haddonfield, New Jersey, with his wife, Nina, and their two children.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1st edition (June 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689841248
• ISBN-13: 978-0689841248
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

This is hard. I'm a pretty regular Jersey guy who spent fifteen years trying to write newspaper articles, magazine articles, screenplays, books for adults, and just about everything else before I discovered the one thing I'm good at--writing fiction for kids. I aim for kids who DON'T like to read, and hopefully the kids who DO like to read will enjoy my stuff too. For all the gory details about me, check out my web site.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Qwerty Stevens Back in Time: The Edison Mystery, August 23, 2001

By 

Dawn G. Green (Bloomfield, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Edison Mystery : Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time (Hardcover)

Thirteen-year-old Robert Stevens, known as Qwerty for the mistake he made in his third grade keyboarding class, unearths in his backyard a large mysterious wooden box that has the name Thomas Edison inscribed with gold lettering.

Qwerty and his best friend Joey who lives in West Orange, New Jersey in a community called Llewellyn Park bordering the mansion that Edison once lived in,locked themselves in his room to discover what was in the aged box. To their surprise, it was Thomas Edison's time Machine.

Unsure whether to give the machine to the authorities, sell it for millions, or take it to school to show off to their friends, the boys decided to find out how the time machine works before bringing it out of obscurity.

Qwerty hooked up the wires from the machine to his computer and with a touch of a button he was transported into Thomas Edison's workshop where he helped him develop the electric light bulb. Qwerty Stevens had no problem getting there. However, he needs his older sister, whom he hardly says more than one word to, to help him return home safely.

The author cleverly depicts Edison's story while adding circumstances that bring his character into the 21st century. In addition to the text, Gutman includes a "Truth and Lies" section in the back of the book with one recommendation "Read the story first!" Also included are black and white photographs of Edison's mansion and laboratory. In the far back of the book is the chronology of Thomas Edison. Younger children will also enjoy this book as a great read aloud. Living in the next town over from West Orange, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book because the author captured the authenticity of the town. Children everywhere will enjoy this book but I know it will be a big hit in New Jersey.

5.0 out of 5 stars Didn't want the book to end, October 8, 2009

By 

A. Looney (Roseville, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Edison Mystery : Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time (Hardcover)

This review is in the words of my 8 1/2 year old son. If you like mysteries then you will love this book. Teenage brother and sister go back in time and help Thomas Edison invent the light bulb. This book has love, Thomas Edison, a miracle. It also has real pictures from 1879. You have to read this book - it rocks!

5.0 out of 5 stars My Son Loved This Book, December 17, 2007

By 

Concerned Father "Chuck" (Gibsonia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Back in Time with Thomas Edison:Qwerty Stevens Adventures (Paperback)

My 10 year old son who doesn't like to read loved this history based mystery. It was great to see him reading without me asking him to read. I read the book as well Dan Gutman did a great job of mixing an interesting story with history.