Both Nick and the Accelerati have learned that the strange objects Nikola Tesla left in Nick's attic are pieces of a Far Range Energy Emitter, capable of transmitting "free energy" to the globe. Some components of the contraption are still missing, but the objects themselves seem to be leading Nick to their current owners. Each piece is with the person who needs it the most.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>But there are plenty of obstacles: Nick finds his judgment impaired by Caitlin's intoxicating closeness, not to mention her ex-boyfriend Theo's jealous sabotage; Mitch has to choose between pleasing Petula or helping Nick; and Vince, who gets his hands on some light-absorbing drapes, is so taken by the darkness, he can't let them go. <BR><BR>The Accelerati, meanwhile, are still around every corner, and they manage to beat Nick to a few more objects. They use the few pieces of Tesla's technology they've recovered to create a storm and convince local officials that the Tesla F.R.E.E. is hazardous.The objects are confiscated by the Accelerati as the town brings in a wrecking ball to demolish Nick's house.<BR><BR>The Accelerati transport the objects back to their lab, hidden under the Edison Museum in Menlo Park, New Jersey. Nick knows that is where he'll find his destiny.<BR></DIV><DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV><DIV><STRONG>Praise for <EM>Tesla's Attic</EM></STRONG></DIV><DIV><BR>"Lively, intelligent prose elevates this story of teenagers versus mad scientists, the third-person point of view offering a stage to various players in their play of galactic consequence. A wild tale in the spirit of <I>Back to the Future</I>, with a hint of Malamud's <I>The Natural</I> tossed in."--<EM>Kirkus Reviews</EM></DIV><BR><BR>"This collaboration between Shusterman and Elfman tempers the scarier elements of Nick's quest with deft, humorous writing and plenty of the ordinary adventures of a new kid in school finding his niche. Hand this one to fans of Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles or Kenneth Oppel's Airborne."--<EM>Booklist </EM><BR><BR>* "...Shusterman and Elfman have crafted a plot more devious, characters far quirkier, climaxes (yes, there are two) more breathless, and a narration much, much funnier than recent mad-science offerings. Sticking with a third-person narration frees the authors to be as wryly and sophisticatedly witty as they please without compromising the veracity of their middle-school cast, resulting in storytelling as delightful as the story being told." <BR> -<EM>Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books </EM>(starred review)<BR><BR><BR><BR><DIV>