Starred Review ALA Booklist (Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Starred Review This first (if we're lucky) in a new series of middle-grade graphic novels finds 10-year-old science nerd/wizard Julian Calendar entering a new school where he hopes to find the popularity that's eluded him all these years. Instead, he finds athlete Ben and "bad girl" Greta to be unlikely fellow gadgeteers. And their science alliance comes together not a moment too soon, as there's trouble brewing around a sneaky scientist looking to snatch the team's own invention notebook. Davis, who proved capable of similarly charming work with the TOON book Stinky (2008) for younger readers, celebrates smarts and blows apart nerdy stereotypes, all while piling on crazy gadgets and delivering lessons as to what's really valuable in life (hint: not popularity). Her figures have the rounded solidity of a (much) less intense Chris Ware, and her rooms are crowded with technology young readers will spend hours picking through. Some of the more feasible inventions are even accompanied by schematics for really motivated readers. This heaping helping of fun recalls the gee-whiz wonderment of Johnny Quest cartoons and, hopefully, paves the way for a whole new generation of bright, can-do kids in smart, edifying adventures.

Starred Review for Publishers Weekly

Meet red-headed Julian, glasses-wearing science geek. Starting at a new junior high school, Julian is determined to hide his intelligence and his interests in order to be more like a normal kid and in hopes of not getting bullied and teased. Two unlikely figures emerge from the crowd: Greta, a tough girl known to be a “dangerous maniac,” who wears a bike helmet at all times, and Ben, talented athlete and supposed “dumb jock.” Julian is surprised to find that these two share his love of science, and the three form the titular alliance, inventing pranks and contraptions, and stopping a crime. Everything about this very original story works. The ebullient characters are well-defined and well-designed; dramatic tension rises and falls at just the right pace; dialogue is snappy, funny and real; and the art is stunning. Davis uses Rube Goldberg/Chris Ware techniques to create splashy and bright pages filled with curious machines, maps, diagrams and closeup details of secret laboratories. The story is sprinkled with inventions (including the “Distract-a-Dad,” “Stinkometer,” and “Secret Science Submarine”) and facts about science, all designed to enthrall young readers with its sense of discovery. Ages 8–12. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Sept.)

Horn Book

The secret invention notebook belonging to eleven-year-old Julian Calendar and his friends is stolen by an evil inventor. It's up to the young scientists to save their inventions and prevent another theft. This action-packed graphic novel also touches on issues including friendship and bullying. The cartoon-filled pages are visually stimulating but make the story somewhat difficult to follow.

Kirkus Reviews (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Julian Calendar has a plan to avoid being a friendless nerd at his new school: Play dumb and pretend to love sports. Two weeks later, he's not been labeled a nerd, but he still has no friends. Then an encrypted invitation arrives. Julian is surprised to find supposed trouble-maker Greta and superjock Ben waiting to invite him to join their inventor's club, and the Secret Science Alliance is born. The three happily invent in their secret underground clubhouse until they incur the disdain of stodgy, mean, local inventor Dr. Stringer. When their idea book vanishes, there's only one suspect. In getting the book back, the SSA uncovers an even more dastardly plot. With its frenetically eye-catching, full-color panels chock-full of humorous and informative detail, Davis's first (of many, one hopes) graphic adventure of the SSA pumps new life into the kids'-secret-society formula. With its bounty of factlets slipped in for learning on the sly, it's a sure kid and teacher pleaser—a perfect package for tweens. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

School Library Journal (Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Gr 3-7 Julian Calendar, 11, is a supersmart transfer student trying desperately to fit in at his new middle school. Just when he starts to believe that hell never find his place, he discovers two other brilliant minds and together they form the Secret Science Alliance. These three braniacs create their own book of blueprints for such cunning creations as the stinkometer, sticky and dangerous gluebombs, and the flying Kablovsky Copter. However, their blueprints are stolen by evil Dr. Stringer, who has plans for them. Daviss first long-form comic is packed full of detail down to every minute tool in the Alliances workshop, and the flying words and panels move the story at a quick pace. Daviss creativity is evident from the myriad gadgets and schemes of the story. Children will see, through these inventions and the triumph of the protagonists, that science can be cool. Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Kearns Library, UT