From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9?Many readers may have heard of the Tesla coil, but few understand what it is or know much about its inventor. This book partially fills that void in that it tells the story of the man's life, but it makes little attempt to explain his multitudes of inventions, which are basic to the use of alternating current and wireless transmission. He was a complex character?genius, showman, neurotic, recluse, and always more interested in giving the world cheap energy than in collecting on his patents?which may explain why we usually credit Marconi rather than Tesla with the invention of the radio. His internal complexity leads to some confusion in the text, but the result is far preferable to the paucity of information elsewhere. Good-quality, black-and-white photographs appear throughout.?Margaret Chatham, formerly at Smithtown Library, NYCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 5-9. The author traces the life and career of an eccentric but brilliant inventor and pioneer in the field of electricity, from his birth in Croatia through his technical training in Europe and his subsequent successes and frustrations in America. A less familiar name in this country than fellow inventor and rival, Thomas Edison, Tesla discovered and perfected the principle of alternating current (AC), as opposed to Edison's direct current (DC). The author credits Tesla, rather than Marconi, with the invention of the radio and discusses Tesla's pioneer work in the field of robotics. The writing is sometimes disjointed, and much of the material is overly anecdotal. The fact that the author is a member of the Tesla Memorial Society and a definite "fan" comes through loud and clear, but this is a reasonable choice for libraries searching for a wider range of biographies for younger readers, especially in the area of science, and for developing collections that offer a multiethnic look at human achievement. There are many black-and-white photos, a few technical drawings with basic explanations as to how various inventions worked, and a short bibliography of books and articles. Jeanne Triner

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Tesla was a friend to George Westinghouse and an archrival of Thomas Edison, Tesla's inventions made him a millionaire before he turned forty, yet he died in poverty. Few people today are aware of the many contributions he made to the quality of their lives.Author Carol Dommermuth-Costa introduces us to the turbulent life of Nikola Tesla.

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9-Many readers may have heard of the Tesla coil, but few understand what it is or know much about its inventor. This book partially fills that void in that it tells the story of the man's life, but it makes little attempt to explain his multitudes of inventions, which are basic to the use of alternating current and wireless transmission. He was a complex character-genius, showman, neurotic, recluse, and always more interested in giving the world cheap energy than in collecting on his patents-which may explain why we usually credit Marconi rather than Tesla with the invention of the radio. His internal complexity leads to some confusion in the text, but the result is far preferable to the paucity of information elsewhere. Good-quality, black-and-white photographs appear throughout.-Margaret Chatham, formerly at Smithtown Library, NY

BookList - Jeanne Triner