The Buoyancy Project: Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures–Book 2 by Marsha Tufft is a young reader's dream. The author has created a work of entertaining fiction with STEM in mind. It's education wrapped in a fantastic story, and you can't get much better than that--way tastier than medicine disguised in sugar. This is book 2 of 3 in a series and has characters, situations, and themes children grades 4 through 6 can relate to. Let's start with math phobia. Putney is tasked with designing a cardboard boat for a school project, but is paired with Sue, her biggest adversary. How will that work out? Then we can mix in physics, science, engineering, creativity, art, and magic, of course. This offering is chock-full of ideas, projects, and practical solutions. If you're a young reader challenged by certain subjects or even an adult, or just want a good adventure, this book is for you.

Tufft is gifted at spinning information into a captivating story. As you read, you'll realize right away that the author's heart (and brain) are in the right place--centered on children, the concepts they can learn, and how they can learn it. As Tufft shows, learning should be about more than facts and figures--it should be an amazing adventure. This is the beauty of the book. Besides being educational, this book is also a guide for thoughtful behavior, good choices, and better interpersonal communication. The academics can be used in the classroom, and life lessons can be used in real-world situations. Overall, the book teaches children to think for themselves and figure things out. The illustrations add an even better understanding of the story. The plot is fresh, the characters are resourceful, and the dialogue is energetic--a perfect combination of all the elements you'd want in a children's book. Don't pass up the opportunity to read or gift The Buoyancy Project by Marsha Tufft.

The Buoyancy Project: Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures, Book 2 by Marsha Tufft is an engaging book for middle-grade students. Putney and her family have recently moved to South Carolina and she finds herself involved in many activities with interesting challenges to solve. Putney is inquisitive and intelligent and works diligently to find solutions to projects while also helping her friends and neighbors. Putney is constantly observing the world around her and her quest for knowledge is inspiring. An exceptional and futuristic tablet assists Putney throughout her adventures. It is enjoyable to follow along with Putney Hicks and her friends as they are all curious and capable characters. This captivating story is filled with scientific and mathematical data as well as an appreciation for the arts and literature.

Marsha Tufft seamlessly demonstrates how science, math, and engineering are woven throughout our daily lives. Putney also shares her creative side through her painting, art sketches, and useful inventions. As readers follow Putney and her friends throughout their days, this original book encourages critical thinking skills in an entertaining way. The importance and benefits of teamwork are also highlighted as Putney becomes part of several different competitions. Middle-grade readers will relate to Putney as she courageously takes on adventures and solves problems. Readers will also be fascinated by the many capabilities of Putney’s tablet. Parents, teachers, and librarians will want to have The Buoyancy Project as it offers a valuable resource for learning about science, math, and technology in an absorbing and exciting manner.

The Buoyancy Project is the second book in Marsha Tufft’s Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures. The heroine, Putney Hicks, takes on the next scientific challenge: to build a boat out of cardboard and duct tape, and then waterproof it with some plastic sheeting, then race it to see if it will float. The mathematical challenge lies in making it waterproof to make it stay afloat for a long period. Plus, there is the added emotional intelligence challenge, as she is paired with her arch-rival, Sue Wexford, who is one of the uber-rich kids at school. Putney makes a new friend in Rags, her neighbor’s dog that she rescues from a rip current. Putney has an epiphany about their school project when she and Rags explore an alligator-infested lagoon. Can she design an unsinkable boat? Is there anything she can learn from alligators? Will she and Sue be able to work harmoniously?

Author Marsha Tufft understands the importance of collaboration in the life of a child and how it develops skills that they need for the real world. This story exemplifies the way Putney Hicks helps young readers understand the need to face that which makes them uncomfortable. Unlike other heroes and heroines in young adventure stories geared toward fourth and fifth graders, Putney understands her place in her family, in school, and in the neighborhood. She has a clear-eyed view of what she wants to be and the things that spark her interest. Tufft chooses to project her heroine this way to encourage young girls to develop the same interest in Math and Science as Putney does. This makes her distinct from many other young girl characters, and she is not confined to stereotypically feminine behavior. Tufft’s insightful writing makes The Buoyancy Project a fascinating and entertaining read, and it is bound to make Putney Hicks become a beloved character, maybe even for generations.