What if Thomas Edison had been studying alchemy? What if he'd found the scientific formula to successfully create gold from other metals? What if he had an enemy that wanted that formula for evil purposes? What would he do to hide it? That is the story that is told in Edison's Gold, a thrilling adventure story for children ages 8-12.

Edison's Gold flashes between the fictional story of Thomas A. Edison IV, a 7 th grader with A.D.D. and a penchant for wild experiments, and the story of Thomas A. Edison and his rival Nikola Tesla. Tom and his friends, Noodle and Colby, accidentally stumble across a hidden clue amongst some of his great-great grandfather's belongings. Deciphering the clue launches them into a dangerous scavenger hunt to discover the hidden secret of the Sub Rosa -- The Alchemy Papers.

Geoff Watson's first book is an exciting treasure hunt adventure, somewhat reminiscent of the National Treasure movies. The adventure is fascinating, keeping the reader's attention from start to finish. The book has no swearing, no romance, no magic, no potty humor, and no anti-parent attitudes. However, it is a secular book, and the characters are not perfect. The children sneak out, hide their activities from their parents, and even break the law by breaking into a closed museum exhibit. The break-in results in several consequences -- a trip to the police station, community service, and grounding by the parents -- but the sneaking out is never addressed by the parents even though they do discover it.

Though my daughters and I loved this book, I do have one concern. When books (and movies) borrow characters from history and then create fantastical fiction referencing minor details from their life, it can confuse children. Parents might need to address the differences between true historical accounts and historical fiction with their children. Technically, this book would not even fall into the historical fiction category, as it is primarily set in modern times.

Edison's Gold definitely ends with the promise of a sequel, or perhaps two, as Tom and his family vow to continue to protect The Alchemy Papers. I would definitely look forward to future books in this series by Geoff Watson. They're a fun read for reluctant readers as well as avid readers. I appreciate that even though they are not Christian books, they are safe for my children to read. I'd recommend them to anyone whose 8 to 12-year-old children enjoy adventure books and treasure hunts.