Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants
Book 2 of 7 in The QuestioneersView the full series
The second Questioneers chapter book: scientist Ada Twist uses the scientific method—and a lot of quick thinking—to rescue Rosie's Uncle Ned after his helium-filled trousers float him into the sky. Silly, high-flying STEM fun.
- Best for6–9
- FormatIllustrated
- Length144 pp
- Read aloud~58 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Funny
- Warm
- Silly
- Inspirational
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Ada Twist is a scientist through and through: she asks why, forms a hypothesis, gathers data and tests everything. She's busy investigating why hot coffee smells stronger than iced, and taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, when a real emergency lands in her lap. Rosie Revere's Uncle Ned has drifted off into the sky in his famous helium-filled pants, and it's up to Ada to bring him safely down. Working through the problem step by careful step—and borrowing some of her brother's equipment—Ada must turn Uncle Ned's runaway buoyancy into the very thing that saves him. From the bestselling team behind Ada Twist, Scientist, this illustrated chapter book puts the scientific method at the heart of a delightfully silly adventure. David Roberts's illustrations bring the runaway pants and the whole gang of Questioneers to life, while Beaty slips in real vocabulary and ideas that make science feel like the most exciting game in town.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Aimed at 6–9s reading independently, with short chapters and lots of David Roberts's illustrations to carry newer readers. It reads aloud well from about 5 and suits fans of the Ada Twist picture book and Netflix series wanting a longer story.
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 6–9
- Read aloud · 5–8
- Independent · 6–9
Prose load
Light
Visual support
High
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Stem for kids
- Girl scientists
- Funny adventure
- First chapter books
Avoid if
- Wants high peril
Particularly good for children who are…
- Interested in science
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
A grown-up floating away in helium trousers is exactly the kind of absurd emergency kids adore, and it's the smallest scientist in Blue River Creek who works out how to get him down. Ada's brain is the superpower here.
- Secret skill
- Proving yourself
- Making a difference
- Trickery and cleverness
Why parents love it
Beaty threads genuine science vocabulary and reasoning through a plot silly enough to keep any reader turning pages. Short chapters and generous illustrations make it a confidence-builder, and Ada is a wonderful model of a curious, determined girl.
- Educational for adult too
- Shared humour
In the series
The Questioneers.
7 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
