Ada Lace and the Impossible Mission (An Ada Lace Adventure)

Ada Lace and the Impossible Mission (An Ada Lace Adventure)

From Emily Calandrelli—Emmy-nominated host of Xploration Outer Space , correspondent on Bill Nye Saves the World , and graduate of MIT—comes the fourth novel in a fun illustrated chapter book series about an eight-year-old girl with a knack for science, math, and solving mysteries with technology. Third grader and inventor extraordinaire Ada Lace has a new social studies teacher—who loves group projects. While most of the class has constructed regular dioramas with clay and construction paper, Ada, her best friend Nina, and sometimes nemesis Milton have built a complex scale model of an historic silver mine. But when Milton reveals that he added his “old Milton touch” on their project right before turning it in, Ada worries that he has sabotaged their work. In a desperate attempt to save their project, Ada and Nina use their combined creative and technical prowess to perform a heist and break into their teacher’s supply closet after school. Do the two friends have what it takes to deceive the school’s security system? Or will they get caught trying to pull off this seemingly impossible mission? Emily Calandrelli is an MIT engineer turned Emmy-nominated science TV host. She’s the host and coexecutive producer of Emily’s Wonder Lab on Netflix, featured as a correspondent on Netflix’s Bill Nye Saves the World , and an executive producer and host of Fox’s Xploration Outer Space . Emily is the author of the picture book Reach for the Stars , the science experiment book Stay Curious and Keep Exploring , and the science chapter book series the Ada Lace Adventures. The third book in the series was launched to the International Space Station through the Story Time from Space program. Learn more at TheSpaceGal.com. Tamson Weston is the author of Hey, Pancakes! , illustrated by Stephen Gammell, and has over fifteen years experience in children’s book publishing. She works as a freelance editor and has edited books by acclaimed authors such as Adam Rex, Mac Barnett, and Dan Santat, among others. She has an MFA in writing and literature and enjoys running, biking, swimming, and lifting heavy things. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at TamsonWeston.com. Renee Kurilla is a children’s book author and #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator. She loves drawing nature, animals, and working on projects that require a little bit of research! Some of her author-illustrator titles include the It’s Fall! , It’s Winter! , and The Flower Garden (a 2026 Illinois Monarch Award nominee). She has illustrated many books for other authors as well including Just Because by Matthew McConaughey, Today at School by Jessica Young, Farm Boots by Lisl H. Detlefsen, and the Ada Lace Adventure series by Emily Calandrelli. Renee has a BFA in illustration and a minor in graphic design from Lesley University College of Art & Design. Before transitioning to a full-time career in children’s books, she was a lead artist at FableVision Studios in Boston for ten years. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her illustrator husband, their nine-year-old daughter, a corgi puppy named Yoshi, and a million stuffed animals. Ada Lace and the Impossible Mission Chapter One OUT OF THE CLINK Ada Lace. It concerns me to see you in detention,” said Ms. Lily. “I know you love science, and your curiosity is admirable. But it has its limits. You can’t just help yourself to school equipment after hours. Am I making myself clear?” “Yes, Ms. Lily,” said Ada. “The rules are for everyone to follow. You don’t get special treatment because your dad’s a teacher here.” “I know, Ms. Lily. I didn’t mean . . .” Ms. Lily held up her hand, and Ada closed her mouth. She’d always gotten along well with her principal. It didn’t feel good to be in trouble with her. “I know you know. But it doesn’t hurt for you to hear it from me. Now, let’s make sure we don’t meet like this again, okay?” “Okay, Ms. Lily.” • • • Milton was waiting outside. They had been on opposite sides of the room in the same detention. “How come you didn’t have to talk to her?” Ada asked. “Aw, they’re used to seeing me here. Stick with me, kid. They’ll get used to you, too.” “No, thanks,” said Ada. Ada and Milton hadn’t been doing anything bad. Not really. They had just found a weird bug after school, and they used the science lab to dissect it. Ada had permission to be in the art room after school, with her dad, or outside, but all the other classrooms were off-limits. “I never thought Ms. Azalea would turn us in. She’s usually so nice!” said Ada. “Yeah, but the risk is half the fun, right?” said Milton. “Speak for yourself,” said Ada. They got to the west entrance, near Mr. Lace’s room. Milton was supposed to meet his mom outside. “Wanna hang out later?” Milton asked. “Nah, I have homework,” said Ada, “and I’m not allowed to hang out today anyway.” “Tomorrow?” “If Nina can come too.” “I guess,” said Milton. Ada kept hoping th