Rube Goldberg

The hilarious first book in an all-new illustrated middle-grade series starring young inventor Rube Goldberg On the first day of middle school, Principal Kim announces that the school is going to throw a Contraption Convention-the perfect opportunity for young inventor Rube Goldberg to show off his inventions and get out of his summer-long funk! But after a fight with his friends Pearl and Boob about where his priorities really lie, Rube's Con Con entry gets off to a rocky start-and then strange incidents begin to throw the town into disarray. Boob is convinced it's a ghost causing all of this chaos. Between Con Con, the ghostly mystery, and a new rival, Rube has his work cut out for him. But with the help of his friends, he might just get things back on track, get on top of his burgeoning anxieties, and come up with something brilliant before it's time to face the judging table.

Rube and his machines may have saved the day last week, but middle school is just getting started! One of Rube's best friends, Pearl, is running for class president, and Rube knows just the gadget to help her win … or so he thinks. No matter what he does, all of his attempts to help Pearl end up backfiring. To make things worse, popular girl Emilia invites Rube to go with her to the big Switcheroo Dance-that is, if he invents something special to help her impress her followers online. Meanwhile, shops around town are being forced to close as a mysterious corporation buys up their land. Even the Rosens, who own Rube's favorite antique store, may get bullied into shutting down. Can Rube and his machines uncover the truth in time to stop it?

Evil Professor Zeero has disappeared, Superintendent Atwater has been put in his place, and all is right again in Beechwood . . . or is it? When Rube Goldberg discovers the Null Corporation is building a giant machine in his beloved junkyard, he suspects something nefarious is at play. Then when he begins receiving anonymous messages from someone claiming to be an ally, he knows something is up. Together with his best friends Boob and Pearl, as well as friends like Reina, Lala, and Davin, Rube sets out to find out just what the company has planned for their town. To throw a wrench in things, Rube's dad has made an unexpected trip home, and Rube struggles to find the best way to share his new passion for problem-solving with the person he loves the most. Can Rube find all the answers he needs in time to save Beechwood?