S.M.A.R.T.S. Books in Order

The S.M.A.R.T.S. books are middle grade mysteries built around kids who would rather solve a problem than just guess at it. The series centers on a makerspace club at school, so science is not just decoration here. It is the tool kit. When something strange happens, the club members test ideas, notice patterns, and work their way toward answers instead of stumbling into them by luck.

That gives the books a nice rhythm.

Each mystery starts with something that sounds impossible or at least wildly suspicious, an invisible robot, poisoned lunch trays, a missing UFO, a menacing droid, a Mars mission gone wrong. The fun comes from watching the kids pull those big, attention-grabbing setups back into the world of evidence, engineering, chemistry, and plain old careful thinking.

The school setting helps too. These are not distant adventures in fantasy worlds. The problems show up in hallways, cafeterias, science rooms, and after-school spaces kids will recognize. Friendships matter, so do rivalries, reputations, and the fear of being blamed when you did not do anything wrong. That keeps the stakes age-appropriate but still urgent.

The tone is energetic and accessible. Melinda Metz clearly enjoys the puzzle side of these books, but she never lets the science crowd out the story. You get facts and reasoning, yes, but you also get teamwork, nerves, and the small social dramas that make school mysteries feel lived-in.

For younger readers who like clues, gadgets, and the idea that being smart is useful in a crisis, S.M.A.R.T.S. is a very easy sell. It is mystery fiction that quietly makes the case for curiosity, and that is a pretty good trick.