1 A Group of Three The new message alert went off on Bridget’s smartphone Even though she was running late she couldn’t resist checking it Kids at Blue Lake Junior High were allowed to use their phones during school but only between classes and at lunch Check this out Trevor had written her He included a link to a website in his message Trevor was president of Blue Lake’s Tech Club and since Bridget was probably the most tech-obsessed 12-year-old in the universe he always sent her links to tech stuff Bridget glanced at the time She had a minute to spare before her third-period science class so she opened the link Regional Technology in Science Fair read the website’s headline Bridget skimmed 5
the text with interest Junior high and high school students were invited to submit science projects that involved using technology to study an environmental topic The prize for first place was 2,000 Bridget’s heart beat faster thinking of all the cool gadgets and apps she could buy with that money And she was seriously low on cash after upgrading her smartphone last month As she ducked into her classroom Bridget read that Margaret Knutson would be judging the contest Dr Knutson was a technology scientist who had developed special tracking collars for endangered wolves Bridget had read about her work on several social networking sites 2,000 and a chance to meet Dr Knutson Bridget thought taking her seat I have to enter Please take out your tablets and look at chapter seven Ms Diaz Bridget’s science teacher said as she breezed into the room Bridget put her phone in her backpack She’d check out how to enter the contest later We’re going to start our final group research project today Ms Diaz explained 6
Project Bridget perked up This might give her a perfect opportunity to enter the Technology in Science Fair Plus I’ve already got my group partners picked out Bridget thought glancing over at her friends Eric and Emma Third-period science class was probably the best part of Bridget’s day It was the only class that she Emma and Eric were all in together Emma had been Bridget’s best friend forever and Eric lived next door to her Better yet Eric and Emma usually got along with each other Ms Diaz had assigned seats so Bridget didn’t sit next to Eric or Emma during class But they often worked on group projects and studied for tests together Ms Diaz was showing the pages from chapter 7 on the classroom’s Smart Board Bridget sat up a little straighter in her seat as she pulled up the chapter on her own tablet computer Because Bridget loved all things tech she found it easier to pay attention in class if her teachers used technology too Bridget’s whole life revolved around technology Her father was Nick Grant 7
