Jake struggles in school. In Jake’s frustration, he has turned to his school’s urban legend about the Wishing Well behind his school. It’s really a storm drain, but if he throws his most favorite item into the well, his wish will come true. Jake runs threw thunder and lightning to the well and throws in the gift from Aunt Margaret, a set of the Heroes of History figurines. “I really am a dummy, Jake thought angrily. Not even the Wishing Well can help a dummy like me. … ‘I wish someone could just do this for me!’ he cried. POP!” (14-15) So began The Tiny Geniuses series.

Now in book #2, Jake has the fourth grade Living History Night to prepare. Jake draws the name of Benjamin Franklin out of box for his project’s subject. Yikes, this means Jake will have to emcee the fourth grade program at Franklin Elementary School, too. When Jake wishes for extra help – POP! (19)

Ella Fitzgerald (three inches tall) materializes for Jake. Why Ella Fitzgerald? Jake’s best friend Emerson comes over to Jake house after school wearing a Benjamin Franklin bald cap, red tail coat, and half spectacles. Emerson takes Jake to the theater department where his mother works to see more props for his project. They take Ella along with them. Ella loves singing on stage again. Ella Fitzgerald introduces Jake to stage presence.

Jake still needs help with his script for the program. Ella has written a song for him, but Jake does not see this as a help. His singing is not good. ” ‘I wish I could sing and dance. I wish it could be that easy. But it’s not. And I wish that somebody else – anybody else– could help me’ –. POP!” (60)

A three inch tall Benjamin Franklin is now here to help Jake. Franklin is more interested in finding the perfect storm to test his lightning is electricity theory, than in helping Jake.

Along the way Jake figures out with to connect each of the historical characters in the program with one of Franklin’s inventions. The night of the program an electrical storm outside, knocks out the power at school. While the lights are out and before the emergency generator kicks-in, Ella encourages Jake to go on with the show. The show is a great success!

After the show, “A sizzling sound, like lightning tearing through velvet, filled Jake’s ears. He watched in astonishment as a section of the theater curtain burned away, creating a glittering hole. …Ms. Fitzgerald linked her arm through his[Franklin’s] , and together they disappeared through the enchanted rip in the curtain. With another burst of light, the hole sealed behind them. Just like that, there was no sign that Ms. Fitzgerald or Mr. Franklin had ever been there.” (114-115)

Each of the 12 chapters flies onto the page with the illustration of a skeleton key attached to a kite in flight.

“A Note from the Author” ends the book with added information about Ella Fitzgerald and Benjamin Franklin.