Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction

Dreaming in Code

four-stars

Interesting life story of a woman from the 1800s. Great for high school and women studies.

Ada  Byron Lovelace the daughter of Lord Byron was the first computer programmer. In the 1800s Ada Byron Lovelace had a strict divorced mother and poet Lord Byron for her dad. She spent a lot of time alone but was tutored in math problems, mental puzzles, and the scientific discovery method at a time when the industrial revolution was at its hight. When Ada was 17 she met Charles Babbage, an inventor, who she collaborated with. They worked on concepts that were the foundation for computers two hundred years before they became common.

Reviewed by Jeri Fitzpatrick, GNG Middle school, Gray

four-stars

Iron Will Surviving the Mountain

three-stars

Recommended for mature readers. It’s nonfiction.

This book contains 5 true stories of survival, a quiz, activity, glossary, read more, internet sites, and an index. It is part of the Iron Will series Jungle, Dessert, and Sea.

One of the stories is about a plane crash in the Andies and people survived by eating passengers who hadn’t survived the crash. Other stories talked about how some people lost limbs, fingers, and toes. Through determination and the will to live, they did.

Reviewed by Jeri Fitzpatrick, GNG Middle School, Gray

 

 

three-stars

Math in Science

Math in ScienceMath in Science by Nancy Dickmann
Published by Hungry Tomato (R) on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1541500989
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

Dickmann illustrates how math has been used for centuries and is behind many important discoveries.  Some of the topics covered include the periodic table, lenses, circumference, the sundial, triangles, and the metric system.  Readers are shown how math impacted all of these ideas, led to great discoveries (the arch), and continue influencing the world (satellites).  Each section provides a “Math in Action” activity with answers provided in the back of the book. Colorful pictures and drawings add understanding to each section.  Topics are briefly covered leaving the reader wishing for additional resources. Librarians and teachers will want to recommend this title to readers wondering why math matters and those looking for connections between math and science.  Recommended for ages 8-11.

Reviewed by Heather Hale, Easton School District, Easton

three-stars

Rotten

RottenRotten!: Vultures, Beetles, Slime, and Nature’s Other Decomposers by Anita Sanchez
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on January 22nd 2019
ISBN: 1328841650
Pages: 96
Goodreads
four-stars

Most everything decomposes.  How, where, and when depends on multiple factors.  Sanchez covers these and the role dung beetles, earthworms, fungi, and scavengers have in decomposition.  Other topics covered are rotting logs, rot and bacteria in food, what happens to our trash, and rotting people.   Information is presented in a humorous manner and in small chunks with many colorful illustrations, “Decomposer Selfies”, and “Rot it Yourself” sections.  Readers learn the difference between aerobic and anaerobic decomposition as well as fun facts such as butterflies love to land on poop. Readers may connect with the idea of a rotting log being a hotel hosting many organisms.  Notes, glossary, an index, and a bibliography are included. Older readers may find the amount of illustrations and colors distracting as well as wanting slightly more information. Younger readers may enjoy the cartoonish drawings, but find the reading level slightly challenging.  Most all readers interested in smelly things will find a new piece of information in this book. Recommended for ages 8-11.

Reviewed by Heather Hale, Easton School District, Easton

four-stars

Pandemic

PandemicPandemic: How Climate, the Environment, and Superbugs Increase the Risk by Connie Goldsmith
Published by Twenty-First Century Books (Tm) on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1512452157
Pages: 136
Goodreads
five-stars

Pandemic is a well written, well organized, informative book discussing the causes of and factors increasing the likelihood of a pandemic occurring within the next few decades. Climate change, increased travel, superbugs caused by overuse of antibiotics, conflict/crowding, and disruption of animal habitats all contribute to the risk of an upcoming pandemic (most likely influenza).  Various viruses and bacteria are covered detailing their history, case studies, and probability of being the next threat. The book wraps up with a chapter discussing how to prevent a pandemic including ways the reader can help (pack your own lunch). Goldsmith writes in a clear, easy to read manner without being sensationalizing while explaining unfamiliar words as well as explaining familiar words (bacteria, viruses, antibiotic).  Pictures, text boxes, charts, and a graphic organizer are interspersed throughout the book adding valuable information (how to safely remove a tick). Source notes, a glossary, an index, a bibliography, and many additional books, websites, video and audio recordings are listed for further information. Readers interested in pandemics or researching for a paper/presentation will find this book very valuable. Recommended for ages 12-17.

Reviewed by Heather Hale, Easton School District, Easton

five-stars

From an Idea to Nike

From an Idea to NikeFrom an Idea to Nike: How Marketing Made Nike a Global Success by Lowey Bundy Sichol
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on February 12th 2019
ISBN: 1328453626
Pages: 128
Goodreads
five-stars

Part of a series of business and entrepreneurial books for middle school students, From an Idea to Nike is part biography of majority owner Phil Knight and part timeline of how Nike was launched.  Knight, who grew up in Oregon, was a great track athlete. After graduating college, Knight knew that he wanted to create a running shoe company but had neither the capitol or the credentials.  Starting first as Blue Ribbon Sports and working with a Japanese shoe company (which would later become ASICS), Knight began selling the light-weight and comfortable shoes at track meets and road races.  Runners loved this new style. Knight approached his former college track coach Bill Bowerman to buy into the business and Bowerman soon started creating shoe concepts for manufacturing. After several years, Knight and the Japanese manufacturer parted ways.  Knight knew it was the right time to create a new company and Nike was born. Right from the beginning, Knight and Bowerman knew that finding athletes to endorse would be their approach to marketing and it proved to be a gold mine of an idea. Steve “Pre” Fontaine, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods are only a small portion of famous athletes who were paid by Nike to wear their apparel, furthering the brand’s famous Swoosh and status.  This slim nonfiction book is deceptively informative, well-written and extremely interesting. “Fun Facts” are interspersed throughout the chapters and business concepts and terminology are carefully and appropriately explained for its reading audience. With other titles in the series including Disney, Google and Lego, this is a perfect addition for collections looking to update their inventors and inventions sections.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook

five-stars

Manchester United

Manchester UnitedManchester United: Soccer Champions by Jeff Savage
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1541519876
Pages: 32
Goodreads
one-star

This book is one in Lerner’s Champion Soccer Clubs series. Chapter 1 starts with a confusing description of a game in the 2016-2017 season, instead of starting with an introduction to Manchester United. This opening might work for readers who already have an understanding of the team, but readers looking for an introduction to Manchester United or the sport of soccer will have to muddle through until Chapter 3 which provides background information. Although the book highlights fan-favorite players from the past, it is odd that only one of the three current players on the front of the book are mentioned in the text. The pictures throughout the book capture interesting action and will appeal to readers. The glossary in the back defines the highlighted words in the text. Source notes, an Index, and Further Reading resources are also provided. Consider for an additional purchase.

For Grades 4 and up.

Elizabeth Andersen, Westbrook High School

one-star

High: Everything You Want to Know About Drugs, Alcohol and Addiction

High: Everything You Want to Know About Drugs, Alcohol and AddictionHigh: Everything You Want to Know About Drugs, Alcohol, and Addiction by David Sheff
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on January 8th 2019
ISBN: 0544644344
Pages: 272
Goodreads
four-stars

Father and son, David (Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Meth Addiction) and Nic (Tweak) Sheff have written this book on drugs, alcohol addiction based on Nic’s own addiction experience and personal stories of other teens.  Mental health and addiction are the forefront of this book. All though there are interesting facts, graphs and stories, the coverage is too broad in the sense that some drugs are covered in depth whereas others only have a few paragraphs dedicated to them skipping scientific facts.

The book is well laid out with various types of information that could be used for research on the topic. Blue pages are throughout  the text that are personal experiences of the author and other teens that have faced addiction and recovery. TOC, appendices, bibliography, resources and helpful books are listed for readers who wish more information on the subject. The glossary is referred to as the Addictionary  that breaks down each type of drug by name, common/street names, forms taken and possible health effects.

Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by KristinTaylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford, ME.

four-stars

A Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Airwomen of The Soviet Union in World War II

A Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Airwomen of The Soviet Union in World War IIA Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Airwomen of the Soviet Union in World War II by Elizabeth E. Wein
Published by Balzer + Bray on January 22nd 2019
ISBN: 0062453017
Pages: 388
Goodreads
five-stars

Fans of Elizabeth Wein’s  Code Name Verity will enjoy A Thousand Sisters. Wein introduces to the reader to  3 Soviet regiments that were manned by female volunteers to fly combat missions for the Soviet Union during World War II. Wein tells about their ambitions, duty to country, their daily lives along with the  horrors and successes of their combat missions. Most of these women were in their late teens and early twenties and many did not survive. The black and white photos in the book are of various individual women that are mentioned and of their regiments and comrades . This book would be considered a collective biography.

You  might want to pair this up with Kathryn Lasky’s Night Witches: A Novel of World War II, as the nickname Night Witches was given to these female pilots as they drop bombs during the middle of the night on unsuspecting German soldiers. Included is a TOC, bibliography, author’s notes and an easy to use index. Source notes are also provided.

Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford, ME.

five-stars

Yes She Can

Yes She CanYes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama White House by Molly Dillon, Jenna Brayton, Eleanor Celeste, Nita Contreras, Kalisha Dessources, Andrea Flores, Vivian Graubard, Noemie Levy, Taylor Lustig, Jaimie Woo
Published by Schwartz & Wade on April 23rd 2019
ISBN: 1984848453
Pages: 176
Goodreads
four-stars

“Yes She Can” is a collection of accounts written by young adult women of various races and religions who worked in the Obama White House doing impressive things. One helped set up Pope Francis’ visit to the White House, another worked on a summit for women and girls of color, another helped work on legislation for immigration, and the inspiring work just goes on from there!

The stories are well-written and make you feel like you’re taking part in the event with them (you can feel the excitement when one of the women gets a call on her cell from the Vice President). They give a great inside perspective to working in government. It’s really refreshing to hear from women who are actively working within the government to make America better. The only way this book would have been better was if they had included a story from a Muslim or Arab-American woman working with White House policy.

Included in the middle of the book are photos of the women working at the White House, which helps personalize the stories even more. I was really pleased to see that they included a section at the end called “A Girl’s Guide to Getting into Government,” which lists various organizations and ways that readers can get involved like the women we just read about.

Aimed at readers aged twelve and up, this book is a must buy for any library where YA Nonfiction/Biographies are popular, or for any teenager who is interested in getting involved in politics or the government.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

four-stars