Geraldine and the Most Spectacular Science Project (picture book) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Schiffer Kids via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Geraldine and the Most Spectacular Science Project 
Author: Sol Regwan
Illustrator: Denise Muzzio
Upcoming Release Date: February 28, 2020


Synopsis: Geraldine is an energetic, spirited second-grader with dreams of becoming an astronaut. She knows that she's clever and inventive, but can she create the winning entry in her class science contest? Armed with nothing but her strong will and the broken parts of her parents' old gadgets and gizmos, she sets out to invent an amazing contraption. Will her invention wow her classmates and transform her from class troublemaker to creative scientist?

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Review: This is a fun and inspirational picture book. Geraldine is a daydreamer who wants to be an astronaut...or maybe an inventor. Or both. There's a science contest coming up and Geraldine wants to have the best project. The messaging in this book is great. I love seeing science-enthusiastic kids. I did want more science in this book, though. Realistic science. I give this picture book a 4/5.


--PAUL

Marie Curie - The Radium Fairy (graphic novel) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Europe Comics via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Marie Curie - The Radium Fairy
Author: Montellier
Release Date: October 19, 2016

Synopsis: Marie Curie is the only woman ever to have received two Nobel prizes: the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903, shared with her husband, Pierre Curie, and the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for her work with polonium and radium in 1911. She was also the first woman ever to teach at the Sorbonne. This inspired comic is set at the time she received her second Nobel Prize, when a vicious press campaign was launched against her, denouncing her affair with the physician Paul Langevin. Through her flash-backs, we're invited to witness the key moments of this exceptional woman's life and work.

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Review: I love the idea of a comic book showcasing women scientists of history. Marie Curie brought the world so much! The comic shows a few different points in her life. Marie and Pierre's meeting is shown. The origins of x-rays. The tragic passing of Pierre Curie. She was such a trailblazer. Chauvinism vs Feminism is a big part of this story. The second half is an in depth timeline. 

I give this comic book a 4/5. It's a great look into a wonderful person that changed the way we see the world. 


--PAUL

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions (audiobook) - Paul's Review

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Title: What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
Author: Randall Munroe
Year Published: 2014

Narrator: Wil Wheaton
Audiobook Length: 6 hours 36 minutes


Synopsis: Randall Munroe left NASA in 2005 to start up his hugely popular site XKCD 'a web comic of romance, sarcasm, math and language' which offers a witty take on the world of science and geeks. It's had over a billion page hits to date. A year ago Munroe set up a new section - What If - where he tackles a series of impossible questions: If your cells suddenly lost the power to divide, how long would you survive? How dangerous is it, really, in a pool in a thunderstorm? If we hooked turbines to people exercising in gyms, how much power could we produce? What if everyone only had one soulmate? From what height would you need to drop a steak to ensure it was cooked by the time it reached the ground? What would happen if the moon went away? This book gathers together the best entries along with lots of new gems. From The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek and the songs of Tim Minchin, through chemistry, geography and physics, Munroe leaves no stone unturned in his quest for knowledge. And his answers are witty and memorable and studded with hilarious cartoons and infographics. Far more than a book for geeks, WHAT IF explains the laws of science in operation in a way that every intelligent reader will enjoy and feel the smarter for having read. 

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Review: I am a sucker for any audiobook read by Wil Wheaton. I was not that familiar with xkcd before listening to this audiobook, but I had read a few links from it before. 

This book takes seemingly nonsensical questions and answers them with science. Some of them are quite heavy on the math and physics, but others focus on sociology and biology. Wil Wheaton's voice helps get through the ones that drag on with numbers. 

I found this a great audiobook to listen to while at work. Whenever I had time, I could just listen to one chapter. I give this audiobook a 3.5/5. I recommend it to fans of science!


--PAUL

Breakthrough: How One Teen Innovator Is Changing the World (audiobook) by Jack Andraka - Paul's Review

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Title: Breakthrough: How One Teen Innovator Is Changing the World
Author: Jack Andraka
Year Published: 2015

Narrator: Kevin R. Free
Audiobook Length: 4 hours 23 minutes


Synopsis: For the first time, teen innovator and scientist Jack Andraka tells the story behind his revolutionary discovery. When a dear family friend passed away from pancreatic cancer, Jack was inspired to create a better method of early detection. At the age of fifteen, he garnered international attention for his breakthrough: a four-cent strip of paper capable of detecting pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancers four hundred times more effectively than the previous standard.

Jack's story is not just a story of dizzying international success; it is a story of overcoming depression and homophobic bullying and finding the resilience to persevere and come out. His account inspires young people, who he argues are the most innovative, to fight for the right to be taken seriously and to pursue our own dreams. Do-it-yourself science experiments are included in each chapter, making Breakthrough perfect for STEM curriculum. But above all, Jack's memoir empowers his generation with the knowledge that we can each change the world if we only have the courage to try. 

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Review: Jack Andraka is such an incredible human being. He is an inspiration to all, from kids to adults. Seeing an intelligent gay teen in the science industry making changes in the world is amazing. 

This book follows Jack's life so far while giving encouragement and insight into how such a young man has made such a change in the world. He is still so young. I can't wait to see what he does with the rest of his life. 

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I give it a 4/5 and recommend it to everyone, especially teens who find themselves different. 


--PAUL