by Heather Couper & illustrated by Nigel Henbest ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 21, 1996
The subtitle—``A journey to the heart of a black hole—and into one of the greatest mysteries of the universe''—pulls readers into an exciting book on astrophysics, replete with spectacular full-color diagrams and sweeping illustrations. Among the numerous topics: the life cycles of stars; the formation and structure of black holes; detecting black holes from the outside and imagining them from the inside; Newton's and Einstein's theories of gravity; Hawking's theories about exploding black holes; the idea that the universe itself is a black hole. No introduction to black holes would be complete without some science-fiction scenarios, and this book has its share of them: What if an astronaut falls into a black hole? Is there another universe on the other side? Is time travel possible? Accompanied by sharp illustrations that are at once technical and entertaining, the information is presented in fragments- -isolated paragraphs explicate the different parts of the diagrams- -that encourage readers to choose their own paths. With rigorous writing and a good sense of humor, this book will be enjoyed by a wide range of readers. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8+)
Pub Date: May 21, 1996
ISBN: 0-7894-0451-6
Page Count: 46
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1996
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by Don Brown ; illustrated by Don Brown ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 8, 2013
From its enticing, dramatic cover to its brown endpapers to a comical Grant Wood–esque final image, this is a worthy...
A graphic-novel account of the science and history that first created and then, theoretically, destroyed the terrifying Dust Bowl storms that raged in the United States during the “dirty thirties.”
“A speck of dust is a tiny thing. Five of them could fit on the period at the end of this sentence.” This white-lettered opening is set against a roiling mass of dark clouds that spills from verso to recto as a cartoon farmer and scores of wildlife flee for their lives. The dialogue balloon for the farmer—“Oh my God! Here it comes!”—is the first of many quotations (most of them more informative) from transcripts of eyewitnesses. These factual accounts are interspersed with eloquently simple explanations of the geology of the Great Plains, the mistake of replacing bison with cattle and other lead-ups to the devastations of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The comic-book–style characters create relief from the relentlessly grim stories of hardship and loss, set in frames appropriately backgrounded in grays and browns. Although readers learn of how the U.S. government finally intervened to help out, the text does not spare them from accounts of crippling droughts even in the current decade.
From its enticing, dramatic cover to its brown endpapers to a comical Grant Wood–esque final image, this is a worthy contribution to the nonfiction shelves. (bibliography, source notes, photographs) (Graphic nonfiction. 10 & up)Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-81550-3
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2013
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by John Schwartz ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2010
Randy Newman famously sang, “short people got no reason to live,” but Schwartz presents himself as living proof that being short is no obstacle to happiness or success. Functioning as both a memoir and an advice book, the narrative shares the author’s experiences of growing up short in a culture that favors the tall and explores scientific facts about height. Using examples from marketing, mythology and psychology, it shows that the cultural obsession with height can be unhealthy and even dangerous and that prejudice against the short persists. The author offers readers sound advice on both how to avoid falling into the trap of believing shortness is synonymous with inferior and the healthy lifestyle everyone should pursue to realize his or her full potential growth. There are extensive recommendations for further reading and study. The narrative’s conversational style is appealing and engaging, and its personal and objective insights are thoughtful and helpful. The author quotes Newman then successfully proves him wrong. (Nonfiction. 11-14)
Pub Date: April 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59643-323-6
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Flash Point/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: Dec. 30, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2010
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