For precocious children fascinated by science.
When Fahama is kidnapped, she must figure out how to stop an evil brain from harvesting her own.
Fahama, a brown-skinned hijabi, agrees to help her little sister, Nour, sell her Woodland Adventure cookies door to door, but at the first house she approaches, she falls through a trap door in the porch. A butler who looks like Frankenstein’s monster assists Dr. Cerebrum, a brain encased in glass with robotic arms and legs, who plans to remove Fahama’s brain for science. When he finishes explaining his aim, Fahama asks more questions to keep him talking instead of sawing. He covers ancient cultures’ beliefs about the brain and evolution, but things get complicated quickly with the structure of different kinds of cells, how neurons work, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. He explains the nervous system in a fairly straightforward way, offers charts to locate the areas of the brain that control certain functions, and discusses reflexes, memory, and senses in detail. Meanwhile, Nour figures out that her sister has been kidnapped and hatches a plan to save her. The paneled illustrations serve the material best when offering examples; the combination of information overload and visual crowding on the page makes the material explored seem even more intimidating than it already is. With complex sentences, no pronunciation guides, and not much story to carry readers forward, this book asks a lot of young readers.
For precocious children fascinated by science. (glossary) (Graphic nonfiction. 10-12)Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-62672-801-1
Page Count: 128
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
A litany of valid concerns, though too broad and generalized to be a mind changer.
An earnest, overly ambitious call to action laid over an omnium-gatherum of environmental issues affecting the British Columbian rain forest in particular and all of us in general.
Vernon shoehorns her narrative in among inspirational slogans, testimonials from rain-forest residents and environmental workers, case studies in local activism and small color photos of wildlife (particularly bears) and huge trees. She points in turn to depleted salmon runs, the forced relocation of native groups, clearcut logging, the hazards of sending huge oil tankers down nearby shipping lanes and the relentless overhunting of abalone, whales and sea otters. Looking further afield, she also calls attention to global warming, the toxic effects of mining Alberta’s oil sands and the danger of our “addiction” to oil, before closing with reports of successful nonviolent protests and a passionate plea to cut back, re-use and become involved in collective action. Though too general to serve as a nuts-and-bolts guide for young activists—and hard to read, thanks to the overcrowded page design—this adds another voice to the chorus warning that global disaster is on the way and sitting it out isn’t the smart option.
A litany of valid concerns, though too broad and generalized to be a mind changer. (glossary, resources, index) (Nonfiction. 10-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-55469-303-0
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2011
The level of violence is unrealistically low, but these purposeful vignettes add a gauzy back story to what today’s children...
In six fictional episodes directly linked to paleontological artifacts, Weaver retraces the past 2.5 million years of “hominin” (pre)history.
Framed as a modern lad’s daydreams, her reconstructions open with the short life of the Australopithecine “Taung child” and end with a supposed seasonal ritual by a group of early modern Homo sapiens in what would become Europe some 26,000 years ago. In between they offer scenes in the daily lives (and deaths) of Homo habilis, Homo erectus and Neanderthal in future Africa and the Mideast. With paintings that resemble museum-diorama backgrounds—loose, but careful with natural detail—Celeskey tracks evolutionary changes in facial features, body types and clothing (or lack thereof). As the narrative progresses, the author inserts speculative but informed touchpoints in the development of names (“Roaank Awaagh” to “Moluk of the Wolf Clan”) and language, tools and culture. Explanatory afterwords elaborate on the evidence incorporated into each chapter.
The level of violence is unrealistically low, but these purposeful vignettes add a gauzy back story to what today’s children may have only seen as a few old chipped stones and fossil bones. (resource lists) (Creative nonfiction. 10-12)Pub Date: April 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8263-4442-7
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Univ. of New Mexico
Review Posted Online: Feb. 28, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2012
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
