11/01/2015
Gr 5–8—Using narrative nonfiction, this attractive series hooks readers from the outset by using realistic story lines and engaging dialogue to demonstrate how science plays a part in everyday life. The narratives are well written and generally plausible (for instance, kids learning about inheritance of traits by visiting a pet store and observing a litter of kittens) and feature diverse tweens, teens, and adults as characters. While the purpose is to explain the subjects in a more accessible way, students may be distracted by the knowledge displayed by many of the characters. The large blocks of text and the small font are overwhelming at times, but photos and useful sidebars help break up the narrative into manageable chunks. The inclusion of an activity-based exercise ("Try It Yourself") at the end of each chapter further diversifies the content. Each volume ends with a clear, bite-size concept review that briefly reiterates the focus of each chapter. VERDICT Unique in its approach, this set stands out and would be a solid purchase to fill collection gaps.
