In Search of Sasquatch by Kelly Milner Halls

For believers and skeptics, this densely-packed quick read is all about questions that just can't seem to be answered. What is Sasquatch? Learn the history and the theories, uncover sightings, and follow around those who spend their free time trying to catch an ounce of proof of this great being's existence. Science can't quite prove that Big Foot exists; but neither can they disprove it.

Space, Stars, and the Beginning of Time : What the Hubble Telescope Saw by Elaine Scott

For all middle school science fans, this title is a great overview of how we view the world beyond our planet.From the first telescope to the incredible Hubble Space Telescope, though the Big Bang, and all of the black holes, stars, planets, and astronauts in between, there is much to learn about space!

The Elephant Scientist by Caitlin O'Connell & Donna M. Jackson, with photograhs by Caitlin O'Connell & Timothy Rodwell

As the largest land mammals, elephants are fascinating creatures, and Caitlin O'Connell, a photographer, scientific researcher, teacher, and non-profit advocate, strives on these pages to tell and show the readers what really makes elephants tick. O'Connell studies elephants in their natural environments and tracks various behaviors of individual elephants, as well as groups of families and groups of males who often travel separately. In particular, she and her research team have learned a tremendous amount about how elephants communicate, most notably through ground vibrations, allowing the animals to detect and notify others about danger or food sources from very far distances. 

With beautiful images and simple-to-understand (but not simplified) text, this nod to elephants is perfect for any middle school student (or adult with a love of elephants!). Also try: Elephant Talk : The Surprising Science of Elephant Communication by Ann Downer.

Reviewed by kate the librarian.

Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper

Anne Green is dead.  All of Oxford was there to see her hanged for the crime of infanticide.  Even Anne Green knows that she's dead.

Told in alternating perspectives – that of Anne Green as well as that of the doctors examining her body following her public hanging – this is the story of the events leading to Anne’s eventual conviction.  However, in an unbelievable turn of events, a roomful of witnesses notice a twitch in Anne Green’s body, and none are able to deny when she takes a breath of air.  A mixture of history, science, and mystery, this story captures the attention of even the most skeptical of readers.  Recommended especially to early high school readers looking for something different – maybe for an unexpectedly pleasant read to satisfy a historical fiction reading requirement?

Reviewed by kate the librarian.

Charles and Emma : The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

Much is known about the work Charles Darwin has done to research natural selection and evolution, most notably through the publication of his The Origin of Species. And although an autobiography was released after his death, less is known about his life at home. When Charles Darwin was first considering marriage, his father advised him not to tell his prospective wife of his scientific beliefs, which often directly challenged the belief in God. Darwin was a scientific adventurer; everywhere he went and everything he did revolved around a quest for more information and led to the gathering of more observations and theories. Most of these theories centered on refuting a key notion that many people accepted as fact in the mid-1800’s: “that God had created all species of birds, bees, and beetles at once and that there were no new ones since the first creation” (p. 11). Darwin did not take his father’s advice on marriage, and in fact shared most everything with his wife, Emma, and she became his constant companion and supporter in both life and his work. Deeply-religious Emma clung to the faith that only those who believed in God could spend Eternity in Heaven, and though she couldn't be sure that she would meet Charles there, she never gave up on him. This story – first and foremost – presents an account of Charles and Emma’s deep mutual love, commitment, and respect.

Written in a style that is smooth and quick-paced, this story tells of a lifetime of love, faith, and science. Recommended to readers of all ages.
Call number: YA 506.82 HEI

Reviewed by kate the librarian

Stiff : The Curious Life of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

A Head is a Terrible Thing to Waste. Crimes of Anatomy. Life after Death. Dead Man Driving. How to Know if You’re Dead.

These are just a few of the chapter headings of Stiff, a book about the various real-life uses for dead bodies in the worlds of medicine, religion, and car crash tests, among others. Mary Roach doesn’t have a science degree, but she sure does have a sense of humor, and a knack for writing humorously, about subjects that we don’t know are funny until we read what she has to say about it. Roach doesn’t hold back on graphic descriptions of dead bodies, their insides, or their remains, so don’t expect an effortless read; you’ll learn more about your body than you ever wanted to know. All the same, who knew that dead bodies could be so cool?!

(Also, I haven't read them, but two books were mentioned in Stiff that sounded intriguing enough to look up; BCCLS owns both of them: Burried Alive : The Terrifying History of Our Most Primal Fear by Jan Bondeson and Thomas Edison's The Diary and Sundry Observations of Thomas Alva Edison, edited by Dagobert D. Runes.)

Recommended for high school readers of all shapes and sizes.
Call number: YA 611 ROACH

Reviewed by kate the librarian