Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
It sounds like a horror movie: microscopic vampires entering your feet and stealing your strength. Gail Jarrow uncovers the medical mystery of the hookworm parasite that devastated the American South. Blending gross-out science with fascinating social history, this book reveals how one scientist’s discovery fought both a disease and a deadly stereotype.
From secret New Mexico labs to daring Norwegian commando raids, this visual history explores the race to build—and steal—the world’s deadliest weapon. With gritty illustrations and overlooked historical details, it’s a gripping look at the ethics, espionage, and genius that birthed the Atomic Age. Perfect for fans of Oppenheimer looking for the full story.
Follow the glow! Reveal the secret lives of animals governed by the lunar cycle. From navigating beetles to spawning coral, this lyrical STEM selection explores the eight phases of the moon and the extraordinary creatures that dance in its light.
History is hidden in the marrow. Horse connects an enslaved groom in 1850 Kentucky to a Smithsonian scientist in 2019 through the legacy of the greatest racehorse in American history. A powerful reckoning with the unsung Black horsemen who built the racing industry, this novel is a staggering blend of art, science, and the enduring struggle for justice.
Can a 9-year-old and Google Earth change history? In The Skull in the Rock, a 4-star nonfiction read, Lee Berger and his son discover Australopithecus sediba, a two-million-year-old human ancestor in South Africa.