The Ocean Hero Handbook by Tessa Wardley (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 I received a temporary digital copy of this nonfiction book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

The Ocean Hero Handbook:
Simple Things You Can Do To Save Our Seas
by Tessa Wardley
Published by Ivy Press
on April 19, 2022
Genre: Nonfiction
Length: 144 pages

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Synopsis:
Focusing on so much more than plastic pollution, this ahead-of-the-curve book exposes the extensive damage being done to the oceans that most of us don't know about, and what simple, everyday changes we can make to help protect our seas.

This book is a necessary call to act and educate ourselves on the damage human activity is having on our seas, and a guide to how you can help to stop it, whether you live on the coastline or hundreds of miles from the ocean. 

Shocking but enlightening, it illustrates exactly what the problems are, how they impact the ocean, why it is so important to keep our oceans healthy for our own benefit, and what we can do individually and collectively to help save our seas. 


My Thoughts:

This call-to-action handbook is perfect for young environmentalists and thalassophiles (ocean lovers). 

The Ocean Hero Handbook is an intriguing nonfiction book with seven chapters that present specific issues that the ocean faces and then shares what we can do to change the issue and why it is important for us to do so. The chapters, which cover an array of issues each, includes 'indoor', 'outdoor', 'transport', 'on holiday', 'at work', 'food & shopping', and 'clothes'. 

Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint and cut back single-use plastics. Find alternatives to waste products that clog up our waterways, learn how to reduce carbon emissions cut back on harmful chemicals.  Learn about what is destroying our land, coastlines, and waterways, and how they directly affect the ocean and the ecosystems of all the above. There's a plethora of topics from all walks of life on this planet, all aimed at helping readers be the heroes and heroines that the ocean is desperately in need of. 

   If you'd like to learn more about how we impact the earth and oceans and what you can do to make a difference, this is a great choice. I recommend it to middle-grade age readers and older. 

MORE BOOKS ABOUT PROTECTING THE OCEAN:

Kids vs Plastic by Julia Beer

Captain Aquatica's Awesome Ocean by Jess Cramp

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The Comfort Book by Matt Haig (Adult Nonfiction Book Review)

The Comfort Book
by Matt Haig 
Published by Penguin Life
on July 6, 2021
Genre: Adult, Nonfiction, Memoir, Self-help
Length: 272 pages

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Synopsis:
A small book for anyone in search of hope, looking for a path to a more meaningful life, or in need of encouragement. 

Years ago, Matt Haig began writing notes to his future self. These notes were meant as gifts; offerings of hope to help himself through anything from the darkest periods of his life to a not-so-great day. As time went on, he added new thoughts and stories and he turned them into The Comfort Book so that everyone could draw on this well of reassurance and encouragement. Each of its short meditations gives a new perspective on life and all of its highs and lows--small islands of hope for anyone looking for a more fulfilling, more uplifting way through life. Incorporating a diverse array of sources from across the world, history, science, and his own experiences, Haig offers warmth and reassurance, reminding us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of unpredictability of existence. 


My Thoughts:

Matt Haig shares uplifting experiences, insightful sentiments, unique interpretations, quotes, and more in this comforting book of hope.

In times of great chaos, it's voices like Matt's that help lift us out of whatever funk or pit of despair we may be in, or even just give us a new perspective or reminder of better days
. As an author who once 'hit rock bottom', Haig is rather down-to-earth and understanding and that fully comes across in his newest nonfiction. He shares stories from his childhood, life lessons that helped him on his journey, instagram-style poetry, and more.

I've followed this author on social media for some years now and have always enjoyed his mental health content. I've also really enjoyed most of the books I've read by him and definitely recommend this if you've enjoyed his books in the past. 
You can find examples of what is included in this book on Matt's instagram! 

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Beneath the Waves by Stephanie Warren Drimmer (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 We received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Beneath the Waves:
Celebrating the Ocean through Pictures, Poems, and Stories
by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
Published by National Geographic Kids
on March 16, 2021
Genre: Children's Nonfiction
Length: 192 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

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Synopsis:
Open this charming read-aloud book and you'll find amazing animal profiles, whimsical poetry, stunning photography, plus fascinating information about the wondrous creatures that call the ocean home.

This keepsake treasure is sure to wow readers while also serving as an important reminder to protect this precious and wonderful resource. 


My Thoughts:

Beneath the Waves is a celebration of the ocean not only through photos and facts but with art and style! The gorgeous title text is used throughout as scrolling headers, there is watercolor-esque artwork mixed in, and even the photographs have an artistic texture to them that makes every page a beauty to behold. 

Starting on the shore, we explore the edge of the ocean with its creatures and critters, wade in to explore the colorful reef and its inhabitants, dive into the open ocean, sink into its inky depths, and everything in between. 

This is one of my favorite Nat Geo books so far! I'm so used to these nonfiction books being strictly photography paired with text and in some cases, comics or cartoons, but this is something new and different altogether. Every single page is visually appealing in the best of ways and will keep kids and adults busy for hours.

 Animal and ocean lovers alike will adore this gorgeous book full of fascinating facts. Gift it, put it on the coffee table, or add it to your homeschool or library shelves! Your family will thank you!

Many thanks to the publisher for providing us with a review copy of this fantastic book! 

More NatGeoKids books about the ocean:

Extreme Ocean by Sylvia A. Earle
&
Captain Aquatica's Awesome Ocean by Jessica Cramp

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The Haunting of Alma Fielding by Kate Summerscale (Adult Nonfiction Book Review)

 

The Haunting of Alma Fielding:
A True Ghost Story
by Kate Summerscale
Published by Penguin Press
on April 27, 2021
Genre: Adult, Nonfiction, Paranormal
Length: 368 pages

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Synopsis:
London, 1938. In the suburbs of the city, an ordinary housewife has become the eye in a storm of chaos. In Alma Fielding's modest home, china flies off the shelves, eggs fly through the air: stolen jewelry appears on her fingers. Nandor Fodor reads of the case, and hastens to the scene of the haunting. But when Fodor starts his scrupulous investigation, he discovers that the case is even stranger than it seems. 

My Thoughts:

Taking place in the 1930s, during the big spiritualism boom after the war, this nonfiction ghost story centers around a middle-class British housewife, Alma Fielding, who was known locally to be haunted by a rather destructive poltergeist, 
and Nandor Fodor, a Hungarian 'ghost hunter' from the Institute of Psychical Research, who was determined to either prove Alma as legit or as a charlatan, like so many others at the time. 

Most of this book is made up of the detailed accounts of Alma Fielding's 'hauntings' or 'apports', but also highlights the spiritualist era with its plethora of mediums and their 'tricks'. There are a lot of connections to Alma's occurrences and other mediums that Fodor had worked with, or known to be ousted.

I love a good ghost story and have read quite a bit on mediums/spiritualists in the past so this sounded fascinating. 

The first half of the book reads as a running account of Emma's hauntings and interjects with Fodor's interactions or knowledge of sham mediums and somehow seems to suggest that Fodor is inscrutable for this reason, though it includes a case where he is bamboozled. It seems to switch from Alma's occurrences being legit to almost setting her up to catch her in an act. 
 
I did have a few hangups with it, but WARNING because these may be just slightly spoilery:
The book presents Alma's case and suggests that her poltergeist may be caused by frenetic energy but then never really proves or explains it. Likewise, I was hoping for a little more in-depth explanation about the connections made to Alma's childhood traumas. A little psychology... anything. 
Still, it's an interesting read and perfect for the upcoming spooky season! 

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A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (Adult Nonfiction Book Review)

A Walk in the Woods:
Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
by Bill Bryson
Published by Anchor Books
First published in 1998
Genre: Adult, Nonfiction
Length: 397 pages

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Synopsis:
The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America--majestic mountain, silent forests, sparkling lakes. If you're going to take a hike, it's probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaining guide you'll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hard (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way--and a couple of bears. 


My Thoughts:

Whenever I ask for recommendations for books with settings in or about the Great Smoky Mountains or the Appalachian Mountains, 'A Walk in the Woods' is almost always mentioned. Throw in that I'm a regular outdoorsy hiker type and it's described to me as a 'must read'. 
 I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed a few years ago and really enjoyed it but it is set on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail, on the West Coast) and I'm on the East Coast and the AT has been sitting in the shadowy depths of my bucketlist for years so I definitely wanted to cross this one off of my TBR. 

I'm going to be a bit negative and POSSIBLY SPOILERY from here on out because, unfortunately, I didn't get much out of this and couldn't help but compare it to Wild, which was written by a female whom hiked a much longer distance, alone, on hardly any funds, and seemed to have more purpose to what she was doing.

Bryson starts the book with the gruesome statistics and details of others' hiking trips gone wrong; bear attacks, maulings, murders, and moonshine-addled hillfolk. Then he ropes an old friend along for the ride, paying most of his way just so he doesn't have to go alone, and makes fun of just about every other hiker he comes across (especially if they're female). They skip big portions of the trail once they realize their first week or so was only a tiny portion of the trail on the full map, and they take a cab and hang out in hotels every chance they can get. And then they go home, but the book isn't over with! Bryson rambles on about different day trips and hikes he partakes in on his own, usually to places of historical interest, sometimes droning on about the place instead of anything to do with hiking. I basically skimmed the last third of the book because I was bored. 

Overall, it seemed less about hiking (and even less about him hiking) and more about the history of the trail and gruesome events that have happened on or near it. I would definitely recommend it if you're serious about hiking the AT or like nonfiction.

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I Was Their American Dream by Malaka Ghabir (Graphic Memoir)

 

I Was Their American Dream
A Graphic Novel
by Malaka Gharib
Published by Clarkson Potter Publishers
on April 30, 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Memoir
Length: 160 pages

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Synopsis:
One part Mari Andrew, one part Marjane Satrapi, I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir is a triumphant tale of self-discovery, a celebration of a family's rich heritage, and a love letter to American immigrant freedom. Malaka Gharib's illustrations come alive with teenage antics and earnest questions about identity and culture, while providing thoughtful insight into the lives of modern immigrants and the generation of millennial children they raised. 


My Thoughts:

Malaka Gharib gives an insightful look into her life growing up as an Egyptian-Filipino-American in California with parents that had differing backgrounds, religions, and dreams for their lives. Malaka juggles her parents' differing religions (her mother is Catholic and her father is Muslim) as well as her cultural heritage (Filipino and Egyptian) but also the American 'dream' and culture that she grew up with as a first-generation American. 

Malaka tells her coming-of-age story in a bold red, white, and blue color scheme that really ties in with the title of the book as well as the content. The illustrations are a little juvenile, or unproportionate, and the artist in me isn't always thrilled with this style but I do love that the style is consistent. There's also a lot of neat extras that remind me of zines, and this author/illustrator mentions in this memoir that she created zines in her youth and is the founder of The Runcible Spoon food zine, so I expect that is why they included such neat formatting for a comic/graphic novel-style memoir. 

I can't find any age recommendations for this online but personally think it is fine for young readers. There's no inflammatory language or mentions of sex or drugs (maybe a little rock-and-roll). 

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Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks (Nonfiction Graphic Novel Review)

Astronauts:
Women on the Final Frontier
Written by Jim Ottaviani
Illustrated by Maris Wicks
Published by First Second
on February 4, 2020
Genre: Nonfiction, Graphic Novel, History
Length: 176 pages
Ages: 9 - 13 years

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Synopsis:
In the graphic novel Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier, Jim Ottaviani and illustrator Maris Wicks capture the great humor and incredible drive of Mary Cleave, Valentina Tereshkova, and the first women in space.

The U.S. may have put the first man on the moon, but it was the Soviet space program that made Valentina Tereshkova the first woman in space. It took years to catch up, but soon NASA's first female astronauts were racing past milestones of their own. The trail-blazing women of Group 9, NASA's first mixed-gender class, had the challenging task of convincing the powers that be that a women's place is in space, but they discovered that NASA had plenty to learn about how to make space travel possible for everyone. 

My Thoughts:

This fun nonfiction graphic novel is about women's journey into space and the lengths and hardships it took to get there!

Narrated by former US astronaut, Mary Cleave, this informative read shares her personal life story, starting as a child that wanted nothing more than to be a pilot and working up to being an actual astronaut that made it to space! Also told from Mary Cleave's pov, this book covers different milestones of the space program/s, such as stories and insights into other women's journeys to space, including Valentina Tereshkova who was the first woman in space, Sally Ride, and more.

This was an entertaining and educational read about a time in history when women were just starting to be included, but not without a fight, tough skin, and a good sense of humor! The women who signed up for the space programs were tested much more thoroughly and repeatedly than their male counterparts and were met with difficulties and opposition from many sides. This book has a good balance of humor in pointing out the discrepancies that came from accepting the female gender into space.

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Persepolis: The Story Of A Childhood by Marjane Satrapi (Graphic Memoir Book Review)

Persepolis:
The Story of A Childhood
(Persepolis #1 of 2)

Written and illustrated by Marjane Satrapi
Published by Pantheon
on June 1st 2004 
(first published in 2000)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir
Length: 153 pages

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Literary Awards:
Harvey Awards for Best US Edition of Foreign Material (2004)
ALA Alex Award (2004)

Synopsis:
Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi's memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.

My Thoughts:
This graphic memoir of Marjane Satrapi's early years, from age six to sixteen, focuses on the Islamic Revolution in her home country of Iran and her life in it.  Raised by outspoken parents, Marjane rebels against the regime early on, choosing to wear and listen to whatever she likes. As her country continues to change, with forced coverings for females and less tolerance of anything influenced by the West, Marjane finds herself rebelling more and more, to a point that her parents are quite worried!

This eye-opening autobiography gives us real-life memories of a child growing up during a pivotal time in Iranian history. Marjane is an open-minded, educated young girl with parents that taught her to think for herself and allowed her plenty of freedom at a young age. As a teenager, she has an openly rebellious streak that puts her in trouble's way more than once.

I went into this with a little bit of prior knowledge of Iran, having focused on expanding my knowledge of the Middle-East a few years ago after realizing how little I knew about the geography (or much else besides) there. While I've read plenty about the history and wars, I haven't read a lot about the youth or how they felt or reacted to these changes in history. I'm glad to have finally read this one and will try to get my hands on part 2 as soon as possible!

Setting:
Tehran, Iran

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StarWars: Be More Leia by Christian Blauvelt (Nonfiction Book Review)

[Star Wars]
Be More Leia:
Find Your Rebel Voice and Fight the System

by Christian Blauvelt
Published by DK Books
on October 3, 2019
Genre: Nonfiction
Length: 72 pages

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Our Thoughts:

This empowering book is full of guidance, positivity, and motivation to go beyond and kick butt doing it! With Princess Leia as the main inspiration for this book, there's a heavy focus on being a leader and doing what it takes to make your vision a possibility.

There's great advice on defining your goals and working toward them, choosing your path, finding your voice, believing in yourself, and so much more! 

Each spread has a color photo of a Star Wars character (with Princess Leia featured the most) with a quote from that character that goes well with and ties into the positive subject at hand. 

This cute little book is the perfect novelty gift for StarWars fans and would make a great addition to any empowered young girl's personal library. 

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Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood by Trevor Noah (Adult Nonfiction Book Review)

Born A Crime:
Stories From A South African Childhood
by Trevor Noah

Published by Doubleday Canada
on November 15, 2016
Genre: Adult, Nonfiction, Memoir
Length: 285 pages

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Literary Awards:
NAACP Image Award for Debut Author and for Biography / Autobiography (2017)
Thurber Prize for American Humor (2017)
Evergreen Teen Book Award Nominee (2019)
Lincoln Award Nominee (2019)

Synopsis:
The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime New York Times bestseller about one man's coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed.

 Trevor Noah's unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Born A Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man's relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother--his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.

The eighteen personal essays collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. His stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother's unconventional, unconditional love.

My Thoughts:
Born during apartheid in South Africa to a black mother and a white father, Trevor Noah's existence was considered a crime. He spent his childhood hidden away from the world and his growing years searching for his place in a divided country. In this humorous coming-of-age story, Noah describes the laws and social norms of apartheid and how he found his place in it.

I almost never watch cable but I've seen The Daily Show a few times and enjoyed Noah's sense of humor. That really shined through the first part of this book as he describes his childhood, his mother's religion and parenting techniques, and how the world treated him as a boy set apart. His mother's religious stories were a hoot but I also enjoyed how much of a powerhouse she was and how she absolutely did her own thing even though it was sometimes illegal. The end of the story has a good lesson in domestic violence.

I enjoyed how Noah picked apart the differences in races during apartheid and how he never quite fit in with one or the other and how differently he was treated because of it but still found his place despite that.  I thought that a lot of his story was quite relatable, perhaps because of our similar age group, or perhaps because I grew up in a small rural town with high racial tension and feel desensitized to its' existence, but nothing in this book really stood out as overly different except maybe the gang-related transportation system. Even the pirated music money hustle was way too familiar.

Also, I noted that other than his humor showing through his writing, there is very little in this book that shares his actual comedy career or what led him to it. I guess I was expecting a little more of what led him to that career but it didn't seem to come up.

Setting:
Johannesburg, South Africa

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Adventures On Earth by Simon Tyler (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

I received a free physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Adventures On Earth
by Simon Tyler
Published by Pavilion Books
on September 26, 2019
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 96 pages
Ages: 7 - 10 years

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Synopsis:
The wonderful graphic illustrator Simon Tyler is back with a book all about the extremes of our planet - and the people who venture there. Bursting with information and illustrated in bold and colorful graphics, this book will grab the attention of all avid explorers - big and small.

Follow in the footsteps of the world's most famous explorers and travel to the extremes of our environment on Earth--learn about the highest and deepest, hottest and coldest places on Earth. Discover the world's most wild terrain--deserts, mountains, volcanoes, rivers, jungles, oceans, the polar regions and more and learn about how they were discovered and explored by human adventurers. Find out how these regions are under threat from global warming and other issues, and learn what we can do to conserve them. 

My Thoughts:

   Welcome to the amazing world of exploration!
  

Simon Tyler has put together a wonderful book about the remote and wild places on Earth and the adventures and explorations that led to their discovery.

From the hottest and coldest places on Earth to the deepest and most dangerous, Adventures On Earth will take you around the world and throughout history to some of the most extreme places ever discovered.

This book features early explorations over land and sea and the discovery of new and exciting places such as deserts, jungles, and rivers, as well as more modern means of adventure such as underwater cave diving or spelunking.

Learn about the Arctic and the Trans-Arctic Expedition that took over a year and 3,725 miles to travel, or the Norwegian explorer who successfully traveled to the South Pole with his team in the Antarctic.  Discover the highest mountain ranges of the world, such as the Himalayas, and the high-altitude climbers that risked their lives to conquer these mountains. There's plenty more to discover as well!

This book has fascinating facts about history, geography, and even conservation, paired with enjoyable graphic art.

Many thanks to Pavilion Books for a copy of this fascinating nonfiction book for kids! We are no strangers to adventure but books like this help us travel to places we've never been and may never go! 

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W is for Webster: Noah Webster and His American Dictionary by Tracey E. Fern (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

W is for Webster:

Noah Webster and His American Dictionary
by Tracey E. Fern
Illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Published by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
on November 10, 2015
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction, History, Biography
Length: 40 pages

Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
From an early age, Noah Webster was an odd fellow who liked to talk big and loved learning. He thought America needed its own national language and knew he was just the man to create it. He started with a speller, including everyday words like "scab," "grub," and "mop," and moved on to create a small dictionary.  He rode around on a horse, selling his books by hand. Then Noah decided to compile a complete and comprehensive dictionary of American English. He thought the book would take him five years to finish. It took twenty, but his dictionary today is the second-most printed book in the English language. 

My Thoughts:

Noah Webster grew up on a farm in a small town that had a one-room school with few books and no homework. But Noah loved books and homework and words most of all, and when he was 16, his father sent him to Yale. He enjoyed it so much that he eventually began to teach there, which fueled his motivation to create a new American dictionary. His obsession with words never ended and he collected and bound them into 'spellers' and then eventually his famous dictionary.



W is for Webster portrays the life of Noah Webster and his dedication to the idea of creating an American dictionary that he worked on throughout his life. No matter how long it took him to finish, his dictionary became the second most printed book in the English language!

The illustrations in this book are wonderful to look at, with neat perspectives and lots of texture. I loved the watercolor elements that made it look like ink was spilled here and there as well as all the words artfully placed into the illustrations. If you're worried about this biography being a bore, at least check it out for the entertaining art and typography! 

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Around the World in 80 Ways by Katy Halford & DK Publishing (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

Around the World in 80 Ways:
The Fabulous Ways to Get From Here to There
Illustrated by Katy Halford
Published by DK Publishing
on November 6, 2018
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 48 pages

Ages: 4 - 8 pages

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Synopsis:

A fascinating and engaging children's book exploring 80 different ways to travel used from past to present--from the obvious, to the crazy!

Travel around the world by yacht, tram, train, unicycle, jetpack, camel...everything you can imagine! Each scene depicts various exciting things that go and provides a wealth of interesting information. The fun and charming illustrations will prompt discussion and the incredible facts on every page will amaze readers. 

My Thoughts:

Around the World in 80 Ways is an illustrated list of things that have helped people from all over the world to get from Point A to Point B throughout history.  

From the earliest forms of canoes and carriages and trains to more unique forms of transportation such as the unicycle, zipline, and even hot air balloons! This book covers everything that floats in the sea, flies in the air, and gets us across the land. 

We traverse different parts of the world in different eras and learn how transportation has changed over time.  Each subject listed is explained in a quick but educational paragraph and there is a handy index at the end!

If you could choose anything at all, how would you travel?

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Awesome Achievers in Science by Alan Katz (MG Nonfiction Book Review)

I received a free physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Awesome Achievers in Science:
Super and Strange Facts about 12 Almost Famous History Makers
Written by Alan Katz
Illustrated by Chris Judge
Published by Running Press Kids
on August 6, 2019
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 112 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

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BookDepository

Synopsis:Part of a super fun middle-grade series, Awesome Achievers in Science puts the spotlight on lesser-known heroes and their contributions in major scientific fields.

Everyone has heard the names Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, but what about Michael Collins--the third brave Apollo 11 astronaut who didn't get to walk on the moon? Many of the most relevant figures in scientific history have remained in the shadows, but not any longer! From Alan Katz's new Awesome Achievers series, Awesome Achievers in Science gives kids a look behind the scenes at 12 lesser-known scientists whose contributions are personally relevant to their lives today. Each figure is given a traditional biography but is also subject to Katz's unique brand of silliness, with humourous elements such as imagined poems, song lyrics, and diary entries by or about the not-so-famous figure accompanying each bio.

My Thoughts:

Awesome Achievers in Science includes 12 biographies of 'almost famous' persons who have changed the world with their scientific contributions, paired with fun illustrations as well as humorous anecdotes, jokes and more!

The 'almost famous' scientific persons include Dr. Henry Hiemlich who set out to find a way to help people who are choking,

Dr. Patricia Bath who invented a laser probe that removes cataracts and allows people to see again, Dr. Hugh Herr who created prosthetic limbs, the man who invented Velcro, the woman who helped develop Kevlar, and more.

Katz includes scientific discoveries and inventions that are relevant and used today! This fun and educational little book will keep you entertained and teach you a little something about the people who are usually kept behind the scenes when it comes to science!

 Curious kids that love humor and jokes will enjoy this series!

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On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King (Nonfiction Book Review)

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

by Stephen King 
Published by Scribner 
on October 3, 2000
Genre: Adult, Nonfiction, Memoir
Length: 288 pages

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Literary Awards:

Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-fiction (2000)
Locust Award for Best Non-fiction (2001)
Puddly Award for Writing (2001)

Synopsis:
"If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write."

In 1999, Stephen King began to write about his craft--and his life. By midyear, a widely reported accident jeopardized the survival of both. And in his months of recovery, the link between writing and living became more crucial than ever.

Rarely has a book on writing been so clear, so useful, and so revealing. On Writing begins with a mesmerizing account of King's childhood and his uncannily early focus on writing to tell a story. A series of vivid memories from adolescence, college, and the struggling years that led up to his first novel, Carrie, will afford readers a fresh and often very funny perspective on the formation of a writer. King next turns to the basic tools of his trade--how to sharpen and multiply them through use, and how the writer must always have them close at hand. He takes the reader through crucial aspects of the writer's art and life, offering practical and inspiring advice on everything from plot to character development to work habits and rejection.

Serialized in the New Yorker to vivid acclaim, On Writing culminates with a profoundly moving account of how King's overwhelming need to write spurred him toward recovery, and brought him back to his life. 

My Thoughts:

This book is recommended among writers and King fans alike as one of the best. With a little push from a few friends, I finally picked it up, took my time with it, and found that I agree.

"Books are a uniquely portable magic."

I feel the need to be honest and give a disclaimer that I am not the biggest King fan. A fan, sure, and a growing one, but I don't really consider him one of my favorites yet. I say 'yet' because he has a lot of books and I feel like I need to have read and enjoyed most of them to consider him a favorite and right now I'm still at about fifty-fifty love/hate.

You don't need to be a fan of King's books to get something out of this, though. This is the most recommended and talked about book on writing I've ever come across and with the author's success, it's hard not to see why. I've read a few in my time but none were so helpful or concise.

"Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it's about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It's about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy."

On Writing is both a memoir and a how-to.

We start out getting to know a little about King's childhood, but mostly only if it has to do with writing. It's a pretty straight forward story about how he got started, where he got his ideas for some of his earliest books, and how he persisted and made his big break.

I found the memoir portion to be surprisingly relatable and it really helped put my own lifelong writing hobby into a new perspective for me.

The middle of the book focuses on important writing rules, hints, and tips for writing. From grammar to character development, there's a little bit of everything you might need to know or be reminded about before you delve back into your own writing.

I don't use those little flag tags often but ended up putting quite a few into my copy of this book so I can come back to them later. I also think that this is one book I will hold onto and reread eventually.

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A post shared by Lazy Day Lit (@lazydaylit) on Aug 30, 2019 at 6:26am PDT

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