Martha Freeman

Acollective biography of 20 groundbreaking women in science.

Arranged chronologically, the compilation begins with Ellen Swallow Richards, a white geochemist born in 1842, who not only became the first woman to earn a degree in chemistry in the U.S., but used her research in nutrition, sanitation, and health to establish the first school-lunch program and first water-quality standards in the country. A few women who follow, such as Sylvia Earle, may be recognizable, but most will be new to readers. Each profile starts with an anecdote that describes the scientist’s childhood influences in the present tense before switching to the past tense to focus on her professional accomplishments and impact on science. A full-page portrait with clues to each woman’s focus and a concluding roundup of her major achievements, a reflective quote, and a “fascinating fact” accompany the profile as well. Freeman aims for diversity in both the range of disciplines covered and in the scientists themselves, who include Chinese pharmacologist Tu Youyou, African American physicist Shirley Ann Jackson, and Colombian geologist Adriana Ocampo. While the thematic emphasis, as the title suggests, is on the curiosity that drove each woman to pursue science, the profiles also highlight the role failure played in their paths and how they overcame such challenges as sexism, racism, illness, and disability to reach their goals.

An inspiring look at women who realized curiosity plus tenacity equals success. (afterword, glossary, source notes) (Collective biography. 8-12)

-Kirkus Review… (meer)

Eleven year olds Alex Parakeet and his next door neighbour Yasmeen Popp are best friends and they make up the Chickadee Court Detective Agency.

Their services are called for when Alex’s dad finds his grandma’s pumpkin pie recipe has gone missing. It isn’t just any pumpkin pie recipe, it is called Grandma’s Million Dollar Pumpkin Pie recipe and Alex’s dad is to prepare it on live TV. The seriousness is without the recipe Alex’s dad doesn’t remember the secret ingredient that makes it so special.

There is a long list of suspects for the kids to investigate. Being they are neighbours and friends doesn’t make it any easier. Especially when the majority would love to take Alex’s dad’s place and make their own specialties while on live TV.

The action moves and the book is a fun read for kids and adults. And yes, the recipe is in the book to try making it yourself.… (meer)

BOTTOM-LINE:
Okay, but expect most middle-graders would find it slow
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PLOT OR PREMISE:
A blackout hits New Jersey and two kids try to figure out how it happened and how to fix it.
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WHAT I LIKED:
The level is middle-grade and moves along at an okay pace. The cause of the blackout comes down to computers, and the solution is relatively straightforward without seeming too simplistic. Good interesting characters, for the most part.
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WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
There's a plot hole in the solution -- without revealing spoilers, the solution might fix homes and businesses but it wouldn't have fixed the street lights, for instance -- but it's a small quibble. The real challenge is the level of exposition that is frequently dumped heavily into the story. Since they're kids, they don't know the "details" so everything they find out, they ask someone to explain it to them. At length. It really slows down the pace. The book tries to ramp it up a bit with a bit of suspense and violence, but they seem more amateurish than threatening.
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DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.… (meer)