300’s
 John Muir / Wil Mara
o

Introduces the life of John Muir, the naturalist who formed the Sierra Club to help preserve the Sierra
Mountains. (barnesandnobles.com)
Pompeii…Buried Alive / Edith Kunhardt
o
Information about Pompeii is conveyed in one long narrative arbitrarily divided into three chapters. There
is a brief description of what a volcano is and how it works; followed by a fictionalized account of what
the people in Pompeii were doing on the day of the eruption and what happened to the inhabitants when
Vesuvius blew up. The final chapter gives some information about the rediscovery of Pompeii and its
excavation by archaeologists. (amazon.com)
400’s
 Island Magic / Martha Bennett Stiles
o

Kit’s Wilderness / David Almond
o

When David hears that his grandfather has sold his dairy farm and is coming to live with his family on
Grosse Ile in Michigan, he is excited. When David used to visit Grandad's farm, Grandad showed him lots
of wonderful things. Now it's David's turn, and there are so many things he wants to share with Grandad.
But when Grandad finally arrives, he just sits on the porch in a rocking chair, staring out at the river. He
isn't even hungry for pancakes. David's mom tells him Grandad just misses his cows. David wants
Grandad to stop missing his cows and to enjoy living on the island as much as David does. He doesn't
want to hear that Grandad doesn't feel at home. In this poignant story of a boy's relationship with his
grandfather, Martha Bennett Stiles and Daniel San Souçi have captured the urgency of a child's desire to
be accepted by, and to give in return to, someone he loves. (barnesandnobles.com)
When Kit moves with his mother and father to the mining town of Stoneygate to keep company with his
newly widowed grandfather, he feels drawn to John Askew who, like Kit, comes from a long line of coal
miners. Askew presses Kit to take part in a game of "Death," for which the participants spin a knife to
determine whose turn it is to "die." The chosen one then remains alone in the darkness of Askew's den,
to join spirits with boys killed in a coal mine accident in 1821. Some regular players consider the game to
be make-believe, but Kit senses something far more profound and dangerous, and the connection he
forges with the ancient past also circuitously seals a deeper bond with Askew. (amazon.com)
That Crazy Eddie and the School Project of Doom / Judy Cox
o
This is a second appearance for Eddie and his best friend Matt. Matt really wants to win the fifty dollar
prize at this year's science fair so he can buy a new skate board. He knows Eddie is the perfect partner to
come up with a great project. Trouble erupts when Matt is home sick and discovers that Eddie blabbed to
everyone about why he missed school. The friends have a falling out. Matt, in a fit of anger, wrecks their
science project just before the competition is to begin. Now winning seems out of the question. The lively
black-and-white sketches add greatly to the story by vividly portraying the characters and story line.
Readers of the Owen Foote and Jake Drake stories will surely enjoy this book (barnesandnobles.com)
500’s
 Antarctica: Journey to the Pole / Peter Lerangis
o

In the Eye of the Tornado / David Leuithan
o

Days after his beloved wife's death in May 1909, Jack, his son Colin, and his stepson Andrew, along with
a motley crew of sailors, doctors, photographers, and scientists, set out on a journey to the bottom of the
earth. During their harrowing expedition, they must confront many horrors in addition to their personal
grieving and family disharmony: frostbite, killer whales, deadly ice floes, lack of food, negative-100degree Fahrenheit temperatures, bottomless crevasses, a mutinous crew. Endurance, loyalty, and
humanity are tested, and no man can be sure he'll emerge alive. (amazon.com)
Stieg Atwood has the Sense. He can tell when natural disasters are going to hit. Now, with his parents
dead, Stieg and his brother Adam must save people before disasters strike--like the twister that's
guaranteed to hit somewhere soon. (barnesandnobles.com)
In the Heart of the Quake / David Levithan
o
A quake is coming, and it's tearing Stieg apart. He doesn't know when it will hit, but he knows it will be a
big one--in San Francisco. (amazon.com)

Mary Anning & The Sea Dragon / Jeannie Atkins
o

Richie’s Rocket / Joan Anderson
o

In two hours, a powerful virus will destroy the Internet and every computer on the planet! The worlds
only hope is a 14 year old boy named Tim Corder. Unfortunately, he’s also the world’s most dangerous
computer hacker. (amazon.com)
The Raft / Jim LaMarche
o

Little Ossie is the runt of his swamp rat litter, and when a ferocious rattlesnake attacks and kills his entire
family, Ossie expects the end is near. But just as Ossie is about to meet his fate, he is rescued by a very
unexpected friend: Uncle Will, the oldest alligator in the swamp. Uncle Will adopts Ossie and begins to
teach him the ways of the swamp. But even Uncle Will can't do anything about the terrible drought that's
drying up the entire swamp-or about Bubba, a crabby old stork who claims that little Ossie is the cause of
the drought. In the end, Ossie has to do what his father and Uncle Will always told him he'd have to do:
find his own way. (barnesandnoble.com)
The Doomsday Virus / Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore
o

Too early to go to bed, and with only flashes of lightning to see by, Thomas and his grandfather happily
find themselves re-discovering the half-forgotten scents and sounds of their world, and having a
wonderful time learning important, new things about each other in a spirited conversation sparked by
darkness. (barnesandnoble.com)
Tale of the Swamprat / Carter Crocker
o

Shadrach is enraged. Bootleggers have taken over his island home, using it as a base from which to run
their illegal operations. The community cooperates because its silence has been bought, and times are
hard. But Shadrach can't be bought. Instead, he vows to gather all the information he can to bust the
criminals. He succeeds, but then chooses the wrong man to tell. (barnesandnoble.com)
Storm in the Night / Mary Stolz
o

Richie builds a rocket on the roof of his apartment building and flies to the moon, where he explores to
his heart's content.(barnesandnoble.com)
Smugglers Island / Avi
o

Though the narrative begins after the death of Mary's father, his words are still very much alive in her:
"Don't ever stop looking, Mary." She knows there is something hidden in the cliffs of Lyme Regis,
something more than just the shells and stone sea lilies that the tourists buy from her family's "Gifts and
Curiosities" shop. And Mary isn't about to let the townspeople's gossip and criticism of her hammer, chisel
and sturdy top hat (worn for protection from falling rocks) stop her. When she unearths a tooth
embedded in a stone, Mary spends months tapping and brushing, chiseling and digging, unearthing a
face almost four feet long. The patience and dogged determination of the unconventional Mary shines
through, making her story one not only for dinosaur-lovers, but for those who appreciate stories of strong
girls as well. (amazon.com)
A flock of birds was moving toward me along the river, hovering over something floating on the water. It
drifted downstream, closer and closer, until finally it bumped up against the dock. Though it was covered
with leaves and branches, now I could tell that it was a raft. I reached down and pushed some of the
leaves aside. Beneath them was a drawing of a rabbit. It looked like those ancient cave paintings I'd seen
in books—just outlines, but wild and fast and free. Nicky isn't one bit happy about spending the summer
with his grandma in the Wisconsin woods, but them the raft appears and changes everything. As Nicky
explores, the raft works a subtle magic, opening up the wonders all around him—the animals of river and
woods, his grandmother's humor and wisdom, and his own special talent as an artist.
(barnesandnoble.com)
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea / Jules Verne retold by Lesley Thoompson
o
A huge sea monster has attacked and wrecked several ships from beneath the sea. Professor Arronax
bravely joins a mission to hunt down the beast. He goes aboard the Nautilus, a secret submarine helmed
by the mysterious Captain Nemo. At first, the mission is exciting, as Nemo takes Arronax on a voyage
around the underwater world. But when things start to go wrong, Arronax finds there's no escape from
the Nautilus. He is now Captain Nemo's captive--20,000 leagues under the sea! (barnesandnobles.com)
600’s
 Black Star, Bright Dawn / Scott O’Dell
o
In this redesigned edition of Scott O'Dell's classic novel, a young Eskimo girl encounters frightening
obstacles when she takes her father's place in the Iditarod, the annual 1,172-mile dogsled race in Alaska.
(barnesandnobles.com)

Jaguar / Ronald Smith
o

The House of the Scorpion / Nancy Farmer
o

Matt is a clone of El Patrón, a powerful drug lord of the land of Opium, which is located between the
United States and Mexico. For six years, he has lived in a tiny cottage in the poppy fields with Celia, a
kind and deeply religious servant woman who is charged with his care and safety. He knows little about
his existence until he is discovered by a group of children playing in the fields and wonders why he isn't
like them. Though Matt has been spared the fate of most clones, who have their intelligence destroyed at
birth, the evil inhabitants of El Patrón's empire consider him a "beast" and an "eejit." When El Patrón dies
at the age of 146, fourteen-year-old Matt escapes Opium with the help of Celia and Tam Lin, his devoted
bodyguard who wants to right his own wrongs. After a near misadventure in his escape, Matt makes his
way back home and begins to rid the country of its evils. (barnesandnobles.com)
Thunder Cave / Roland Smith
o

Jacob Lansa, 14, has just barely returned from Kenya and settled down to life in Poughkeepsie, NY, when
his restless father, a wildlife biologist, is called away to a field project in Brazil. In this sequel to Thunder
Cave (Hyperion, 1995), Jacob again joins his father in researching and protecting an endangered species.
This time it's to save the jaguar and its habitat in the Amazon rainforest. After a mysterious accident kills
the expedition leader, seasoned-captain Jay Silver is hired to take the remaining researchers into the
tropical interior. As Jacob; Dr. Lansa; and his girlfriend, an experienced botanist, journey up the Amazon
River they witness the devastation of the land and indigenous people caused by the influx of fortune
seekers and exploitation of natural resources. The group links up with an Indian who helps them take a
family of jaguars to the remote region where a refuge is to be established. But even the harsh beauty of
an isolated area cannot protect the animals from human greed, and danger lurks in the heart of the
jungle. (amazon.com)
Adventurous tale of a young boy embarking on a perilous quest to find his zoologist father in Kenya,
imbued with an intriguing blend of hopi and masai mysticism. (lexile.com)
To the Top! Climbing the World's Highest Mountain / Sydell A. Kramer
o
Here is the gripping story of Hillary and Norgay's perilous ascent of Mount Everest as they battled snow
and ice slides, whipping winds, and the grim knowledge that 19 others had died in the same attempt.
(amazon.com)
700’s
 Eyes in the Sky: Satellite Spies Are Watching You! / Lisa Jo Rudy
o

Life as We Knew It / Susan Beth Pfeffer
o

When an "Instant Commuter" transports him to Mount Saint Helens during its eruption, twelve-year-old
Warren cannot get himself back to his own home in his own time. (barnesandnoble.com)
Wrinkle in Time / Madeleine L’Engle
o

Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth.
How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes
rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her
two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they
subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove. (harcourtbooks.com)
The Volcano Disaster / Peg Kehret
o

Spy Files examines the science and technology behind the fascinating world of espionage, from mini-spy
planes to spy animals, and more. (amazon.com)
Winner of the Newbery Medal in 1963, L'Engle's work of fantasy and science fiction combined with some
Christian theology has now been read by several generations of young enthusiasts. The author went on
to write three others, forming a quartet based on the Murry family, and including themes like the power
of love and the need to make responsible moral choices. In this story, Meg Murry, her extraordinary little
brother Charles Wallace, and schoolmate Calvin O'Keefe make the acquaintance of eccentric Mrs. Whatsit
and friends (who turn out to be extraterrestrial beings). Together they journey through a wrinkle in time,
a tesseract, to rescue the Murrys' missing father from an evil presence (likened by some interpreters to a
black hole), and a sinister brain called IT. Although this is fantasy, the characters are portrayed
realistically and sympathetically; it is Meg's ability to love that enables them to return safely to Earth and
make secure the right to individuality. (barnesandnoble.com)
Zia / Scott O’Dell
o
Zia and her brother set out to rescue their aunt, Karana, in this sequel to the Newbery Award-winning
Island of the Blue Dolphins (barnesandnoble.com)
800’s
 Cobra Event / Richard Preston
o
The Cobra Event is itself a paranoia-fest, a provocative thriller that makes you wonder exactly how much
bioterrorism is taking place in the real world. This novel is instead a complex morality tale anchored in
uncomfortable fact. Preston is keen to convey the "invisible history" of bioweapons engineering and,
equally, to show the unsung heroism of his scientific detectives (along with that of the nurses and
technicians who literally sacrifice their lives for medicine). Like their creator, these characters are not
without a sense of humor. One calls the manmade virus "the ultimate head cold." Readers will never
forget literally dozens of scenes and will never again see the subway, rodents, autopsy knives, and-above all--runny noses in the same light. (amazon.com)

Flush / Carl Hiassan
o

John Muir: Young Naturalist / Montrew Dunham
o

You know it's going to be a rough summer when you spend Father's Day visiting your dad in the local
lockup. Noah's dad is sure that the owner of the Coral Queen casino boat is flushing raw sewage into the
harbor -- which has made taking a dip at the local beach like swimming in a toilet. He can't prove it
though, and so he decides that sinking the boat will make an effective statement. Right. The boat is
pumped out and back in business within days and Noah's dad is stuck in the clink. Now Noah is
determined to succeed where his dad failed. He will prove that the Coral Queen is dumping
illegally...somehow. His allies may not add up to much -- his sister Abbey, an unreformed childhood biter;
Lice Peeking, a greedy sot with poor hygiene; Shelly, a bartender and a woman scorned; and a
mysterious pirate -- but Noah's got a plan to flush this crook out into the open. A plan that should sink
the crooked little casino, once and for all. (barnesandnoble.com)
A biography stressing the childhood of the naturalist responsible for incorporating Yosemite Park into the
National Park system. (lexile.com)
Swiftly Tilting Planet / Madeleine L’Engle
o In this companion to the Newbery Award winner A Wrinkle in Time and A Wind in the
Door, fifteen-year-old Charles Wallace and the unicorn Gaudior undertake a perilous journey through time
in a desperate attempt to stop the destruction of the world by the mad dictator Madog Branzillo. They are
not alone in their quest. Charles Wallace's sister, Meg—grown and expecting her first child, but still able
to enter her brother's thoughts and emotions by "kything"—goes with him in spirit. Charles Wallace must
face the ultimate test of his faith and his will as he is sent within four people from another time, there to
search for a way to avert the tragedy threatening them all. (barnesandnobles.com)

The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael
Collins / Bea Uusma Schyffert
o

Do you know the story of Michael Collins, the Apollo 11 astronaut who went all the way to the moon but
never walked on its surface? Instead, he orbited the moon 14 times, surrounded by 701 power switches
and 20 pounds of checklists. Reminiscent of a scrapbook, this extraordinary book chronicles what Michael
Collins did, saw, and thought about in space. Through fascinating facts, quotes, checklists, original
drawings, and photos taken both in space and on Earth, it also tells how the astronauts prepared for their
historic journey, what they brought with them, and what they left behind. (barnesandnoble.com)
Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount St. Helens / Patricia Lauber
o “This is a spectacular book; Lauber's narrative describing the eruption, aftermath, and gradual return of
life to the Mount St. Helens slopes devastated by the 1980 eruption is anchored with stellar color
photographs that show each phase of the destruction and the healing. . . . This is a substantive
explanation set off by superb book design." (amazon.com)


When Birds Get Flu and Cows Go Mad / John DiConsiglio
o Medical Files examines the science and technology behind some of the most fascinating medical cases
and mysteries, from flesh-eating diseases to deadly mosquito bites, and more. (amazon.com)
Z for Zachariah / Robert C. O’Brien
o
Ann Burden is sixteen years old and completely alone. The world as she once knew it is gone, ravaged by
a nuclear war that has taken everyone from her. For the past year, she has lived in a remote valley with
no evidence of any other survivors. But the smoke from a distant campfire shatters Ann's solitude.
Someone else is still alive and making his way toward the valley. Who is this man? What does he want?
Can he be trusted? Both excited and terrified, Ann soon realizes there may be worse things than being
the last person on Earth. (barnesandnobles)
900’s
 Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream / Tanya Stone
o

Bone Detectives: The Story of Forensic Anthropologist Diane France / Lorraine Jean Hopping
o

Charlie Gordon is about to embark upon an unprecedented journey. Born with an unusually low IQ, he
has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that researchers hope will increase
his intelligence-a procedure that has already been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named
Algernon. As the treatment takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the
doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment appears to be a scientific breakthrough of
paramount importance, until Algernon suddenly deteriorates. Will the same happen to Charlie?
(barnesandnoble.com)
Legacy of Luna / Julia Butterfly Hill
o

Diane France loves bones. Why? Because they talk to her. Every skeleton she meets whispers secrets
about the life—and death—of its owner. Diane France can hear those secrets because she's a forensic
anthropologist, a bone detective. She has the science skills and know-how to examine bones for clues to
a mystery: Who was this person and how did he or she die? Bones tell Diane about the life and times of
famous people in history, from a Russian royal family to American outlaws and war heroes. They speak to
her about murders, mass disasters, and fatal accidents. One day she's collecting skeletal evidence at a
crime scene. A phone call later she's jetting to the site of a plane crash or other unexpected tragedy to
identify victims. (barnesandnoble.com)
Flowers for Algernon / Daniel Keyes
o

What does it take to be an astronaut? Excellence at flying, courage, intelligence, resistance to stress, top
physical shape — any checklist would include these. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was
another unspoken rule: you had to be a man. Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved that they
were not only as tough as the toughest man but also brave enough to challenge the government. They
were blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and the scrawled note of one of the most powerful men in
Washington. But even though the Mercury 13 women did not make it into space, they did not lose, for
their example empowered young women to take their place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding
space capsules. ALMOST ASTRONAUTS is the story of thirteen true pioneers of the space age.
(barnesandnoble.com)
The daughter of an itinerant preacher, Hill writes of her chance meeting with California logging
protesters, the blur of events leading to her ascent of the redwood, and the daily privations of living in
the tallest treehouse on earth. She weathers everything from El Niño rainstorms to shock-jock media
storms. More frightening are her interactions with the loggers below, who escalate the game of chicken
by cutting dangerously close to Luna (eventually succeeding at killing another activist with such tactics).
"'You'd better get ready for a bad hair day!'" one logger shouts up, grimly anticipating the illegal
helicopter hazing she would soon get. As a result, more Americans know about controversial forestry
practices; it remains to be seen, however, whether public outrage is enough to save California's
unprotected and ever-shrinking groves of redwoods. (amazon.com)
My Life with the Chimpanzees / Jane Goodall
o From the time she was a girl, Jane Goodall dreamed of a life spent working with animals.
Finally she had her wish. When she was twenty-six years old, she ventured into the forests
of Africa to observe chimpanzees in the wild. On her expeditions she braved the dangers
with leopards and lions in the African bush. And she got to know an amazing group of wild
chimpanzees -- intelligent animals whose lives, in work and play and family relationships,
bear a surprising resemblance to our own. (amazon.com)

Rocket Boys / Homer Hickman
o
Captivated by the miracle of the first space flights, the young Homer Hickam and his friends started
playing with and daydreaming about rockets. As an adult, Hickam would make rockets as an engineer at
NASA. Rocket Boys, is a touching memoir of the birth of the space age and of one man living his dream
by finding his place in that great adventure. (barnesandnobles.com)
1000’s
 Deep Dream of the Rainforest / Malcom Bosse
o

Eva / Peter Dickinson
o

Three explorers-fifteen-year-old orphan Harry Windsor, Bayang, a young Iban tribesman, and Tombong,
an outcast Iban girl-find mystery and adventure in the jungles of Borneo. (barnesandnoble.com)
Thirteen-year old Eva wakes up in the hospital unable to remember anything since the picnic on the
beach. Her mother leans over the bed and begins to explain. A traffic accident, a long coma . . . But
there is something, Eva senses, that she’s not being told. There is a price she must pay to be alive at all.
What have they done, with their amazing medical techniques, to save her? (barnesandnoble.com)
Hidden Worlds: Looking Through a Scientist’s Microscope / Stephen Kramer
o There are hidden worlds in nature—places you can visit only with a microscope. Dennis
Kunkel has been exploring these worlds for more than twenty-five years, and now you can
go along with him as he uses his powerful microscopes to reveal the hidden beauty of
everyday objects: a crystal of sugar, a grain of pollen, a blade of grass.
For Dennis, science has always been an adventure, the chance to make discoveries and
explore new frontiers. Follow Dennis and author Stephen Kramer through Hidden Worlds
and you’ll never see your world the same way again! (amazon.com

Hot Zone / Richard Preston
o

Island of the Blue Dolphin / Scott O’Dell
o

A highly infectious, deadly virus from the central African rain forest suddenly appears in the suburbs of
Washington, D.C. There is no cure. In a few days 90 percent of its victims are dead. A secret military
SWAT team of soldiers and scientists is mobilized to stop the outbreak of this exotic "hot" virus. The Hot
Zone tells this dramatic story, giving a hair-raising account of the appearance of rare and lethal viruses
and their "crashes" into the human race. Shocking, frightening, and impossible to ignore, The Hot Zone
proves that truth really is scarier than fiction. (barnesandnobles.com)
In the Pacific, there is an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself in the sea. Around it blue dolphins
swim, otters play, and sea birds abound. Karana is the Indian girl who lived alone for years on the Island
of the Blue Dolphins. Hers is not only an unusual adventure of survival, but also a tale of natural beauty
and personal discovery. (barnesandnobles.com)
Secrets of Sound: Studying the Calls and Songs of Whales, Elephants, and Birds / April Pulley
Sayre
o Can whales communicate across miles of vast ocean? Can elephants talk to one another with sounds we
cannot hear? These are the kinds of questions that drive the work of acoustic biologists. Follow three
creative scientists—Christopher W., Clark, Katy Payne, and Bill Evans—as they research why and how
animals communicate. Through remarkable photographs and stories about all sorts of animals, this book
celebrates the challenges of lab work and fieldwork and the thrill of discovery. (amazon.com)

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Jules Verne
o

Jules Verne's tale of undersea adventures with Captain Nemo. (barnesandnobles.com)
Tycho Brahe: Pioneer of Astronomy / Don Nardo
o Tycho Brahe was an eccentric Danish astronomer in the 1500s. Growing up in the wealthy home of his
uncle, he was provided with the freedom to pursue his ambitions in life. While attending college, Tycho
viewed a solar eclipse, which scholars had predicted would happen. He was fascinated that science could
predict such phenomenal events, and he devoted much of his time to studying the heavens. Using
modern instruments and techniques to measure the positions of the stars and the movements of the
planets, Brahe revolutionized the way astronomers viewed the night sky. (amazon.com)
1100’s
 An American Plague: The True Story and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793
/ Jim Murphy
o 1793, Philadelphia. The nation's capital and the largest city in North America is devastated by an
apparently incurable disease, cause unknown . . .
In a powerful, dramatic narrative, critically acclaimed author Jim Murphy describes the illness known as
yellow fever and the toll it took on the city's residents, relating the epidemic to the major social and
political events of the day and to 18th-century medical beliefs and practices. Drawing on first-hand
accounts, Murphy spotlights the heroic role of Philadelphia's free blacks in combating the disease, and the
Constitutional crisis that President Washington faced when he was forced to leave the city--and all his
papers--while escaping the deadly contagion. The search for the fever's causes and cure, not found for
more than a century afterward, provides a suspenseful counterpoint to this riveting true story of a city
under siege.
Thoroughly researched, generously illustrated with fascinating archival prints, and unflinching in its
discussion of medical details, this book offers a glimpse into the conditions of American cities at the time
of our nation's birth while drawing timely parallels to modern-day epidemics. Bibliography, map, index.
(amazon.com)

Antarctica: Journey to the South Pole / Walter Dean Myers
o Walter Dean Myers brings the dramatic race to the South Pole to lie in Antarctica, tracking the explorers
of the South Pole and the dangers they encountered there, as well as their contributions to modern
science. He describes the extreme climate conditions in Antarctica, the wildlife, the whaling and merchant
sailing industries that took root there, and the various exploration parties, including James Cook, Richard
Byrd, and Ernest Shackleton. Myers depicts the heroism and adventure of the expeditions using photos,
maps, and illustrations to complement the text. (barnesandnobles.com)

Cave Sleuths: Solving Science Underground / Laurie Lindop
o Grade 6-9–As an introduction to the idea that caves are interesting places worthy of scientific study, this
generously illustrated and easy-to-read book is at least partially successful. Any book that treats caving
as more than a thrill-seeking sport is welcome. The text features examples of scientists' work in diverse
types of caves all around the world. The focus of the research reported here is on the fields of biology,
microbiology, and geology. But hydrology, which has long been and continues to be of interest where
subsidence or pollution are issues, for example, is never mentioned. Is there really only a handful of cave
scientists in the world? Are there really millions of caves? Despite these and other questionable
statements, this book has its strengths; it features several female scientists who serve as worthy role
models for young people aspiring to scientific careers, illustrates the importance of current studies to
future discoveries, and links basic science to practical, potentially life- and species-saving discoveries.–
Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Junior High School, Iowa City, IA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a
division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (amazon.com)

Demon in the Freezer / Richard Preston
o

The first major bioterror event in the United States-the anthrax attacks in October 2001-was a clarion call
for scientists who work with “hot” agents to find ways of protecting civilian populations against biological
weapons. In The Demon in the Freezer Richard Preston takes us into the heart of Usamriid, the United
States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, once the
headquarters of the U.S. biological weapons program and now the epicenter of national biodefense.
Peter Jahrling, the top scientist at Usamriid, has ORCON security clearance that gives him access to top
secret information on bioweapons. His most urgent priority is to develop a drug that will take on
smallpox-and win. But the demon in the freezer has been set loose. It is almost certain that illegal stocks
are in the possession of hostile states, including Iraq and North Korea. Jahrling is haunted by the thought
that biologists in secret labs are using genetic engineering to create a new superpox virus, a smallpox
resistant to all vaccines. (barnesandnobles.com)
Killer Rocks from Outer Space: Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors
o Gr. 7-10. With its Star Wars-like cover and zany title, this book might lead one to believe it's a wild take
on astronomy. Not so, although the "killer rock" topic will certainly interest many readers. Koppes packs a
wealth of facts into this modest-size volume, including information about how to recognize meteorites,
impact craters, and scars; connections to dinosaur extinction; and the methods scientists are using to
defend the Earth from cosmic disasters. The sophisticated language and the scientific terms (there's a
glossary) won't suit reluctant readers, nor will the fairly text-heavy layout, although maps, diagrams,
charts, and photographs do break up the text. Better readers, however, will find lots for reports or for
personal interest. Included is a map of impact sites around the world, and a list of Web sites and further
readings are appended. Jennifer Locke

Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved (amazon.com)
Swift Rivers / Cornelia Meigs and Forrest W. Orr
o
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Barred from his family home- stead by his mean-spirited uncle, eighteen-year-old Chris weathers a
Minnesota winter in a small cabin with his grandfather. Poverty and the tempting stories of a wandering
Easterner convince Chris to harvest the trees on his grandfather’s land and float the logs down the spring
floodwaters of the Mississippi to the lumber mills in Saint Louis. Filled with stories of raft hands and river
pilots, this fast-paced novel has all the momentum of the great Mississippi. (barnesandnobles.com)
The Perfect Storm / Sebastian Junger
o
The ‘perfect storm’ is a once-in-a-hundred-years combination: a high pressure system from the Great
Lakes, running into storm winds over an Atlantic island – Sable Island – and colliding with a weather
system from the Caribbean: Hurricane Grace. This is the story of that storm, told through the accounts of
individual fishing boats caught up in the maelstrom, their families waiting anxiously for news of their
return, the rescue services scrambled to save them. It is the story of the old battle between the
fisherman and the sea, between man and Nature, that awesome and capricious power which can
transform the surface of the Atlantic into an impossible tumult of water walls and gaping voids, with the
capacity to break an oil tanker in two.In spare, lyrical prose ‘The Perfect Storm’ describes what happened
when the Andrea Gail looked into the wrathful face of the perfect storm (amazon.com)
1200’s
 Ever Since Darwin: Reflections on Natural History / Stephen Jay Gould
o Ever Since Darwin was the paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould's first book of collected essays. Published in
1977, the collection originated from his monthly column "This View of Life," published in Natural History
magazine. Edwin Barber—who was then the editorial director for W. W. Norton & Company—took note of
the quality of Gould's essays and asked Gould "What's a smart fellow like you doing with no books in
print?" He soon commissioned Gould to write The Mismeasure of Man. It wasn't until three years later,
when Gould accumulated 33 columns, did it occur to either of them that the columns should be published
in a single volume. The collection of essays, written between 1973-1977, became a best-seller and
propelled Stephen Jay Gould to national prominence. (amzon.com)
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Incident at Hawk’s Hill / Allen W. Eckert
o

Six-year-old Ben is very small for his age, and gets along better with animals than people. One June day
in 1870, Ben wanders away from his home on Hawk's Hill and disappears into the waving prairie grass.
This is the story of how a shy, lonely boy survives for months in the wilds and forges a bond with a
female badger. (barnesandnoble.com)
Of Wolves and Men / Barry Lopez
o
Of Wolves and Men reveals the uneasy interaction between wolves and civilization over the centuries,
and the wolf's prominence in our thoughts about wild creatures. Drawing on an astonishing array of
literature, history, science, and mythology as well as considerable personal experience with captive and
free-ranging wolves, Lopez argues for the necessity of the wolf's preservation and envelops the reader in
its sensory world, creating a compelling picture of the wolf both as real animal and as imagined by man.
A scientist might perceive the wolf as defined by research data, while an Eskimo hunter sees a family
provider much like himself. For many Native Americans the wolf is also a spiritual symbol, a respected
animal that can make both the individual and the community stronger. (barnesandnoble.com)
1300’s
 Arctic Dreams / Barry Lopez
o

Lopez offers a thorough examination of this obscure world-its terrain, its wildlife, its history of Eskimo
natives and intrepid explorers who have arrived on their icy shores. But what turns this marvelous work
of natural history into a breathtaking study of profound originality is his unique meditation on how the
landscape can shape our imagination, desires, and dreams. Its prose as hauntingly pure as the land it
describes, Arctic Dreams is nothing less than an indelible classic of modern literature.
(barnesandnobles.com)
Into Thin Air / John Krakaur
o
A childhood dream of someday ascending Mount Everest, a lifelong love of climbing, and an expense
account all propelled writer Jon Krakauer to the top of the Himalayas last May. His powerful, cautionary
tale of an adventure gone horribly wrong is a must-read. (barnesandnobles)

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Problem of his Time /
Dava Sobel
o

Silent Spring / Rachel Carson
o

Rarely does a single book alter the course of history, but Rachel Carson's Silent Spring did exactly that.
The outcry that followed its publication in 1962 forced the government to ban DDT and spurred
revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water. Carson's book was instrumental in
launching the environmental movement. It is without question one of the landmark books of the
twentieth century. (barnesandnoble.com)
The Heat is On / Ross Gelbspan
o

Anyone alive in the eighteenth century would have known that “the longitude problem” was the thorniest
scientific dilemma of the day-and had been for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their longitude,
sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of
land. Thousands of lives, and the increasing fortunes of nations, hung on a resolution. The scientific
establishment of Europe-from Galileo to Sir Isaac Newton-had mapped the heavens in both hemispheres
in its certain pursuit of a celestial answer. In stark contrast, one man, John Harrison, dared to imagine a
mechanical solution-a clock that would keep precise time at sea, something no clock had ever been able
to do on land. Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest, and of Harrison's fortyyear obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer. Full of heroism
and chicanery, it is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking, and opens
a new window on our world. (amazon.com)
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ross Gelbspan exposes the machinations of oil and coal companies and
conservative politicians to undermine the public confidence in science and thereby defer action against
global warming. This riveting expose is a spirited call to action against the corporate disinformation
campaign that threatens us all. (amazon.com)
The North Pole Was Here / Andrew Revkin
o Now in paperback, current events get in-depth treatment in this exciting series produced in collaboration
with the New York Times. First-person narratives world-renowned newspaper's award-winning journalists
tell the stories behind headlines.
Beginning with a white-knuckle airplane landing, Andrew C. Revkin leads readers through a land of ice
and water, describing the stark beauty of the North Pole, the scientists who endure the Arctic chill, the
adventurers who are drawn to the north, and the not-so-pretty realities of camping in the
Arctic. Years of research, interviews, and science coverage come together to explain the phenomenon of
global warming, the different perspectives on its causes and potential effects, and the implications that it
holds for the frozen north. (amazon.com)
1400s

The Origin of Species / Charles Darwin
o
The classic that exploded into public controversy, revolutionized the course of science, and continues to
transform our views of the world. (amazon.com)