Marie Curie and Radioactivity

November 1, 2019
A highlights reel of the great scientist's life and achievements, from clandestine early schooling to the founding of Warsaw's Radium Institute. In big sequential panels Bayarri dashes through Curie's career, barely pausing at significant moments ("Mother! A letter just arrived. It's from Sweden," announces young Ir�ne. "Oh, really?...They're awarding me another Nobel!") in a seeming rush to cover her youth, family life, discoveries, World War I work, and later achievements (with only a closing timeline noting her death, of "aplastic anemia"). Button-eyed but recognizable figures in the panels pour out lecture-ish dialogue. This is well stocked with names and scientific terms but offered with little or no context--characteristics shared by co-published profiles on Albert Einstein and the Theory of Relativity ("You and your thought experiments, Albert!" "We love it! The other day, Schr�dinger thought up one about a cat"), Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution, and Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion. Dark-skinned Tierra del Fuegans make appearances in Darwin, prompting the young naturalist to express his strong anti-slavery views; otherwise the cast is white throughout the series. Engagingly informal as the art and general tone of the narratives are, the books will likely find younger readers struggling to keep up, but kids already exposed to the names and at least some of the concepts will find these imports, translated from the Basque, helpful if, at times, dry overviews. Together with its companions, too rushed to be first introductions but suitable as second ones. (glossary, index, resource list) (Graphic biography. 7-9)

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April 1, 2020
Grades 4-6 This entry of the GraphicScience Biographies series (4 titles) attempts to make dry scientific discovers appealing to younger readers, bringing them directly into Curie's life story through comic-book style, paneled illustrations. Bayarri examines the scientist's entire remarkable life at a furious pace, hopping from one exceptional moment to the next?with the year clearly marked in caption headers. Nobel prizes, wars, scientific discoveries, marriages, deaths, and transatlantic crossings are all included, leaving little room for context. Curious readers wishing for slightly more information will be glad of the helpful back matter, containing further resources, a time line, a scientific glossary, and an index. While this is a simplified take on a complex individual, it nonetheless gives an intriguing peek into an extraordinary mind.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

April 1, 2020

Gr 3-5-This new nonfiction graphic novel series focuses on famous scientists from childhood through the hardships they endured in pursuit of their passions-from Albert Einstein's divorce and his move to America during the Nazi rise to power in Germany, to Marie Curie's struggle to obtain an education in Russian-occupied Poland. The author also discusses unexpected opportunities, like Charles Darwin's life-altering voyage on the Beagle. Bayarri infuses cartoon illustrations with historical details that should open up class discussion about world events-such as Curie taking her X-ray machine to the front lines of World War I to assist injured soldiers. Back matter includes an archival photo or image of the scientist, as well as a glossary, a time line, an index, and a list of further resources. These first titles in the series highlight only one woman and no people of color-hopefully future installments will address these deficits. VERDICT These simple introductions to famous figures of science may lead students to explore further.-Suzanne Costner, Fairview Elementary School, Maryville, TN

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