Vicki Oransky Wittenstein

"If the universe can do it, you can too." One of Geoff Marcy's astronomy professors at UC Berkeley said that to him, and I'm glad he did! Marcy has spent his professional life hunting for planets in solar systems across the universe, working with other scientists to design and develop new methods, equipment and software that reveal more and more of the universe. Working at Hawaii's W.M. Keck Observatory on top of the extinct Mauna Kea volcano, these astronomers have pioneered the use of show more Doppler spectrometers to filter and analyze the light coming from star systems light years away from Earth. The science is explained in the story of several discoveries, as well as detailed sidebars and image captions. The images in the book include scientists at work (and relaxing), gorgeous large images of what artists imagine the other solar systems and planets might look like given what the scientists have discovered about them, and clear illustrations and diagrams that clarify the scientific processes at work. The text can be challenging, but the helpful glossary and references to illustrations will go a long way to encouraging readers to finish. The last chapter leaves us with possibilities: NASA's Kepler mission, launched in 2009 and the Space Inferometry Mission planned for launch in the next several years will both send back vast amounts of new information and images... what will we find soon? Exciting stuff! 7th grade and up. show less

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: N/A
Recommended: Recommend
Level: Middle and High School

Wittenstein has written an easy to use and comprehend guide to the history of women's reproductive rights predominantly in the United States. This resource covers topics from Margaret Sanger and the beginnings of birth control to abortion rights and Roe v. Wade. The author discusses these topics in an unbiased manner while presenting strictly facts and leaving opinions out of the text. There are many show more photographs, charts and anecdotes featured throughout the text that help illustrate, reiterate and emphasize various topics.

This book should be purchased for middle and high school libraries as well as any public library servicing tweens and teens. It is a well written resource that would be beneficial to anyone needing to do a report on such a specialized topic. show less

Reviewed professionally.