Reading Level George Secret Key to the Universe
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This volume was written for those pre-geek 2d and third graders who read all the astronomy books in the j520 section of the library and and then pester their parents, teachers and school librarians about the big blindside, blackness holes, comets and life on other planets. I've done stints in elementary school libraries and
This book volition teach the budding elementary schoolhouse anile geek some of the newest theories about black holes. It volition teach adults about Stephen Hawking's playful mind and humor.This volume was written for those pre-geek second and tertiary graders who read all the astronomy books in the j520 section of the library and and so pester their parents, teachers and schoolhouse librarians near the large blindside, black holes, comets and life on other planets. I've done stints in unproblematic school libraries and at that place are plenty of these kids.
Perhaps some adults may think the story is besides young for the science presented -- only I bet these adults haven't worked in school libraries. They don't know almost the i "weird kid" who seems to be in well-nigh every second and third grade class in every school in the nation who craves to know the inner workings of the universe and is frustrated that about adults they encounter don't seem to know or care nigh the questions they accept.
My cousin and I were those "weird kids" in our classes. Nosotros were mad nigh science and played "Let's Pretend" long afterward the other kids our age quit. I tin totally imagine him and I pretending that we had an amazing calculator that zoomed us out into infinite and immune u.s. to ride a comet around the solar system. And in reality, I call back u.s. pretending that we were falling into a black pigsty at some point.
When I read this book, I felt as if I were eight years old again. I would have LOVED this book. It would take been next to the "Brown Paper School Book" series that I treasured. I felt similar I was snooping in on someone else's "Let's Pretend" game.
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This SF tale is festooned with science lessons, and is plain intended to convince immature readers of the importance of knowing the laws of physics--yet those laws are blown off over and over equally the story goes forth. Furthermore, at that place are these huge gaps in internal logic--for instance, young George's parents are suc
Wow, what a disappointment. Hawking stoops (in both the avian and, to judge from the result, aristocratic senses of the discussion) to conquer a young audience, and lands difficult on his beak.This SF tale is festooned with scientific discipline lessons, and is evidently intended to convince young readers of the importance of knowing the laws of physics--all the same those laws are blown off over and over as the story goes along. Furthermore, there are these huge gaps in internal logic--for instance, immature George'southward parents are such eco-activists that they refuse to allow a Television, phone or computer in the house, but come across naught wrong with constructing a home fabricated electrical generator (I wonder what information technology runs on!).
And, considering that ii of the 3 authors are trained scientists, their grasp on basic astro-facts is pretty shaky; they merits that the moon Ganymede is most the size of World'southward Moon, and elsewhere that a person exposed to space would freeze in an instant--both of which are wrong.
I read this as an ARC, and maybe the latter will be corrected in the final version (one can always hope). Still, how hard would it have been to set the story in our bodily universe, where lightspeed is a limit and planets are really far apart to underpin the scientific discipline instruction?
The book'll probably sell well. Too bad, because it's lazy piece of work and disrespectful of its intended audition.
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I read it with a 10 and a 13 year quondam, perhaps information technology is meliorate suited for younger children.
Stars, Planets, Comets, Asteroids, Nebulae, Black Holes, Galaxies... there's a whole population of space inhabitants defying our curiousity -- total of secrets waiting for u.s.a. to exist known!
Just those huge circuitous scientific essays can be so immensely boring, that they easily bury our original enthusiastic curiousity :(
Fortunately, Stephen and Lucy Hawking, were sensitive enough to feel the problem, and created a short series of scientific books, talking well-nigh the mysteries
The Universe Witout YawningStars, Planets, Comets, Asteroids, Nebulae, Blackness Holes, Galaxies... in that location'due south a whole population of space inhabitants defying our curiousity -- full of secrets waiting for usa to be known!
But those huge complex scientific essays can be so immensely boring, that they easily bury our original enthusiastic curiousity :(
Fortunately, Stephen and Lucy Hawking, were sensitive plenty to experience the problem, and created a short serial of scientific books, talking nigh the mysteries of the universe, aiming to make information technology easier for us, curious common mortals!... ;)
This books combine science facts with adventure, which is certainly a great anti-colorlessness kind of recipe!...
In short:
-- Wanna know about the Universe without yawning?
-- This book is for you!
P.Southward: This scientific adventurous serial was specifically created to motivate children into physics, merely since curious adults that hate tiresome knowledge were forgotten, I suppose they will have to relish the ride ;)
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George'southward Underground Key to the Universe is a thoroughly enjoyable and informative novel about a boy'due south friendship and adventures with a scientist named Eric, his daughter Annie, and Cosmos, the nigh astonishing computer in the world. This volume not only takes 1 to an hazard through asteroid belts and black holes;
I love children's books. I want to write some myself, and when someone offers to permit me infringe their copy of a volume for children written by Stephen and Lucy Hawking, I'm more than than game.George'south Secret Fundamental to the Universe is a thoroughly enjoyable and informative novel about a boy's friendship and adventures with a scientist named Eric, his daughter Annie, and Cosmos, the virtually amazing estimator in the world. This book non only takes one to an gamble through asteroid belts and black holes; it besides stresses on the need to reconcile the need for climate and ecological activity with science and engineering (and the demand to look for an alternative i tin can render from rather than move onto post-abandonment). In that sense, this is a book that seeks to imbibe responsibility in the reader; and fifty-fifty through self-sacrifice (of the possibility of winning at the science competition). Even though I probably wouldn't have understood these things explicitly, little me would have LOVED this volume.
Sure, at that place are elements of formulaic sci-fi stories — the stark demarcation of skillful and evil, the easy resolution and the picture of eccentricity — just the volume itself speaks of understanding the deviation betwixt "science fiction and scientific discipline fact". In that location are as well many reinforced stereotypes; gender roles and such; but I guess that isn't 1'southward primary focus when writing a book about bringing together our world with a whole new one — fifty-fifty for children.
I still loved this book, and wonder which of Lucy and Stephen came up with the idea of broccoli muffins.
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I would honey someon
I actually thought this one was terrible. The science was interesting, but too much like scientific discipline fiction, so that information technology seemed like fantasy. The writing was expert enough, but some of the themes were agonizing. I remember the ending was supposed to exist a coming-together of all the different factions, but it bulletin of the book seemed to be that environmentalists are confronting all engineering science and innovation, and that it's okay if we destroy this planet because science tin find usa a new one.I would love someone to explain to me the visual references to The Niggling Prince. They were far too obvious to be adventitious, and yet nothing was actually made of them. I only can't see George as a modern-day Fiddling Prince.
The book design was atrocious. My reading was oftentimes disrupted mid-sentence past sidebars and pages of photographs. I enjoyed the sidebars- they were better than the story, but the placement of them was problematic. Also, the photos were cool, but they weren't placed near the relevant content in the book, and oftentimes came in the middle of the chapter. When I reached the end of the photos, I had to go back and reread the last folio of text to go dorsum into the story. We've made such strides in blueprint recently, that there's really no excuse for this.
Information technology always makes me sad when books like this get and so much press because of their authors when so many wonderful books are ignored.
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It really made me want to read more and more!
The series taught me a lot about space and the universe and really enriched my knowledge.
It sounds really fun to be able to travel to infinite whenever yous want through a portal.
I loved the book and really recommend the series for everybody and especially to infinite and adventure lovers.
I promise yous read the and similar it.
So, I didn't know nearly this book until 2 months ago. When I was teaching Twelvemonth Four, one of my topics was space (stargazers). I did not desire to read the book on the curriculum map, which looked so dull, and had nothing to do with space. I begged my grade teacher for a different book and I was only allowed a different book if I could find a better infinite-themed replacement. After 10 minutes of searching on book websites recommended for primary-aged children, I found thi
Without a doubt, 5 stars!So, I didn't know about this volume until 2 months ago. When I was teaching Yr Four, ane of my topics was space (stargazers). I did non want to read the book on the curriculum map, which looked so boring, and had nothing to do with infinite. I begged my class teacher for a different book and I was simply allowed a different book if I could find a amend space-themed replacement. After 10 minutes of searching on book websites recommended for principal-aged children, I found this. Surely, I should accept already known about this book. Me: self-proclaimed children'south literature lover and a huge Doctor Who fan. Somehow, it slipped my radar.
The quote from the Sunday times is: like a Doctor Who take chances and they are not wrong. This book is amazing. Information technology is and so educational: filled with fact files and real-life photographs throughout just information technology besides intertwines the cardinal knowledge throughout the plot. I've honestly learned and so much almost the Universe from this book that I previously didn't know most and I think it is brilliant.
The Hawkings' skills remind me of Riordan and his power to intertwine facts/knowledge into the plot. I call back it is definitely a difficult skill equally I've read many books, which are really trying to do it but cease up like an encyclopedia. The Hawkings have definitely achieved information technology. I loved the characterisation, the setting and (did I mention?) the plot! There were sensitive topics dealt with: divorce, being different, bullying (and at that place's even a hint that someone's died) but they are all dealt with and so well that I think it really works. It is really difficult to crack children's literature because the writing needs to be just right and I definitely call up this works.
Never mind just for children, I LOVED THIS. As a Doctor Who fan, who loves space, I was enthralled in this book and I didn't feel too intimidated equally is sometime possible with science fiction. This book is actually outgoing and you don't take to be a child to read this volume because it'south really good.
I even cried at the end. No spoilers simply the importance of families and friends shone through this book and I but really wanted to exist office of this story. I cried at the acknowledgements too because I forgot that this book was wrote by Stephen Hawking and his girl. I don't think that should put you off at all. (Information technology was one of the reasons I was fatigued to it.) I forgot virtually the importance of the partnership between father and child and I retrieve this is reflected in the story pretty well.
I am definitely reading the adjacent one in this serial because I remember the Hawkings have stumbled on something wonderful.
Such an underrated book.
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Howeve
Again the dilemma of rating a book for kids... As a scientist and a books-for-kids reader and lover I wouldn't give it more than three stars: although I appreciated the plot, the scientific discipline therein and the introduction to the research world, the characters are a bit stereotypical and the book is too didactic for my taste. Overall I perceived it as a book written to teach (mayhap this was its goal, although not exactly what I value in terms of books for kids) to the detriment of the story catamenia.Yet, this is also a 300-page book read in iii days with my 5yo that made her think, enquire lots and lots of questions, express mirth, wonder&wander through Milky Way, all in all a volume that nourished her passion for astronomy. She would probably give information technology five stars, but let'south requite it iv (and go on v* for Ender'due south Game :))).
Next in line: George'southward Cosmic Treasure Hunt :).
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Simply this volume was such a good and simple introduction to the major theories and especially near my favourite topic: black holes!!!
I'm really looking forward to read the other books!
I likewise enjoyed most of the book; I had only ane event with it: as another reader points out, "The portrayal of the anti-scientific discipline family is woefully patronizing." As a applied science-weary person myself (not science, mind you; just the
My son (eight) seemed to savor this book, which I read to him, fifty-fifty the scholastic bits that seem and so out of place to an adult. I saw many people claiming kids will not be tricked into reading an extract of a schoolhouse book just because it's inserted in a novel; well, mine was.I also enjoyed most of the book; I had only one upshot with information technology: as another reader points out, "The portrayal of the anti-science family is woefully patronizing." As a engineering-weary person myself (not science, listen you; just the proliferation of every-mean solar day tech gadgets into our life, to the detriment of nature), I was not pleased with the way George'due south parents were depicted. The book tries to reconcile scientific discipline and ecology at the end, but it felt a chip impuissant to me. The younger audience, however, probably didn't experience it - but I am concerned of the messages they become from books, fifty-fifty when they're not spelled out (or perhaps specially when they're not spelled out).
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I shall be mettlesome and careful in my quest for greater noesis near the mysteries that surround us. I shall not utilise scientific noesis for my ain personal gain or give it to those who seek to destroy the wonderful planet on which we alive.
If I break this oath, may the beauty and wonder of the Universe forever remain hidden from me."
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