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saidtheraina 's review for:
Breakthrough: How One Teen Innovator Is Changing the World
by Matthew Lysiak, Jack Andraka
I wish the cover and subtitle of this book didn't feel quite so puffed up.
The book doesn't read that way at all. It's a great read, pretty down-to-earth, and (at least to me) a fascinating story.
Kid (albeit privileged, in most ways) wins science fairs. A lot of them. And makes serious scientific history, too. Also is bullied for his sexuality. But mostly wins science fairs. And does scientific research.
At the back of the book, he includes science experiments and some extra information about Open Access, Bullying, "LGBTQ" issues, and Suicide Awareness. There are b&w pix of him at relevant parts through the story, integrated on the same pages as the text.
Even so, it feels like a realistic, contemporaryish YAFiction about a science kid. His voice comes through well. He's human - he explains the scientific principles behind what he's doing, talks about his emotions through all of the science fairs, describes family relationships - I ripped right through it. His enthusiasm for science is contagious.
One thing that saddened me a little bit about the story was that he describes how hard it was for him to gain access to the scientific articles/research to back up his own work, and if I remember correctly, never even considers working with a library to try to get those articles. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong.
Nevertheless, I plan to booktalk this at local middle schools in a couple of weeks. Great memoir! Now I want 1. a new cover for this book, and 2. a book from Amy Chyao.
The book doesn't read that way at all. It's a great read, pretty down-to-earth, and (at least to me) a fascinating story.
Kid (albeit privileged, in most ways) wins science fairs. A lot of them. And makes serious scientific history, too. Also is bullied for his sexuality. But mostly wins science fairs. And does scientific research.
At the back of the book, he includes science experiments and some extra information about Open Access, Bullying, "LGBTQ" issues, and Suicide Awareness. There are b&w pix of him at relevant parts through the story, integrated on the same pages as the text.
Even so, it feels like a realistic, contemporaryish YAFiction about a science kid. His voice comes through well. He's human - he explains the scientific principles behind what he's doing, talks about his emotions through all of the science fairs, describes family relationships - I ripped right through it. His enthusiasm for science is contagious.
One thing that saddened me a little bit about the story was that he describes how hard it was for him to gain access to the scientific articles/research to back up his own work, and if I remember correctly, never even considers working with a library to try to get those articles. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong.
Nevertheless, I plan to booktalk this at local middle schools in a couple of weeks. Great memoir! Now I want 1. a new cover for this book, and 2. a book from Amy Chyao.