Extreme Physics

Gr 4–8—This addition to the vivid and engaging series opens with a short introduction that cites "supersmart" physicist Erwin Schrödinger. The book is arranged in four sections: "Quantum Folk" (information about the atom, wave particle duality, Schrödinger's Cat, etc.), "Particle Posse" ("the building blocks of matter"), "Fundamental Forces" (that is, weak force, strong force, electromagnetic force, gravity), and "Quantum Weirdness" (for example, quantum technology). Pages feature a short description written from the point of view of the topic at hand, such as dark matter, accompanied by three bullet points at the beginning and at the conclusion of an entry, providing additional basic facts. The writing is chatty and accessible. A digitally rendered anthropomorphic image complements the selection. The appealing illustrations and fun, engaging explanations will make this title a hit with students.—Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA