The Fantastic Body: What Makes You Tick & How You Get Sick

Gr 4–6—In this physically hefty volume, Bennett captivates readers with an engaging look at the inside and outside workings of the human body. Rich with medical terminology, the writing style smoothly blends definitions of unfamiliar vocabulary with factual details. Technical passages are enhanced by clear diagrams. Large doses of humor lighten the tone, and gross-out descriptions, such as "snot rocket," should keep students reading. Bennett has a knack for breaking down complex medical information into understandable material. Nine sections delve into topics such as body systems, senses, puberty, and human development. Also covered are ways to stay well and some common illnesses, with suggestions on how to get better. Heaps of supplemental material, which appears in sidebars, further expands the content. A thorough index aides in quick retrieval of information—but since there is no separate glossary, readers will need to flip back to previous pages to reacquaint themselves with terms. Colorful photos (a mix of original and stock) and illustrations are plentiful. At times, the cartoonish art style, especially those on chapter-heading pages, seem geared more towards a younger audience when compared to the level of the text.