Great book designed for middle-schoolers about technology. ( )

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Awesome Achievers in Technology is a collection of short biopics about inventors who are often overlooked: people who invented the windshield wiper, or Scotchguard. I really enjoyed learning about these people, the things they accomplished, and how their inventions changed society. It’s interesting and I think kids would find it interesting too. The chapters are packed with information–short enough not to feel as though it dragged, but long enough to include everything you need to know. This would be a great starting off book for kids interested in researching more about a particular inventor or invention.

While the content about the inventors themselves was fantastic, it gets super goofy at the end of each chapter, which I did not enjoy. Katz makes jokes that don’t make sense, includes nonsensical stories or activities that vaguely relate to the subject. MAYBE a kid would enjoy this (that’s a big maybe), but I felt that was way too over-the-top and didn’t come across as genuinely funny. Without those, though, the book is fantastic.

Also posted on Purple People Readers. ( )

Alan Katz, best-known for his silly rhyming books like Take me out of the bathtub dives into an entirely new genre, nonfiction, but still retains his well-known silly humor.

Both were published simultaneously, in paperback, at the beginning of August. Science includes twelve scientists. Each is covered in a brief chapter on their achievements, influence, and inventions. Additional facts are sprinkled throughout the book, as well as jokes and humorous interjections, mostly at the end of chapters and in separate sections. There are also black and white sketches, mostly of the people included. There is no back matter, only a silly note from the author and a blank page for notes.

The people included in this book are Michael Collins (astronaut), Dr. Henry Heimlich (I believe there is some controversy about the use of the technique, but this was not mentioned), Dr. Patricia Bath (African-American opthalmologist who pioneered a technique for laser surgery on cataracts), George de Mestral (inventor of Velcro), Dr. James Jude (pioneer of CPR techniques), Katherine Blodgett (inventor of anti-glare glass coating, among many other things), Edwin Land who invented the Polaroid, Stephanie Kwolek (inventor of Kevlar), Sally Ride, Dr. Roy J. Plunkett (inventor of Teflon), Dr. Spencer Silver and Arthur Fry (creators of Sticky Notes), and Dr. Hugh Herr (current researcher in bionic prostheses)

Awesome Achievers in Technology focuses on people who invented, improved, or made unique uses of technology. Like the Science volume, it starts with a brief introduction, profiles twelve people in two or three pages each, includes extra facts, jokes, and silly chat from the author after most chapters, and finishes with a humorous note from the author and a blank page for notes.

People included in this book are Nolan Bushnell (co-founder of Atari and early computer games), Adam Cheyer and Dag Kittlaus (creators of SIRI), Nils Bohlin (inventor of the seat belt), Roberta Williams (computer game developer who pioneered graphics and character development), Robert Adler (creator of the tv remote), Mary Anderson (inventor of windshield wipers), Martin Cooper (cell phones), Marie Van Brittan Brown (used existing technology to create personal camera security system), Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson (African-American pioneer in physics and fiber optics), Percy Spencer (microwaves), and Patsy Sherman (Scotchgard).

These brief vignettes don't go into any depth about the characters or their experiences; there's no reflection in the technology book, for example, about the continued issues of sexism and discrimination. Prejudice and historical sexism are mentioned casually, but not dealt with in any in-depth manner. The collection of people is varied with no really strong core holding them together. They also focus on the single, brilliant idea concept rather than the more realistic version where a group of people works together to come up with an invention.

So, these are not the books you'd use for research on the topics. Katz' humor is juvenile and, to an adult, rather annoying. However, these don't purport to be research books or thoroughly cover the subject. They're a nice introduction to some different people, many who are not well-known, and will certainly be new to children.

Verdict: This is the perfect new series to hand to Who Was fans. They whet the appetite with a brief introduction to the topic and kids can go on from there and learn more. A strong addition to biography and science collections, adding browsing materials for younger readers.

Awesome Achievers in Science
ISBN: 9780762463381

Awesome Achievers in Technology
ISBN: 9780762463367

Published August 2019 by Running Press; Galleys provided by publisher; Purchased for the library

“Awesome Achievers in Technology” by Alan Katz includes short biographies of people who made advances in technology and thus improved our lives today. The inventions range from video games to windshield wipers, and include both male and female inventors. The book is obviously intended for a young audience. The biographies are long enough to provide facts about each person, yet short enough to avoid tedium. Each biography is followed by silly factoids and math problems or jokes.

I am not sure how the author chose whom to write about. However, I thought some fairly obvious techno-giants were omitted. I also am not sure of the definition of “technology” used in this book, which must be fairly liberal due to the nature of some of the inventions described (such as seatbelts or windshield wipers, lumped in with computer technology and video games). The book seemed to be uneven in scope and quality, probably acceptable if you happen to be a kid looking for short chunks of reading material. It is also the kind of book that might appeal to young boys, with its silliness and oddball facts. Recommended for elementary to middle school grades.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )