I received this book via YA Book Central. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
The Stuff Between the Stars by Sandra Nickel Illustrator: Aimee Sicuro
Published by Harry N. Abrams on 2021-03-02
Length: 48 pages
Reviewing Hardcover from YA Book Central
Rating:
A biographical picture book about a female astronomer who made huge discoveries about the mysteries of the night sky and changed the way we look at the universe.
Vera Rubin was one of the astronomers who discovered and named dark matter, the thing that keeps the universe hanging together. Throughout her career she was never taken seriously as a scientist because she was one of the only female astronomers at that time, but she didn’t let that stop her. She made groundbreaking and incredibly significant discoveries that scientists have only recently been able to really appreciate—and she changed the way that we look at the universe.
The Stuff Between the Stars by Sandra Nickel is a beautifully illustrated biography of Vera Rubin, the woman astronomer credited for proving the existence of dark matter. Following Vera’s curiosity as a child through her tenacity as an adult woman working in a “man’s world,” the story is inspiring, uplifting and encouraging to people of all ages and backgrounds.
It is clear in the first few pages of the story that the author did her research. The life of Rubin is followed closely, starting with her interest in seeing the stars outside her bedroom window. Nickel simplifies the concepts and makes them appealing for younger students, encouraging them to look up and learn more about astronomy. I especially like the bibliography and timeline at the end of the book. Here it gives the source material and lists out Rubin’s life.
This book would be a wonderful addition to a classroom library or for children who show an interest in the stars.
About Sandra Nickel
Sandra Nickel writes books and poetry for young readers. In 2020 and 2021, she has three books coming out: Nacho's Nachos (Lee & Low), The Stuff Between the Stars (Abrams) and Breaking Through the Clouds (Abrams). Sandra's poetry can be found in SCOOP magazine. Sandra holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has presented workshops on writing for children and young adults throughout Europe and the United States. Sandra has twice won the Katherine Paterson Prize for picture books and was named a finalist for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction for Younger Readers.
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