Reviews of Kids' Fiction
NO NEW CONTENT WILL BE POSTED ON THIS PAGE AFTER 2016. Please see NSS Reading Space or Goodreads for new reviews by Marianne Dyson.
I have been asked what I think I'm doing reviewing the science in children's fiction books. Don't I know that this is FICTION, as in, make-believe?
Yes, I know the difference between fiction and nonfiction. However, young children don't. At a school visit, a second-grader came up to me. She said, "I really liked your talk about the Moon Mrs. Dyson, but you should know that there really isn't any gravity on the Moon." I asked her who told her that. She said, "I read it in a book!" I asked her to show me the book: it was Midnight on the Moon! (See review below.) This little girl knew the book was fiction. She (correctly) absorbed the fact that there is no air on the Moon because the characters wear spacesuits. But she also absorbed the misconception that where there is no air, there is no gravity, because the gravity changed when they went outside in their spacesuits!
If enough people complain about inaccuracies in fiction books, then maybe the industry will ask for technical reviews of ALL their books, not just nonfiction books. And because most editors have no science background, this area is probably the one with the most potential for improvement.
I hope you�ll agree that even in fiction, it is important to get the facts right. The kids deserve our best effort.
Site discussed in interview in Chemical & Engineering magazine.
Books are listed in alphabetical order by TITLE.
See titles A-F | G-L | M-R | S-Z
A - F
G - L
M - R
S - Z
Authors or publishers who want books reviewed should send the title, author, and publisher information to me by e-mail. All books reviewed must be readily available for order through Amazon.com. I also review ADULT BOOKS about space for the National Space Society. Please send me announcements of new books to consider.
Note: I charge $60/hour for manuscript consultation. I do not critique adult novels. Contact me for estimates.
All Dyson Books, Barnes and Noble LinkQUESTIONS? COMMENTS? Contact MARIANNE DYSON
Book Rating
ALL BOOKS rated with a maximum of 6 points.6=Exceptional.
5=Recommended.
4=Okay-Good.
3=Maybe.
0-2=Not Recommended.
Rating Details
Science Fiction/Science-related Fiction Books are rated using the following scale:- 1 point for consistency and plausibility of fictional "facts" with real facts;
- 1 point for clarity of descriptions, illustrations, terms;
- 1 point for new concept or perspective on an old idea;
- 1 point for readability/good grammar, point of view, dialog, reading level;
- 1 point for science use in plot;
- 1 point for interesting/inspirational character.
Order via Amazon
A-F Fiction
G-L Fiction
M-R Fiction
S-Z Fiction
Print edition Kindle edition|
| ||||
