In these five nonfiction books recommended for intermediate and/or middle-school readers, science is a lot more engaging — and more vital — than mere facts and figures. See also our Five Questions interview with Amy Cherrix about Virus Hunters: How Science Protects People When Outbreaks and Pandemics Strike and the Scientists tag in the Guide/Reviews Database.

Seeds of Discovery: How Barbara McClintock Used Corn and Curiosity to Solve a Science Mystery and Win a Nobel Prize
by Lori Alexander; illus. by Rebecca Santo
Intermediate    Clarion/HarperCollins    128 pp.
1/25    9780063245990    $18.99
e-book ed.  9780063246010    $9.99

“It might seem unfair to reward a person for having so much pleasure over the years.” Geneticist Barbara McClintock’s (1902–1992) statement upon receiving the Nobel Prize in the category of Physiology or Medicine in 1983 sets the tone for Alexander’s accomplished biography of an extraordinary life in science. The account begins with McClintock’s childhood, when she showed early interest in and capacity for science at a time when few women were encouraged to do so. Throughout her career, despite sexism and others’ misperceptions, McClintock persisted and thrived, most contentedly at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, where as a research scientist she studied the genetics of maize and discovered “jumping genes,” the relocation of DNA segments across the genome. Alexander’s descriptions of laboratory and field work are detailed and effective at illustrating scientific experimentation. Most impressive is her equal attention to the conceptual practices of science, such as developing questions and models, scientific argumentation, and the importance of communicating ideas for scrutiny within the scientific community. Santo’s digital illustrations use pastel shades to portray McClintock outdoors for work and for nature walks, in the laboratory, and presenting her research at conferences. Text boxes throughout provide background biology concepts and introduce important historical contributors such as Gregor Mendel and Rosalind Franklin. An illustrated timeline of McClintock’s major life events, a glossary, and source notes are appended. DANIELLE J. FORD

Mountain of Fire: The Eruption and Survivors of Mount St. Helens
by Rebecca E. F. Barone
Intermediate, Middle School    Holt    192 pp.
5/24    9781250881656    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781250881649    $11.99

After months of unusual seismic activity, Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980. The catastrophic results included a thick cloud of ash, debris, devastating mudslides and floods, and more than fifty deaths; the event permanently altered the mountain and the surrounding landscape in Washington State. In a dramatic narrative, Barone tracks the efforts of a devoted team of scientists to observe and record what was happening — and predict when, if ever, it might happen again. The volcano did, after all, have a history of periodic eruptions over the past several hundred years, which lived in the memory of the Indigenous inhabitants of the region. As the fateful day grew closer, the mountain increasingly drew visitors, creating a dilemma for public officials who wanted to discourage tourism but also provide some degree of freedom for residents and loggers. After the eruption, the book segues into wilderness survival as Barone follows various groups of campers trying to escape the aftermath, while the concluding chapters provide an update on Mount St. Helens today. Barone’s engaging narrative contains a wealth of detail and a large cast of characters, but the information is carefully organized into brief paragraphs and short chapters, propelling readers through a story with equal parts science, history, and action. The front matter includes a couple of maps and a list of characters, while an author’s note and bibliography are appended. JONATHAN HUNT

Urban Coyotes [Scientists in the Field]
by Mary Kay Carson; photos by Tom Uhlman
Intermediate, Middle School    Clarion/HarperCollins    80 pp.
8/24    9780063271470    $21.99
e-book ed.  9780063271494    $10.99

No matter where one lives in the continental U.S. — rural areas, suburbs, major cities — coyotes share that space. In Chicago alone, thousands of coyotes live and thrive, according to the Urban Coyote Research Project, whose work is presented in this informative book. Carson’s engaging text highlights the project’s goals, which include determining where coyotes live, what they eat, and how they can best coexist with humans. Project members tag and track coyotes and gather data ranging from DNA samples to the condition of their nails (which indicates travel on concrete surfaces) — tasks that require patience, skill, and some luck. Uhlman’s compelling photographs show researchers at work as well as glimpses of coyotes in their natural habitats. Maps and charts group data into easy-to-decipher graphics. Conclusions, such as the role coyotes play in regulating the rodent and geese populations, are all based on the collected data. The book provides information on non-lethal animal-hazing practices and ways to coexist with these unusual neighbors. Appended with a glossary, a list of sources, and areas for further inquiry. BETTY CARTER

Radar and the Raft: A True Story About a Scientific Marvel, the Lives It Saved, and the World It Changed
by Jeff Lantos
Intermediate, Middle School    Charlesbridge    192 pp.
9/24    9781623543457    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781632893109    $8.99

At the onset of World War II, German U-boats (submarines) mercilessly sank the military and civilian ships of the Allies, making transatlantic travel a risky endeavor. Americans living abroad had to weigh the risks of remaining in German-occupied territories against the treacherous weeks-long voyage back home. U-boat attacks were unrelenting until late in the war when advances in microwave radar detection allowed the Allies to pinpoint their locations, rendering them virtually useless. As the title suggests, this book divides its focus between the heart-wrenching story of survivors of the torpedoed SS West Lashaway awaiting rescue on a small wooden raft in shark-infested waters and a concise and highly readable history of the science of electromagnetic fields. Beginning with discoveries in the eighteenth century, Lantos provides background on each advancement in the science as well as biographical information about the scientists involved, finally introducing the American military scientists and engineers who figured out how to use microwaves to precisely locate distant objects. He ups the tension by alternating the harrowing experience of the shipwreck survivors with development of the radar equipment that was critical to both their rescue and the Allied victory in WWII. This page-turning account, with archival images and occasional chapter-opening illustrations (by Alan Marks), provides equal parts suspense and wonder for readers of history and science alike. Appended with thorough source notes, a bibliography, and an index. ERIC CARPENTER

I Am Wind
by Rachel Poliquin; illus. by Rachel Wada
Intermediate    Tundra    80 pp.
11/24    9780735272187    $19.99
e-book ed.  9780735272194    $11.99

This innovative collection of musings on wind mixes poetic expression, cultural myths, and scientific facts to describe and explain wind phenomena. Major topics include the ways winds are formed in dynamic environments such as mountains, coasts, and deserts; human interactions with wind, from experiencing a breeze to harnessing wind power; global wind patterns; and the power of cyclones, tornadoes, and erosive processes. The wind itself emotes throughout the book, using expressive language to describe, for example, the aftermath of the hot winds (called Loo) of the Himalayas: “And I think to myself, if I had not burnt the land, you would not be so happy to see the flowers and birds return.” Sections labeled “Wind Chronicles” are interspersed with the main text and relate folkloric origin stories and historical accounts of major wind events. Wada’s mixed-media illustrations echo the emotions in the text, swirling color and linear elements to depict the flow of wind and the movement of objects in its wake. Back matter includes an index of key terms and suggestions for further reading. DANIELLE J. FORD

From the February 2025 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.