Immune The New Book By Philipp Dettmer – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Immune The New Book By Philipp Dettmer

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book

96%

WISE Score

Biology reimagined as a high-stakes epic fantasy where your white blood cells are the knights and viruses are the dragons.

Immune The New Book By Philipp Dettmer

book

96%

WISE Score

Biology reimagined as a high-stakes epic fantasy where your white blood cells are the knights and viruses are the dragons.

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the gold standard for science communication. If your kid loves the Kurzgesagt YouTube channel, this is the natural next step. It’s witty, beautifully designed, and turns the 'boring' parts of biology into a gripping narrative of survival.

It’s technically written for adults, but any curious middle-schooler will find it more engaging than a school textbook. It’s the kind of book that makes a kid want to become a doctor or a researcher without ever feeling like it’s trying to 'teach' them.

Age Fit

Best for curious 11-year-olds and up. While the language is accessible, the concepts are meaty. It's a perfect 'bridge' book for a kid who has outgrown simple science books but isn't ready for a medical journal.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's a celebration of life and biological complexity. It handles the 'warfare' of the immune system with curiosity and respect for science rather than gratuitous gore.

Imaginative

Dettmer is the king of analogies. Turning a dendritic cell into a 'scout' or a virus into a 'biological machine' makes the invisible world of biology feel like a high-fantasy epic.

Safe

It's a non-fiction book. No social risks, no ads, no predatory loops. Some descriptions of disease and cellular death are vivid, but they are strictly educational.

Enriching

This is a masterclass in science communication. It doesn't just teach facts; it builds a mental model of how the body functions at its most fundamental level.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Vivid storytelling that mirrors the iconic, vibrant style of the Kurzgesagt YouTube channel.
Masterful analogies that turn abstract cellular processes into relatable stories about fortresses, assassins, and biological warfare.
Genuinely funny writing that keeps a 350-page book about immunology from ever feeling like a dry textbook.
Deeply educational without 'dumbing it down'; it treats the reader as smart enough to handle complex biological systems.

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What to Watch For

Dense information means this isn't a quick 'picture book' read; it requires focus and a real interest in how things work.
Existential weight occasionally hits when Dettmer discusses cancer or autoimmune failures, which can be a bit much for highly sensitive kids.

Conversation Starters

"If your immune system was a movie, which cell would be the main hero?"
"Does knowing how hard your body works to keep you alive change how you think about being sick?"
"What was the weirdest analogy Dettmer used to explain a part of the body?"
"Why do you think the immune system is so much more complicated than just 'good guys vs. bad guys'?"

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