2018
WISE Score
History's weirdest chemical feuds and periodic table pranks, minus the graduate-level jargon.
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This is the gold standard for how to write science for kids. It respects the reader's intelligence while keeping the 'gross and cool' factor high enough to keep a sixth-grader turning pages.
If your kid thinks the periodic table is just a colorful chart they have to memorize for a test, hand them this. It turns the elements into a cast of characters with backstories involving everything from the Gold Rush to Gandhi.
Perfect for 10-to-14-year-olds who love 'how it works' books but are ready for more sophisticated storytelling. Adults will honestly enjoy it just as much.
Focuses on the human side of discovery, including the eccentricities and flaws of famous scientists. It models intellectual curiosity without being sanitizing.
Transforms a static grid of elements into a vibrant narrative of adventure, sabotage, and obsession. It reframes how kids see the physical world.
It's a book. Content includes historical mentions of war, poisons, and bombs, but always within a scientific or historical context appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Heavy lifting on background knowledge and scientific literacy. It bridges the gap between 'I hate science' and 'I love stories' effortlessly.
Most science education suffers from a 'just the facts' approach that strips away the drama. The Disappearing Spoon does the opposite. Sam Kean understands that we remember stories, not tables. By focusing on the 'Young Readers Edition,' Kean hasn't just simplified the math; he's distilled the narrative.
For parents, the win here is twofold. First, it’s a massive booster for language comprehension. The book uses sophisticated vocabulary and complex historical contexts, which are the 'strands of the rope' that build strong readers. Second, it fosters a sense of scientific skepticism and wonder. It shows that science isn't a finished book of answers, but a messy, ongoing argument between people.
If you have a kid who is a 'reluctant reader' but loves facts, this is your gateway drug. It fits into that sweet spot of narrative nonfiction—like Bomb by Steve Sheinkin—where the stakes are real and the information is dense but the delivery is cinematic.
It’s also an excellent choice for an audiobook. Because the book is structured as a series of semi-independent tales, it’s perfect for short car rides. You can listen to the story of how Nitrogen helped feed the world (and blow it up) in about twenty minutes, and you'll both actually learn something.
The grown-up original: This is the official young readers adaptation of The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean — Sam Kean's own retelling, at a length and reading level a middle-schooler can finish. When they close this one and want more, the original is the natural next step.
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