VOYA

The Inside Science series provides glimpses of scientific research in various areas and helps students develop an understanding of scientific research. While these two volumes focus on biotechnology and infectious disease, other volumes in the series focus on climate, space, renewable energy, and vaccines. The lively narrative style, filled with anecdotes, presents dynamic stories that will hold a student’s interest. A chronology of important events illustrates milestones in research, from the seventeenth-century discovery of microbes to the 2011 development of the antibiotic Fidaxomicin in Infectious Disease Research, while the 1953 discovery of DNA to the 2010 creation of the first synthetic organism bookend the chronology for Biotech Research. Both books conclude with thoughts about future impacts of research that include spider silk from goat’s milk, laboratory-created steaks, and new vaccines. Infectious Disease includes research on sleeping sickness and Guinea worm disease, as well as more familiar diseases. Biotech Research presents successes in food production, medicine, and industry. The episode of DNA, the “big bang” of biotech research, is especially well written. These two volumes are “must haves” for all levels of youth, even if you have extensive resources for the sciences.—Marilyn Brien.