Evolution (Big Ideas in Science)

Provides comprehensive information on evolution and how it affects our lives today.

Grade 6–8—The worthy purpose of introducing revolutionary ideas that have caused sea changes in modern science is not well served by most of these careless, superficial examinations. Each title is heavily illustrated with an undifferentiated mix of photos, altered photos—some of which, such as a view in Black Holes of a strange beaded ring flanked by two sparkling objects, raise more questions than they answer—and artists' renditions. In Evolution, Luongo conflates the separate notions of "Natural Selection" and "Survival of the Fittest," and fails to mention that some of the objections raised to Darwin's theory were, and continue to be, religious ones. In Splitting the Atom, Parker presents a strong case for nuclear power vs. fossil fuels, but energy production using renewable resources passes almost unmentioned. She also nonsensically claims that "other than the Gell-Mann theory, there is no proof that quarks exist." Other errors include reversed numbers on a chart in Plate Tectonics, and, in The Theory of Relativity, an uncommon variant spelling of an early telescope maker's name and adjacent contradictory claims that triangulation can and cannot be used to measure star distances. Of the series, Genetics presents an acceptable overview of the field; its development; and its role in medicine, forensics, and agriculture/animal husbandry. The other titles are, at best, supplementary purchases.—John Peters, New York Public Library
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