Smash! Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider
Age 13+
Comic Strip Fiction / Graphic Novels
This book uses the strengths of a graphic novel to illustrate scientific advances in a way that's engaging, timely, and easy to follow. Great for reluctant readers and science obsessives alike, with strong STEM/curricular connections and a fascinating high-interest topic at its center.
Two cousins, Nick and Sophie, take a graphic-novel tour of the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest machine. Sophie's a science wiz. Nick's more artistic. Together they visit At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, and explore what the universe is made of--and what holds it all together. At the center of their visit is the Large Hadron Collider. Researchers use the collider to accelerate particles and smash them together. They study the results to find the hidden building blocks of matter. Using its two lively lead characters and graphic artwork, this book looks at challenging STEM concepts in an accessible, memorable way.
Creators
Sara Latta (http://www.saralatta.com/) began writing about science and medicine after receiving a master's degree in immunology. Later, she earned a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She lives in New York City with her husband, a physicist and Dean of Science at City College of New York, and their children. Sara is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the National Association of Science Writers, and The Authors Guild.
Jeff Weigel (http://www.jeffweigel.com/) is an illustrator, author, and designer of children's books and graphic novels. Jeff illustrated the 2009 New York Times bestseller It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Zombies: A Book Of Zombie Christmas Carols, and he wrote, illustrated, and designed Shop Math, an interactive tablet storybook. He was also a regular contributor to Image Comics' anthology title, Big Bang Comics, for more than ten years. His latest book is the middle-grade graphic novel Dragon Girl: The Secret Valley. He has served as a graphic designer and commercial illustrator for many years as well.
Reviews
This title will be sought out for both pleasure reading and report writing. For all middle and high school science collections.
School Library Journal
You will find this a fantastic, entertaining, enlightening read about CERN and particle physics. This is a fun and inspiring graphic novel for students and teachers alike to explore at so many levels of understanding.
NSTA
