Volcanoes: Fire and Life (Science Comics)

by Jon Chad (Author) Jon Chad (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Science Comics

Get ready to explore the depths of the ocean, the farthest reaches of space, and everything in between! Volcanic eruptions, vampire bats, feathered velociraptors, and more await you in SCIENCE COMICS. In a not-so-distant future our world is as cold as a frozen burrito. But can humanity save itself by harnessing a power that dwells inside the Earth?

Explode into the world of geology in Volcanoes: Fire and Life! A lot of magic happens under the Earth's crust. Thanks to magma vents, shifting continental plates, and volcanic eruptions, we know that our planet is alive and in motion. Alongside Aurora, a young explorer, you'll learn that volcanoes are just one of the massively powerful forces at work on our planet. From catastrophic destruction to the creation of new land masses, volcanoes have made their mark on our amazing Earth.

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School Library Journal

Gr 4-7--Aurora, her siblings, and their teacher are fuel mappers, charged with the task of finding burnable material to provide heat for their community in a futuristic world where everything is frozen. On one expedition, they happen upon a library, and they scan all of the books onto their devices in order to preserve the information after the volumes have been burned. Aurora discovers a title about volcanoes, and she spends all night reading and learning everything she can about them. Becoming completely obsessed, she shares a constant stream of facts with her skeptical fellow explorers, interrupting their search for fuel. Aurora is certain that volcanoes are the answer to the world's need for warmth, and despite discouraging comments from the others, she ultimately meets with success. Interwoven into the tale are factual pieces of this graphic novel, presented at a frenetic pace that matches the urgency of the characters' need to find a way to survive. The artwork is bold and engaging, cleverly intertwining the science and the more fantastical elements of the narrative. Some portions of the text have the potential to be confusing, as Chad switches between fact and fiction, but this should not deter readers. VERDICT This latest volume in the series offers an engaging way to introduce volcanoes to middle graders who prefer a comic book format to more traditional nonfiction.--Sarah Reid, Four County Library System, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Praise for the Science Comics series:

This series—written by a handful of authors—seems determined to offer a useful introduction to anything a curious grade-school student might wonder about. The insight behind these books is a powerful one. So much information about the world around us is actually better conveyed visually, through charts, illustrations, and sequential panels, than purely using words. —New York Times

Like having a Time Life Science Library in comic books. Which is awesome! —Popular Science, praise for the Science Comics Series

Praise for Science Comics: Volcanoes:

Chad's well-drawn and clearly labeled diagrams in rich, saturated colors concisely explain key concepts, and vocabulary words are defined both in the text and a glossary. While the stylized cartoon figures and adventure narrative are an entertaining framework, the science fittingly occupies the center stage. —Booklist

The artwork is bold and engaging, cleverly intertwining the science and the more fantastical elements of the narrative.— School Library Journal

Jon Chad

Jon Chad was born and raised in Vermont but now lives with his wife and daughter in Sacramento, CA where he is obsessed with giant robots, pinball, screen-printing, and bookmaking. He is the author of Leo Geo, Science Comics: Volcanoes, Science Comics: The Periodic Table, PINBALL: The Graphic History of the Silver Ball, and the illustrator of Science Comics: Solar System.

Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781626723610
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
First Second
Publication date
November 20, 2016
Series
Science Comics
BISAC categories
JNF062000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | General
JNF037010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Earth Sciences - Earthquakes & Volcanoes
Library of Congress categories
Graphic novels
Comics (Graphic works)
Volcanoes

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