Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything is a captivating and accessible exploration of the universe and our place within it. Bryson tackles complex scientific concepts, from the Big Bang to the intricacies of human biology, with wit and an infectious curiosity that makes even the most daunting topics understandable and engaging. While the book is undeniably entertaining, it's more than just a collection of fascinating facts.
Project Hail Mary begins with a guy who wakes up not knowing where he is, how he got there or why he is in the situation he is. Eventually, he comes to find out what his purpose is by relying on his impressive memory. His goal is to save the Earth from a small microbe called Astrophage. Astrophage is a huge problem because as it spreads rapidly the sun starts losing its light. Pressure is on for this sole survivor as he tries to save Earth before its too late.
Cloud Cuckoo Land connects five main characters using a fictional Ancient Greek codex called Cloud Cuckoo Land. This story is present and plays a significant role in all of the characters’ lives. Anna, a young girl who discovers Cloud Cuckoo Land, and Omeir, a boy conscripted into the Ottoman Empire, meet in 15th century Constantinople during the Ottoman Empire’s siege of the city.
Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl team up in this thrilling adventure. When an alien spaceship lands in Jack's backyard, he and Zita join forces to explore the galaxy and rescue an alien princess. Along the way, they encounter strange creatures, space pirates and unexpected surprises. With their bravery and quick thinking, they save the day in this action-packed tale.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is an adult sci-fi novel that follows Ryland Grace on his journey to save Earth. Upon waking up from a coma and battling off his lingering amnesia, we follow Ryland as he discovers that he isn’t, in fact, in a hospital, but rather is in space. Ryland is on a mission to save Earth, but he can’t even remember who he is or the fact that his planet and everyone on it is in danger. It’s up to him to figure out his mission and save his planet, before it is too late.
Space Case, a gripping novel by Stuart Gibbs, follows 12-year-old Dashiel Gibson as he delves into the mysterious death of Ronald Holtz, a fellow resident on the moon. The intriguing lunar setting, and well-developed characters make the story truly engaging. The fast-paced plot adds to the suspense, making the novel even more thrilling.
The Sun's Heartbeat by Bob Berman explores the rhythmic pattern of solar activity and its impact on Earth's climate and civilization. Berman highlights the correlation between the sun cycle, solar flares, and the solar magnetic field every 11 years, highlighting how these events influence our planet's weather patterns, technological infrastructure, and even human behavior.
Laura Bufano Edge’s Apollo 13 A Successful Failure is an informative nonfiction book about the Apollo 13 disaster. NASA had already been sending astronauts into space for a while, but wanted to do more research on the moon. The Apollo13 launch crew wanted to land on the moon to do said research. Problems with the oxygen tanks created an explosion, causing the crew to lose a lot of their air, water, fuel, and other supplies. The team now had to focus solely on surviving and getting home.
Illuminae follows Kady Grant and Ezra Mason, two teenagers living on the planet Kerenza in the year 2575. They broke up the day before a fleet of BeiTech ships attack their planet, where they are forced into three different ships; the Alexander (where Ezra ends up), the Hypatia (where Kady ends up), and the Copernicus. The Alexander is damaged and unable to make a wormhole gate, meaning the three ships have to travel six months to the nearest jump station, the Heimdall.
Ender’s Game is a Science Fiction movie which tells the story of a boy named Ender Wiggen. This futuristic film takes place years after aliens invaded Earth almost causing the end of the world. In order to be better prepared to take on the aliens, the government created a battle school for brilliant children to learn how to fight, fly fighter jets, and take down the aliens. Ender Wiggen is one of the most brilliant kids in this program.
