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Living biology books for middle/high school?


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My two 14yos have decided that biology is boring. I've been thinking of introducing some narrative style books to put some life into biology studies. Biographies of biologists like Pasteur or the story of medical discoveries would probably work well. Books that touch on how biological studies impact our daily lives would be particularly helpful. I don't think that they've grasped how important biology really is.

 

I've personally enjoyed Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heinrich but I don't think that this sort of book will work for them. I think that they would have a hard time grasping why anyone would spend some much time studying ravens and I doubt they would appreciate learning so much about them themselves. I think that Fabre's books would similarly not work here. We need books that really show the value of biology. Does that make sense?

 

We've read through Red Madness and that was a good hit. We need more of those sorts. Other branches of biology besides medicine would also be helpful.

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Have you looked at  Ambleside Online's science for years 6-12?  They have been revising the science, and some of the books look great.  Also check the free reading suggestions in the upper years (especially years 10-12)--I remember that there were a few interesting science titles in there.  One that I do remember from the upper years is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which deals with cellular biology.

 

Another one I enjoyed (not on AO,  I just stumbled on it at the library) --The Three Legged Woman.

Edited by Zoo Keeper
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Silent Spring by Rachel Carson is an excellent read for ecology. It was published as a series of newspaper articles originally and is not difficult to understand. It can be followed up by researching what was done after its original publication, which in turn can be tied in to modern discussions of the role of the EPA and conservation generally.

 

Cats Are Not Peas is a fun take on genetics.

 

Documentaries and science shows are another way to make things more interesting. Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye are both great.

 

 

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DD15 is loving Parasite Rex right now.  

 

Also on our booklist this year:

 

Bitten: True Medical Stories of Bites and Stings

The Woman with a Worm in her Head

The Deadly Dinner Party and Other Medical Detective Stories

 

A View from the Oak was also another good one.

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Wild Season Allan W. Eckert (narrative on the food chain)

Summer World by Bernd Heinrich (ecology, seasonal survival strategies)

Winter World by Bernd Heinrich (ecology, seasonal survival strategies)

Bumblebee Economics by Bernd Heinrich (metabolism)

Trees in My Forest by Bernd Heinrich

The Frog Book by Mary K. Dickerson (vintage)

Moths and Butterflies by Mary K. Dickerson (vintage)

Adventures in Nature by Edwin Way Teale (mostly insects)

According to Season by Mrs. William Starr Dana (wildflowers, vintage)

Life in the Soil by James B. Nardi

Nature Discoveries with a Hand Lens by Richard Headstrom (vintage)

Adventures with Freshwater Animals by Richard Headstrom

Discovering Amphibians by John Himmelman

Discovering Moths by John Himmelman

The Living Year by Richard Headstrom

Bringing Nature Home by Douglas W. Tallamy (plants and insects)

Swampwalker’s Journal by David M. Carroll

The Year of the Turtle by David M. Carroll

Following the Water by David M. Carroll

The Edge of the Sea Rachel Carson

Noah’s Garden by Sara Stein (native plants)

Planting Noah’s Garden by Sara Stein (native plants)

Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer (moss)

Broadsides from Other Orders by Sue Hubbell (insect)

Waiting for Aphrodite by Sue Hubbell (invertebrate sea life)

Chasing Monarchs Robert Michael Pyle

The Thunder Tree Robert Michael Pyle (butterflies and childhood)

Walking the High Ridge Robert Michael Pyle (butterflies)

Suburban Safari by Hannah Holmes

The Life of an Oak by Glenn Keator

Near Horizons Edwin Way Teale (insects)

Life Cycles of Butterflies by Burris and Richards (metamorphosis)

Half Earth E. O. Wilson (land conservation to protect species)

Your Inner Fish (evolutionary biology) Neil Shubin

* A Guide to Night Sounds CD by Lang Elliot (really fun)

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