Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In this well-researched, well-designed, and informatively written book, the fascinating story of life science as it was discovered throughout the ages is explored. Written for teens, this book delivers an engaging and accessible history of life science focusing on the Western world but touching on discoveries from other regions as well. Each of the 12 chapters features two or more scientists from a particular era and weaves together the stories of what they discovered, how they made those discoveries, and their impacts on human society, then and now. Perhaps most notably, the narrative for each chapter makes a point of linking seemingly disparate events-—for example, connecting the invention of the printing press to the rise of literacy, which then leads to a flourishing of curiosity about the world’s life forms—encouraging readers to develop their own critical thinking skills. Written in the present tense, the text draws readers into the story rather than keeping them at a distance. While most of the scientists featured are white men who had the privilege and wealth to pursue higher education, Hakim does highlight some women and Onesimus, an African man enslaved by Cotton Mather, for their contributions and further highlights their achievements by setting them in design-rich sidebars. Many photos, contemporaneous drawings, and portraits enhance the sparkling narrative. Thoroughly engrossing and highly recommended. (further reading, source notes, bibliography, image credits, index) (Nonfiction. 13-18) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

School Library Journal
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Gr 8 Up—Hakim loves history and storytelling. Her new book does not disappoint for sharing facts but falls short of being intentional with including social justice issues. She weaves together how artists and scientists worked to create a body of work that was shared over countries and time. She highlights how the Black Plague and the invention of the printing press advanced science. Hakim also includes the contributions of women, Aztecs, and one African enslaved person, which is commendable, but limited at best. Hakim states her research practices and provides a bibliography but limits mention of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas to those of dying due to European contact without evidence that she researched their medical or biological practices and contributions. She does not present any objections to how economic class, gender, or race has advanced biological science without the consent of those exploited, nor their families being compensated for the use of their loved ones. Hakim missed an opportunity to highlight how individuals who were dissected played an essential role in the context of work, or the impact of their loss to their families. VERDICT Expertly written but lacks inclusivity and contributions of underrepresented groups.—Laura Ellis

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

This fascinating first volume in the Discovering Life’s Story series is an enjoyable overview of the history of life sciences in the Western world. Each chapter covers a different time period and focuses on a few eminent scientists or thinkers (primarily men) and their discoveries. It details how these theories and discoveries are interconnected and how future research by other scientists expanded upon or disproved their predecessors’ findings. Familiar names like da Vinci, Galileo, Newton, and Pasteur are included, along with others like Onesimus, an enslaved Boston Black man credited with saving lives from smallpox because he was inoculated against smallpox when in Africa. A few women are also recognized here, too, such as scientific illustrator Maria Sibylla Merian and Caterina Sforza, a Renaissance alchemist. Some of the most intriguing aspects of the book are the concepts that were believed at the time that have since been debunked—like spontaneous generation, in which mice were thought to be generated from dirty clothes! The lively text is enhanced by historical maps, photos, portraits, drawings, artwork, sidebars and charts, and quotes by scientists or other notable people at the beginning of each chapter. Readers with an interest in the history of life sciences will find this engaging book to be richly rewarding.