Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2014 Gr 4–6—Marching in lockstep with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), these episodes, though fictional, not only portray a series of specifically detailed scientific investigations conducted largely by young people, but even feature highlighted keywords in several of the narratives drawn from the NGSS list of best practices. The scenarios range from two young skygazers trying to prove that a certain rock is a meteorite to an epidemiologist's daughter tracking down the origin of a local flu epidemic. The procedures are laid out in clear, easily imitable steps, illustrated with a mix of scientific photos or diagrams and encouraging pictures of young researchers at work, and capped by relatively generous lists of further resources on the given topic. - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/01/2014 With all the crime shows on television, many—both children and adults—are fascinated by how investigations work. This title in the Science Explorer series, which aims to give kids an opportunity to figure out problems, shows what goes into a crime investigation. The story’s frame is that Jonathan is shadowing his dad—a police sketch preparer—at work, and when a bike shop is broken into, the police are on the scene to figure out the crime. With an accessible text and many color photographs, the book details how a crime scene is secured, evidence is collected, and clues are gathered. The book makes a special point of explaining the scientific method and showing how asking the right questions will often lead to the correct answers. Ample back matter directs future sleuths to books and websites that will tell them more. - Copyright 2014 Booklist.