Bibliography
Krull, Kathleen. 2006. Isaac Newton. Ill. by Boris Kulikov. New York: Viking. ISBN 0670059218
Plot Summary
Kathleen Krull has written about four scientists, Leonardo da Vinci, Sigmund Frued, Marie Curie and Isaac Newton in her series Giants of Science. In her biography, Isaac Newton, Krull describes all of the major accomplishments of Newton as well as information about his personal life.
Critical Analysis
Kathleen Krull is an an award winning author who has truly captured Isaac Newton in a way as never before. Krull provides an introduction that pulls the reader into the book. Take a look at the very beginning of the introduction: “Secretive, Withdrawn, Obsessive. Ruthless, bitter, perhaps in need of therapy… All these things apply to Isaac Newton. Oh, and he was one of the greatest scientific minds of all time.” Can you imagine wanting to put this book down? Neither could I. I never knew that reading a biography could be so interesting.
Krull provides several access features: illustrations, a table of contents, and extensive index. The table of contents gives readers a quick look at what the chapters contain. Want to know about “The Apple”? Turn to chapter four. How about his archenemy, Hooke? He is discussed in chapter five and beyond. Krull also provides a bibliography denoting reading that is applicable to children, and a list of websites. All of these features will help when researching this scientist, however, this book reads from cover to cover easily. A quick check of the websites listed showed that all but two were still active links. However, both of the links that were missing were easily found using a Google search: For information on The Newton Project, you can go to this link: http://www.newtonproject.sussex.ac.uk/prism.php?id=26 . The Royal Society can now be found at this link: http://royalsociety.org/ .
Krull’s lively, chatty style provides readers with a chance to learn about all of Newton’s accomplishments and what his life what like. The story read more like historical fiction and is organized much the same. She tells of his lonely childhood, his feuds with other scientists of his time and his unusual personality. With Ms. Krull to guide us, the reader sees both the good and the bad in this brilliant man. What makes this book most interesting is Krull’s treatment of Newton’s odd behaviors and personality. She states that “Some recent researcher guess that Newton may have had Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism.” She also explains, “Other scholars have suggested that Newton may have suffered from toxic metal poisoning”. And, although there is no way of really knowing if Newton suffered from autism or toxic metal poisoning, she does explain that researchers have tested a lock of his hair and “found mercury levels to be forty times higher than the expected level..” Boris Kulikov’s sketches are almost comical but focus on the “science” being discussed. For example on page 48, a full page sketch shows Newton scratching his head pondering on the force that causes the apple to fall to the ground. The apple is the prominent feature on the page-but has several large bites taken out of it. The few illustrations presented add to the delight of the book. This is a wonderful book. I look forward to reading more biographies by Kathleen Krull.
Krull provides several access features: illustrations, a table of contents, and extensive index. The table of contents gives readers a quick look at what the chapters contain. Want to know about “The Apple”? Turn to chapter four. How about his archenemy, Hooke? He is discussed in chapter five and beyond. Krull also provides a bibliography denoting reading that is applicable to children, and a list of websites. All of these features will help when researching this scientist, however, this book reads from cover to cover easily. A quick check of the websites listed showed that all but two were still active links. However, both of the links that were missing were easily found using a Google search: For information on The Newton Project, you can go to this link: http://www.newtonproject.sussex.ac.uk/prism.php?id=26 . The Royal Society can now be found at this link: http://royalsociety.org/ .
Krull’s lively, chatty style provides readers with a chance to learn about all of Newton’s accomplishments and what his life what like. The story read more like historical fiction and is organized much the same. She tells of his lonely childhood, his feuds with other scientists of his time and his unusual personality. With Ms. Krull to guide us, the reader sees both the good and the bad in this brilliant man. What makes this book most interesting is Krull’s treatment of Newton’s odd behaviors and personality. She states that “Some recent researcher guess that Newton may have had Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism.” She also explains, “Other scholars have suggested that Newton may have suffered from toxic metal poisoning”. And, although there is no way of really knowing if Newton suffered from autism or toxic metal poisoning, she does explain that researchers have tested a lock of his hair and “found mercury levels to be forty times higher than the expected level..” Boris Kulikov’s sketches are almost comical but focus on the “science” being discussed. For example on page 48, a full page sketch shows Newton scratching his head pondering on the force that causes the apple to fall to the ground. The apple is the prominent feature on the page-but has several large bites taken out of it. The few illustrations presented add to the delight of the book. This is a wonderful book. I look forward to reading more biographies by Kathleen Krull.
Review Excerpts
School Library Journal Starred Review. Grade 5-7–Krull fulfills the promise of the outstanding previous volume in this series, Leonardo da Vinci (Viking, 2005) with this follow-up. Writing in a style aptly described in the blurb as juicily anecdotal (a tone reflected in Kulikovs witty illustrations), she offers a multifaceted portrait of a genius who was both brilliant and several slices short of a loaf, capable of revolutionary insights into science but also rude, jealous, and secretive.
Booklist
Gr. 5-8. Krull's second offering in the Giants of Science series (Leonardo da Vinci, 2005) profiles Sir Isaac Newton, the secretive, obsessive, and brilliant English scientist who invented calculus, built the first reflecting telescope, developed the modern scientific method, and discerned many of our laws of physics and optics. Engaging in limited speculation about Newton's personality (Did he have Asperger's syndrome or suffer from mercury poisoning?), Krull recounts Newton's lonely childhood, his penchant for quiet reflection, and the difficulties that led to his feuding with other scientists. The lively, conversational style will appeal to readers; Newton comes off as disagreeable and difficult, but never boring. Krull also does a credible job explaining several of Newton's complex theories^B. She offers no documentation, but she appends a list of books and Web sites for those who want more facts. Kulikov's humorous pen-and-ink drawings complement the lighthearted text of this fascinating introduction, which will appeal to both would-be scientists and children in need of a quick-to-read biography.
Connections
Keywords/Vocabulary: Isaac Newton, gravity, calculus, alchemy, bubonic plague, laws of motion, London, England, physics, seventeenth century, optics
Other books in the Giants of Science:
Krull, Kathleen. Leonardo Da Vinci ISBN: 0670059202
Krull, Kathleen. Marie Curie ISBN: 0670058947
Krull, Kathleen. Sigmund Freud ISBN: 0670058920
http://www.kathleenkrull.com/ Author's website
http://www.boriskulikov.com/ Illustrator's website
This link takes you to a great pdf file which contains a timeline of Newton's life.
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