Science Fair Season: Twelve Kids, a Robot Named Scorch . . . and What It Takes to Win

by Judy Dutton

This is the engaging true story of kids competing in the high-stakes, high-drama world of international science fairs. Every year the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair brings together 1,500 high schoolers from more than 50 countries to compete for over $4 million dollars in prizes and scholarships. These amazing kids are doing everything from creating bionic prosthetics to conducting groundbreaking stem cell research, from training drug-sniffing cockroaches to building a nuclear reactor. In Science Fair Season, Judy Dutton follows twelve teens looking for science fair greatness and tells the gripping stories of their road to the big competition. Some will win, some will lose, but all of their lives are changed forever.

The Intel International Science & Engineering Fair is the most prominent science fair in the country, and it takes a special blend of drive, heart, and smarts to win there. Dutton goes inside the inner sanctum of science fair competitions and reveals the awe-inspiring projects and the competitors there. Each of the kids ranging from a young Erin Brokovich who made the FBI watch list for taking on a big corporation, to a quietly driven boy who lives in a run-down trailer on a Navajo reservation, to a wealthy Connecticut girl who dreams of being an actress and finds her calling studying bees, to a troubled teenager in a juvenile detention facility, to the next Bill Gates take readers on an unforgettable journey.

Along the way, Science Fair Season gives readers a glimpse of the future bright minds of America and shows how our country is still a place for inventors and dreamers, and that the "geeks" will truly inherit the earth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Education, Parenting, Adult, Biography Memoir, Technology

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Judy Dutton is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York.
Since graduating from Harvard with a degree in English and American Literature,she's contributed to Cosmopolitan, Maxim, Glamour, Redbook, and other magazines and websites. She is also the author of Secrets from the Sex Lab, an eye-opening look at the most groundbreaking scientific discoveries in the realm of sexual behavior.

Reviews

[Minli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a teacher friend of mine, and as I'm always on the hunt for good non-fiction with a soft spot for education and science, I picked this up immediately. I'm so glad I did. Dutton chronicles the stories of six students at the Intel Science and Engineering Fair 2009 in detail, and also on profiles a half-dozen more famous science fair winners. Her thesis is simple--science fairs are the beacon of hope in American education, given how American kids test in science on an international level. (It's appalling, really!) Science fairs have the potential to change the lives of students, whether or not they win.

Each kid has a story. For some of these kids, the prize money from winning--or even placing!--means a ticket to college... or just a ticket out of poverty. Some have the potential to solve widescale energy problems or lead to 12 billion dollar companies. Others begin with just trying to get heat and hot water for one's family or connect with an autistic cousin. Some stories touched me more than others. I have to admit, I didn't really care about Philip Streich, the "next Bill Gates," who is from a super wealthy family that relocated to the midwest after 9/11. I mean, good on him. I also felt sorry for Sarah, whose story of self-improvement was dramatic but didn't connect with me at all. What really touched me are the underdog stories--Garrett, who reminded me of Junior from Absolutely True Diary, a rez kid who went to the big city but never forgot his roots, Katlin, whose ailing father inspired her work with horse therapy, the two boys from the juvenile correctional facility, and Eliza, the actress-turned-filmmaker-scientist who has real potential to bring science to the masses.

Some of these stories legitimately moved me to tears. Because not only are these kids brilliant and creative and imaginative, these are examples of these brilliant kids having brilliant mentors. This book a love story to all those teachers who don't give up on kids, who don't condescend to them, and who inspire them to reach their potential. Great teachers change lives, and not one of these kids could have made it to ISEF without at least one supportive mentor (even Kelydra, who nearly estranged her own family when she took on Dupont). Or Taylor's mentor who couldn't believe he was spending his Sundays with an eleven year old putting together nuclear reactors.

There were a few things that bothered me, however. This is probably a trend in the science community in general, but it seems like there was a very clear gender divide in the students profiled. Most of the boys took on projects related to chemistry, physics and engineering, and the girls were more heavily skewed to biology, therapy, and environmental sciences. This doesn't bother me as much as the prestige factor. Isn't Katlin's horse therapy or Kayla's special education through music just as important as Taylor's or Phillip's projects? I was waiting and looking for a physics project by a girl and never got one.

While the previous comment isn't a criticism of Dutton's writing, this is: how come she describes the physical appearance of each girl profiled in such detail? Does it matter if she's pretty or not? that she has sky blue eyes? How come, in BB's and Eliza's cases, the fact that they are physically attractive are such a major part of their narratives? Sarah's story didn't even go into detail of what her project was about at all, just that the science fair helped her regain her trust in guys after she'd been compromised by her sister's boyfriend. YES, this bugs me.

Still, Science Fair Season was a wonderful read with a large crossover audience. Teens and adults alike will find this compelling, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it on the list of next year's Alex Awards, best adult fiction for young adults.

[Daisy Hu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I saw it on sale at a library and I was like, "Sure, lets try it!" *Warning: Do not do the following* I left it on the shelf for about 4-5 months, thinking it was about some random kids trying to make a science fair project by making a robot. Boy, was I wrong. The book was so interesting that I finished it in the course of about 3 days, when I was on vacation. By the way, this book is level Y in F&P levels.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember science fairs at all as a kid. Either they were nonexistent in the schools I attended, or it was optional and my teachers weren't very enthusiastic about it. So my concept of science fairs was pretty much stereotypical - baking soda volcanos and trifold displays full of clip art.

To say I was amazed by the accomplishments of the kids in this book is an understatement. These kids are doing some incredible stuff. This book does a great job of showing how incredible science can be and how basically anyone can still make discoveries and advancements. I especially enjoyed the stories about kids who had to really reach for their projects - creating laboratories out of a mobile home on their property or inventing a home heating system from discarded trash.

It was pretty awesome.

[Rosemary Lerit Titievsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The students and mentors presented in this book are awe-inspiring. The science is real and relevant. This book made me want to go back in time with adult confidence and embrace geekdom. It also made me realize how important it is for me to support, encourage, and inspire my children, any child. Just imagine what may be accomplished by smart people of any age when they have a little more self-esteem, a whole lot less self-consciousness, and open-minded, adult mentors who respect and reassure.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book! I truly loved it. I laughed, I cried, I rooted for these kids and I was nervous with anticipation. This book is so uplifting - about the number of motivated, bright kids our country has, about the power of a single teacher or mentor to change a life and the infinite possibilities of homeschooling. This has catapulted onto my list of favorite books ever!

[Tammy Mannarino · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a fun read in the spirit of documentaries on spelling bee, ballroom dancing or crossword competition contestants. Having attended the Virginia State science fair this Spring, it was fascinating to find out what goes on behind the scenes and at the higher levels.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, rounded down. Would have rounded up, cause for 75% of the book, it reminded me of a personal favorite: The Gatekeepers.

But.

By the last few chapters, I was starting to wonder how much Judy was paid by Intel to include their name in every single reference to the science fair that she covered. And if not paid by Intel to include their name, how much the *publisher* was forced to include it. It sounds petty, but it kinda pulled me out of the story of the book. It felt like product placement in a surprisingly uncomfortable way. Given the fair was mentioned in literally every chapter, would it have been so hard to simply abbreviate to ISEF after all but the first mention?

I picked this book up because my library popped it in a search for robots, which is a special area of interest for me (work-related). Only one chapter pertained to robots in any meaningful capacity, but I don't hold that against the author or the subject.

[Rob Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to like here? It was a enjoyable, inspiring look at a bunch of science fair kids. Sure it was a collection of background stories on a set of kids that could have been a series of magazine pieces. And, it did not completely unify as one coherent story out side of the closing science fair. And, it might come across as overly sappy. But, so what? It was definitely worth the short time it took me to breeze through all of these stories.

[Gino Kutcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually found this book left behind in my classroom- left there originally by a teacher now five or six years retired, though I don't know if it has passed to others since. I will pass it on to others though as the subject matter is simply too positive not to share. The last few years [the last 2 in particular] have been difficult as a teacher and this is the type of story that definitely helps.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I do love science fairs and how science fairs can change a child's direction in life. I would love to have my exceptionally gifted students read this before we start science fair projects, but there is one child's life experience descibed that would be too graphic for elementary students. Definitely for upper middle school to adult readers only. Super book!!!!

[Shu · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Winning isn’t everything. But wanting to win is."

[pianogal · Rating 4 out of 5]

After watching the movie Science Fair, I came across this book that gave me more info about ISEF. Pretty good read overall. All these projects were better than my potato clock.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Product Description
Odd. Incredible. Innovative. Not Just Another Baking Soda Volcano.

In the way that Word Freak exposed the hidden world of competitive Scrabble players, now Science Fair Season pulls back the curtain on the highly competitive and high-stakes world of high school science fairs.

Each year, the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair brings together over 1,500 of the most talented students from more than 50 countries, with over $4 million prizes and scholarships at stake. Their investigations and experiments are breathtaking and mind-boggling, from creating bionic prosthetics to conducting groundbreaking stem cell research, from training drug-sniffing cockroaches to taking on big corporations. Not just a competition, it has become a recruiting field, with representatives from elite universities and the world's top medical programs attending these fairs looking to spot young prodigies, and even to get a jump on what's being researched.

Judy Dutton follows twelve of these remarkable teenagers and tells gripping stories of their road to the big competition. Some will win, some will lose, but all of their lives are left changed forever. With not just fascinating stories of imaginative projects, but also of compelling and interesting kids, Science Fair Season is Spellbound for the Bunsen Burner Set.

JUDY DUTTON is a writer and editor living in Brooklyn, New York. Since graduating from Harvard with a degree in English and American Literature, she's contributed to Cosmopolitan, Maxim, Glamour, Redbook, Women's Health, msn.com, and other magazines and websites. She is also the author of Secrets from the Sex Lab, an eye-opening look at the most groundbreaking scientific discoveries in the realm of sexual behavior.

******
I was so in awe of these kids. The science fair is almost like an American rite of passage and when I remember my own limited experience with it (brain sizes versus intelligence in animals), I smile. It was a very good experience, but in the region where I grew up it wasn't something too many people pursued. And, while I liked doing some science stuff, it was mostly on my own--I liked creating experiments.

I was fascinated by a lot of the projects, and I really liked how committed author Judy Dutton was at getting the story; Dutton got a very big picture of each individual kid and how they fit in the fair. My favorite projects were the autism project, the horse project, the bumblebee project and the green heating project.

Kudos to author Judy Dutton, and to all of the kids she selected as part of her project. And, special thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion books for allowing me to review this!

I received this book, in digital format, for my honest review. And I can honestly say, I was very impressed with it.

[Laura de Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm already thinking about all the people I know that need to read this book.

Science Fair Season strikes a wonderful balance between the stories of the 11 competitors it follows, each with a different set of challenges to overcome and support to get there, and the research and science of their projects.

It's the story of a science fair, but not one like what you would see at your local elementary school every year. This contest is nationwide, and has exhibits from teens that take their science very, very seriously. They produce patentable work and research breakthroughs that get the attention of adults working full time in their field.

Each of these kids has a story.

In some cases, it is a story of true genius that needs to be directed in a productive direction, before it explodes (that was a little too literally true in the case of the young man obsessed with building his own nuclear reactor).

Others are kids who have shone in some other area, never dreaming that science would call to them (One girl had a well established acting career that she thought would be her future!).

Some are just average kids, up until the moment they found a question that caught their interest, and an adult willing to help them look into it.

And a few are kids with the deck stacked against them-- a girl with a diagnosis of a terrifying disease, kids from a school at a "juvenile correction facility", kids from an Indian reservation with a terrifyingly high poverty rate.

Science Fair Season takes the science seriously, and it takes these competitors seriously. It is a book which is extremely readable by anyone with an interest in the next generation of scientists, as well as anyone that likes a good story of determination and effort, and where it can get anyone that really, really tries.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids+Science+Awesome=This Book. Judy Dutton tells the story of kids whose lives were profoundly changed by science and science fairs in an engaging, fun manner. Even without literary flair, these stories would be heartwarming and incredible. I mean, who doesn't want to hear about a kid who built his own nuclear reactor? Dutton compiles these stories and a level of personality with her nonintrusive first person narration. Perhaps the best thing is how nondescript her perspective is, yet it adds a kind of comforting Everyman voice to the book that really brings it all together.

The wonder of this book lies in the power these stories have to move you. Science, obviously, is the repeating theme in these kids' lives, opening them to new possibilities. However, the real hero lies in the encouraging adults. Even when these kids had nothing, there was always someone who was willing to sacrifice their own time to help them learn. These stories are about the necessity of adults encouraging educational independence, science as a way to engage kids to look at the world around them with a penetrating curiosity, and the sheer grit that kids are capable of. What struck me most was Eliza McNitt's cross disciplinary awakening. The merging of art and science which profoundly changed her life is not only my story, but the way of the future. At the ages of 13-17, these kids are learning to look at the world in a way that I have only just discovered. And they're doing it better than I am. This book is inspirational in all ways, but it's also a great read.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fast and engaging read. The author profiles several high school students who made it to the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in 2009. At their best, these profiles give us a sense of how the students were changed by engaging with science and also teach something about whatever the student's topic was. The weakest profile spent too much time on the student's personal life and not enough on the science (despite having won a regional fair in order to get to the ISEF, I got the sense that the project wasn't that special or innovative), that one was actually a partner project and we learned nothing about one of the students. I'm not sure why this one was included in the book, I felt it either needed a lot more work or to be pulled out. But the rest of the profiles were really interesting, showcasing the students' innovations and motivations, which were all vastly different.

I read this as an ebook galley from NetGalley -- there were some problems with the file (weird time/date stamp at the bottom of every physical page, which translated into ebook pages means that sometimes there were only a few sentences on any given screen I was looking at. That was rather distracting, but definitely manageable. I believe this is due out in mid- to late-April, and I'd say it's worth picking up.

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, I'm so glad a read it. It isn't one I would normally pick up, I was never a science lover myself but these stories were amazing. There was a kid who was into radioactivity, a girl with Leprosy, a pretty actress who falls in love with science and more amazing stories of real kids who are really smart. The projects that the kids came up with were amazing, I never knew so much went into preparing for and competing in a science fair. I love the emphasis on help from teachers and parents and neighbors that encouraged and taught some of the kids in the story. I wish I would have had someone encourage me to be more involved in science. I always got above average scores on my SAT's but my classes in school were so dull, copying facts from the white board and reading chapter after chapter about rocks. I think if we would have been more hands on I would have LOVED it. I have three boys and this book reminded me about a book I have of fun science experiments for kids. I pulled it out and we have had a lot of fun doing some of the projects in the books. I hope like some of the other mothers in this book I can be an encouragement to my children and give them a love and an excitement of learning and trying new things.

[Beth G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fact: I was never part of a Science Fair. It's one of those things that I'm a little sad to have missed out on. But Dutton offers a chance to live vicariously through some kids who are really part of the Science Fair scene. Twelve students are profiled in individual chapters, which alternate between a student (as of the book's writing) headed for the 2009 Intel International Science Fair after winning a qualifying local competition and a participant in a previous year who has become Science Fair Legend. Their projects are not simple baking soda volcanoes or skin cells under microscopes; these are kids who have done things like build a nuclear reactor or create a home heating system out of salvaged materials.

Dutton takes the reader deep into the world of the Science Fair, interviewing not only the students, but also parents, teachers, and mentors. The young scientists reveal themselves to be teenagers much like their less scientifically-inclined peers, just kids with some quirky interests and an uncommon drive to explore. If you think you know what a Science Fair - or a Science Fair entrant - is all about, this book may surprise you. An entertaining and informative peek into the lives of the next generation of scientific discovery for teens and adults alike.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This captivating book held my interest from cover to cover. Read it in two days and had difficulty putting it down!

In the style of the movie, Spellbound, in each chapter, Judy Dutton profiles the extraordinary stories of twelve high school students competing in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). She alternates between six legends from science fairs past and six students who are heading toward the 2009 competition. Each story is more engaging and incredible than the next. They are awe-inspiring and brilliant high school students who have even obtained patents for some of their creations. Projects include a solar power heater to warm a family's house, a glove that reads and translates sign language, horse therapy that helps out stressed out cops, a music program that helps autistic students learn how to read, and a nuclear reactor.

For all of you who love reading about science, high school students, learning, and/or creativity, this book is for you!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book on a whim. It was sitting on the shelf of NEW books at the library, and its bright colour simply called out to me. Boy am I glad I picked it up.

I absolutely loved this book! As both a science teacher and a past science fair participant (though I never made it past regionals!), I thought it was charming, funny, thought provoking... and totally spoke to my inner geek! I liked that the students profiled in the book came from all walks of life, and that their projects really ran the gamut. I also liked that they weren't necessarily chosen because they would win. Too often, the media depicts today's youth as disenfranchised, lazy, and without hope... yet the kids profiled here showed the opposite. It showed a group of teens who were willing to push boundaries and engage in science.

I've run a mini-science fair with students before, but after reading this it reaffirmed my desire to try again. It was definitely a great book!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most people don't win. Even the super smart, super dedicated, hard workers. Most of the people at the Intel Science fair don't win any prize, and most people don't even make it to the national science fair. But this book chronicles kids who DO make it to the big leagues (whether or not they win the big prizes in the end would be spoiling the ending). It presents a world where if you follow your dreams you will win, at least to some degree. And sometimes I just think it's not quite as clear as the book makes it seem. But that said, I liked reading the stories of what motivated these kids, and how sometimes the smallest steps could take them so far. Their dedication to their projects, and to learning, was inspirational. The book was well written and interesting.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely facinating, this book is recommended for all readers, not just those interested in science.
Dutton interviews several students-- the majority of whom are competiting in the 2009 Intel International Science & Engineering Fair-- about their projects, ranging from studying the honeybee population to inventing a glove that can translate sign language to text. The talent of these kids is remarkable, and Dutton relays their often inspirational stories without jargon or overly saccharine narrative.
Not only entertaining, Science Fair Season shows the amazing potential that even children have to invent.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books that I read recently. It's about kids who is written to/happened to join the world largest science competition, Intel Science Fair. All the stories are quite interesting: sometimes they make you surprised in awe, sometimes they make you cry.
To read this book is too see kids growing up and you cannot finish this book without being moved. I bet it.

最近読んだ中で一番の本。邦題は「理系の子」という何とも間抜けで的外れなものだけど、米国最大級のサイエンスフェアに参加する事になった子供たちを特集した本で、本当に面白い。ある子は自閉症の子のためのプログラムを開発し、ある子は原子炉を作り、ある子は女優を目指しながら、蜜蜂の病気の研究を行う。途中に経済的な壁にぶつかったり、プレッシャーに負けそうになったり、重い病気やけがに苦しみながらも、好奇心に導かれるまま、リサーチを続け、それを形にしていくそれぞれの子供の姿に心を打たれます。電車の中で読んでいて、何度も泣きそうになりました。本当におすすめ！！

[Lisagoegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the stories of the individual kids, but the overall pattern felt a little too manufactured. I guess that's a good thing because it was well crafted and readable in a narrative sense, but I wanted there to be more meat and more mess. Blurbed by Mary Roach, it has a similar style, but I think Roach allows herself to be led more by the tangents, which is what makes her books interesting to me. I ended up using one of the chapters about using synesthesia to teach autistic kids in my reflection for a course I'm taking though, so this book was definitely still relevant to my interests and expanded my thinking about teaching and learning and education.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

eARC acquired from NetGalley. An utterly charming book detailing the ambitions of six 2009 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair contestants. A bit like Spellbound, but with science fair contestants. Six chapters discuss the 2009 students, with other chapters mixed in dealing with past science fair contestants. I had no idea science fairs could be such a big deal. The last chapter discusses who wins what at the 2009 fair, so you really do need to keep reading to find out what happens to these kids. A fun book.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are captivating stories of real students participating in Science Fairs. As a teacher, I thought these would be great stories to interest and inspire my own students. These science fair participants have a drive to work and learn that is inspiring. At the same time, this is not a dry science tome. The book is full of suspense as these students compete for amazing awards and prizes at the highest levels. As well, Dutton shares the personal stories of these students and makes them very real to us. Science Fairs have never been so exciting.

[Wenting · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book exceeded my expectations. It detailed what went into each of the six competitors' science fair projects while simultaneously telling a REALLY GOOD STORY. I was astounded by the facts presented about each competitor (the people in this book are are scarily smart!), inspired by their accomplishments, and emotionally invested in their journeys. It was not so much a story about science but a story of what a group of unconnected - though equally intelligent and motivated - young people were able to accomplish.

[Nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter of this book focuses on an adolescent heading into the grandaddy international science fair with the climax announcing how the kids performed. I am a sucker for earnest, nerdy people. This book delivered that in full. The themes of how to make science education more engaging, tap into the creative potential of youth, celebrate scientists like we celbrate athletes, and the urgency to capture kids early before they sucuumb to boredom or fears of being labeled "earnest" and "nerdy" made me talk about this book at WAY too many social events.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting book about the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and twelve teens who competed in it. Their levels of curiosity, determination and intelligence are inspiring. The writing was so accessible it read like fiction despite the complex projects the teens undertook.

Full review on the

[Amy Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down, I loved it! I've even thought about the kids she featured in it since -- like the four-year-old who wired the electricity in one room in his parent's house. It's a powerful reminder what kids can do, and I have to say, it made me sit up a little taller and want to accomplish more in my own life. I mean, if these kids are doing what *they're* doing...

All in all, I can't recommend it enough.