Quantum Quagmire

by Cara Bartek

Serafina suspects something is wrong when her best friend, Tori Copper, loses interest in their most cherished hobbies: bug hunting and pizza nights. When she learns Tori’s parents are getting a divorce and that Tori’s mom is moving away, Serafina vows to discover a scientific solution to a very personal problem so that Tori can be happy again. But will the scientific method, a clever plan, and a small army of arachnids be enough to reunite Tori’s parents? When the situation goes haywire, Serafina realizes she has overlooked the smallest, most quantum of details. Will love be the one challenge science can’t solve?

Join Serafina in another endearing adventure in book two of the Serafina Loves Science! series.

138 pages, Paperback

Published September 24, 2018

About the author

Cara describes the Serafina Loves Science! series as, "a long-form love letter to my daughters." Her objective is to address the STEM gender gap by planting the seed of self- confidence, passion, and success in her readers. Cara has previously published two books in the series as well as hosts the The Universe in a Seashell, a top 100 children's educational podcast. Cara received her doctoral degree from Texas A&M University in 2009. She lives in Texas with her children and husband, Matt. She and Matt operate an agricultural research and brokerage business.

Reviews

[Kate Waggoner]

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network and the publisher for the review copy of this book -- all opinions are my own.

Quantum Quagmire is the second book in Bartek's Serafina Loves Science series and it's just as heartwarming and informative as the first book. Whereas in the first book, Serafina dealt with bullying and taught us about Newton's law, the second book focuses on the divorce of Tori Copper's, her best friend, parents. Serafina has never seen her friend so upset and desperately wants to help her by getting Tori's parents back together. To do this, she decides to use the scientific method and develops a series of hilarious and, at times, disastrous experiments.

I really enjoyed this novel because it makes a difficult topic, like divorce, approachable for younger readers. Serafina is spunky and kind and truly wants to help her best friend. This book would be helpful for those going through a situation similar to Tori's or those who have a friend going through divorce (like Serafina). Bartek does a great job of breaking down the emotions that both Tori and Serafina are feeling and showing the struggle that kids go through during a divorce. I also love the use of metaphor at the end of the novel, when Bartek compares a divorced family to quantum entanglement and explains that though they're apart, they're still connected.

[Elizabeth Tyree]

Thank you to @kidlit for sending me this copy of Quantum Quagmire to review. All views are my own.

The cast of characters in the book are fairly diverse and well rounded. I enjoyed the depth of friendship and love explored in this book. Both strong and weak relationships were portrayed very well and I appreciate that the author managed to do so. The premise of this books is solid and interesting and I love seeing the male and female friend relationships given the spotlight they deserve in MG lit. Science may not have solved the issue, but it shone a light on their deep love for one another.

My only issue with the book is the same as my issue with book 1 in that the language at times feels stilted and "adulty" (to quote a 7th grader), not like conversations actual 12 year olds would have. Otherwise, this was a solid 3.75 stars for me.

[Keshia Harvey]

@kidlitexchange #partner - thanks to the @kidlitexchange network and author @carabartek for a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own! This is the second book in the Serafina Loves Science series. In this book, Sera and her friends turn to science to help them try to solve the problem of Tori’s parents getting divorced. They use the scientific process to help them develop experiments to try to get Mr. and Mrs. Copper to fall back in love. I loved Serafina’s earnestness and clear love for her best friend as she refused to give up on bringing Tori’s family back together. As in the first book, science content is woven right into the storyline. I would encourage 3rd-8th grade teachers to add these books to their classroom libraries.

[Gwendolyn Wittenbrook]

My 12 year old daughter and I loved reading the second book about Serafina's adventures. Her love of science, mixed w/compassion, makes for an enjoyable read. The author's passion for science is evident throughout the book, and she even includes an experiment at the end.