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Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law,
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Jamie
Counterpoint - yes, there's violence and some gore - but if this is in his interest level - give it a try! Mary Roach writes like a tweenager to me - she has a natural curiosity and silly sense of humor that makes complicated topics accessible.
Meredith
It's some stories, but a LOT of science, complete with long, sometimes Latin, words. I like that kind of thing, but I think it wold be too involved for a tween.
Vivian
I wouldn't give this to a tween. Even though the text is easy to follow, it's kind of gross at times and there's some material that's too dark and disturbing for even some adults (e.g. graphic descriptions of mauling victims, 9/11 victim recovery, looooooots of animal deaths, some of them violent). I think there are some adult jokes as well.
Summer (speaking_bookish)
Hmm, this question has been answered multiple times now but I thought I would add my two cents anyway. Im on the fence about whether this is a good book for a tween. It largely depends on the child and maturity level as well as comprehension. Some of the studies are long-winded and described in-depth which I could see being very boring for a child that doesn't understand the meaning behind some of it. I also think there are some fascinating things to learn but its mixed in with some pretty ghastly stuff- like heads of Albatrosses being bashed in by a club by the military. Thousands of them. The book also touches quite broadly on poison and graphicly describes the death throes the animal goes through before it stops breathing. So, while I think a lot of this book would be fascinating for a kid, there are also a lot of parts that are going to be equal parts boring and gruesome. So, not a perfect fit for most tweens but at least you have the information to make an informed decision now.
October
For sure. I read my first Mary Roach book, Stiff, when I was 12 or 13, and I could easily follow it and enjoyed it very much. So much that I still, at age 32, get excited whenever a new book of hers comes out. Stiff and Fuzz are about different topics, but the writing tone/style, science content, gross bits, and humor are comparable. From personal experience, I'd say go for it. :)
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