Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2009 - (Page 30)

off the shelf what you’re reading by David Macauley Have you ever wondered how your body works? After all, what with eating, sleeping, playing with friends or completing homework, your body certainly accomplishes many tasks with few complaints. The intriguing thing is that we often go about our lives without ever wondering how our bodies get everything done. If you have been curious about the inner workings of the human body, you may have picked up some thick, dusty tome on medical science. But there is an alternative: a fantastic new book, The Way We Work by David Macaulay. A MacArthur Fellow and Caldecott Medalist, Macaulay is known for his incredible skill at illustrating and his unique brand of humor. He has also written such remarkable works as The Way Things Work, Mosque, and Mill, which focus on how stuff works, how mosques are built, and how mills operate, respectively. The book is bursting with facts, not to mention full-color, full-page illustrations that bring the topic to life. All of this is made even better by the fact that the author’s fascination with his subject matter is evident on every page. One of the truly amazing aspects of Macaulay’s illustrations is that he does not simply draw parts of the human body—he often utilizes concepts from machines (such as pipes and tanks) to make the seemingly complicated easier to comprehend. And he intersperses his drawings with miniature people and a mammoth (from The New Way Things Work) to keep the laughs coming. The result could not be better: as the reader delves into this hefty tome, he or she is apt to forget that this book is more detailed than many textbooks! This book’s 00+ pages cover everything from details about the body’s building blocks, to how that tuna salad becomes energy, to how your body contends with a cold. In reading it, I found myself asking how David Macaulay had managed to obtain all this information. I learned that he had spent some six years working on this voluminous tome! On top of doing all of the intricate illustrations, he had to learn all about the human body and transform his newly absorbed knowledge into information that his readers could both understand and enjoy. I finished this book having learned a lot of new things about the amazing human body. Although not a fast read, it is absorbing and one to which you will probably refer again and again. So, when you ask yourself how a bipedal, multicellular 0 imagine The Way We Work life form composed of almost 65% percent water is capable of everything from sculpting to getting a tan, just take a close look at The Way We Work! Alexandre Caillot is a homeschooled senior from Morgan, VT. An active volunteer in his community, he plays classical piano for local nursing homes and contributes to several area museums. He holds a second-degree black belt in tae kwon do, enjoys downhill skiing, and is an aspiring ballroom dancer. Alexandre is also a host on Cogito.org, where this review originally appeared. Also recommended: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan This novel truly inspires the imagination with a tale about a young boy who discovers an unusual explanation for why he has never fit in. Sent on a quest with newfound friends, he will conquer a feat that no one has ever attempted. Ancient Greek mythology and thrilling adventure give this story an exciting twist that any reader will enjoy. Ellen Studer, 1, NJ There Are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing up in the Other America by Alex Kotlowitz Written by a Wall Street Journal reporter, this book follows two boys, Lafayette and Pharaoh Rivers, as they make their way in a gang-ridden, drug-polluted Chicago project. With heartbreaking reality, this story shows readers a side of America they might never have seen, full of both pain and little successes that cause big celebrations in the streets. It made me grateful for the safety of my own neighborhood as well as more aware of what kids in Lafeyette’s and Pharaoh’s situation experience. Lizzy Teerlink, 1, CA The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding Catherine “Cat” Royal is the opinionated narrator of this intriguing story, told loosely as a play, and set in England in 1790. Her regular life in a theater in London is toppled and spiced with new adventure as she makes friends, enemies, and uncovers secrets in the bustling network of the city. I found it a satisfying mix of romance, suspense, mystery, historical knowledge, and even humor, sure to make you smile. Alice Wang, 14, CT January/February 009 http://www.Cogito.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2009

Imagine Magazine - John Hopkins - January/February 2009
Contents
Letters
Big Problems
In My Own Words
Witness to a Pandemic
An Ounce of Prevention
Of Math and Measles
Predicting the Next Pandemic
Medicine, Medicine Everywhere
Food Matters
Looking for a Challenge? Try Summer College!
CTY: The Real Deal
Hot Topic
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Middle Ground
One Step Ahead
Exploring Career Options
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Creative Minds Imagine
Sudoku
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2009