The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.1 - Truitt_T’s Task: She Blinded Me With Science

There are a number of science related special days or events this Season, so I thought I’d create a task out of a few of them.

This is a two book task, with a combined 500 page minimum. While children’s and middle grades books are NOT allowed, a book with MPG Graphic Novel(s) or Comics MAY be used for one book. One book MUST be nonfiction.

*********Again, one book MUST be nonfiction.*********
Read two books, Book A and Book B.

Book A
While it’s not officially recognized by any nation, February 7th is celebrated by many in the scientific community as National Periodic Table Day.

Read a book with an element from the Periodic Table in the title and/or subtitle. Exact matches only, no plurals or possessives.
List of Elements: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

Some of the easiest to find will include: Carbon, Iron, Gold, Silver, Cobalt, Arsenic, Nickel, Copper, Lead, Radium, Neon, Silicon

Required: state the element.

Book B
Choose from one of the following four options.
Required: State the option.

Option 1: February 11 is the U.N.’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, See https://www.womeninscienceday.org/ for more info.

Read a book with the MPG Science AND for which the author identifies as female.

Option 2: February 12 is the U.N.’s International Darwin Day. See https://darwinday.org/ for more info.

Read a book with an MPG of Evolution, Natural History, Geology, Biology, and/or Travel.

Option 3: The Great Backyard Bird Count / Global Bird Count, an enormously successful Citizen Science program, falls February 14 - 17 in 2025. See https://www.birdcount.org/ for more info.

Read a book with an MPG of Birds, Ecology, Nature, and/or Conservation.

Option 4: January 2 is National Science Fiction Day - mainly because it’s also Isaac Asimov’s birthday (I prefer Heinlein, but no one asked me.)

Read a book with the MPG Science Fiction.

Book A

Science Fair Worthy:
The Iron Children


Keep It At Home:
The Irony of American History

Book B - Option 1

Science Fair Worthy:
Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum
The Deepest Map: The High-Stakes Race to Chart the World's Oceans


Keep It At Home:

Book B - Option 2

Science Fair Worthy:
The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us


Keep It At Home:

Book B - Option 3

Science Fair Worthy:
Cabin: Off the Grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman


Keep It At Home:

Book B - Option 4

Science Fair Worthy:



Keep It At Home:

Can you please approve Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum for Book B, Option 1? MPG Science is near the end. Thanks!

Amy wrote: "Can you please approve Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum for Book B, Option 1? MPG Science is near the end. Thanks!"

Approved!

Can you please approve Cabin: Off the Grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman for MPG Nature, Book B Option 3? It is last on the list right now.

KmarieD wrote: "Can you please approve Cabin: Off the Grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman for MPG Nature, Book B Option 3? It is last on the list right now."

Approved!

Also, just want to post this as possible suggestions for Book A. The books are older, but your library might have them (mine had a couple), and I am planning to use one.

It is the Periodic Table series by Camille Minichino, which are mysteries, so Book B would have to be your nonfiction book.

KmarieD wrote: "Also, just want to post this as possible suggestions for Book A. The books are older, but your library might have them (mine had a couple), and I am planning to use one.

It is the Periodic Table s..."

Thank you for mentioning this series! I came across these books when I was checking how hard it would be to find some of the less common elements in titles other than textbooks. I haven't read any of them, bit I hope to get around to the series one of these days.

I've been meaning to read Altered Carbon for a long time, and I'm making this task my reason to finally do it. :)

I'm looking forward to seeing what elements and books people use!

Hello, could I get The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us approved for Option 2?

Angeliki wrote: "Hello, could I get The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us approved for Option 2?"

Approved for Book B, Option 2 for MPG Evoluton, Natural History, and Biology.

It looks fascinating!

can i please get The Deepest Map: The High-Stakes Race to Chart the World's Oceans approved for science (by a female author)

Dee wrote: "can i please get The Deepest Map: The High-Stakes Race to Chart the World's Oceans approved for science (by a female author)"

I was able to find a reference to the author as she by the Writer's Trust of Canada - you're good.

Approved!

I assume that for Book A the word lead can also mean other than the element as in He lead the band which would not fit the criteria of the task ?

Andy wrote: "I assume that for Book A the word lead can also mean other than the element as in He lead the band which would not fit the criteria of the task ?"

The element word in a title need not refer to the element itself, so Lead would be fine however it's used. :)

Truitt_T wrote: "Andy wrote: "I assume that for Book A the word lead can also mean other than the element as in He lead the band which would not fit the criteria of the task ?"

The element word in a title need not..."

Thanks

Maybe it's just me, but does Book A and Book B HAVE to be the same option? It doesn't seem to say that.

Never mind, I think I see what you did now. So, everyone does the Book A; but there are a variety of Book B tasks that can be chosen from. Do I have that now?

Kathy KS wrote: "Maybe it's just me, but does Book A and Book B HAVE to be the same option? It doesn't seem to say that.

Never mind, I think I see what you did now. So, everyone does the Book A; but there are a va..."

You've got it: A for everyone and your choice for B.

Truitt_T wrote: "Kathy KS wrote: "Maybe it's just me, but does Book A and Book B HAVE to be the same option? It doesn't seem to say that.

Never mind, I think I see what you did now. So, everyone does the Book A; b..."

Thanks.

Can you approve this book for
Book B
Option 1: Read a book with the MPG Science AND for which the author identifies as female
Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity by Gloria Mark

Click the "more" button on the MPGs and the first one that pops up is SCIENCE. Additionally, Gloria Mark's website https://gloriamark.com/about/ makes it clear that she identifies as female.

Thanks.

Deedee wrote: "Can you approve this book for
Book B
Option 1: Read a book with the MPG Science AND for which the author identifies as female
[book:Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happine..."

I agree that Gloria Mark identifies as female based on multiple sources.

Approved!

Would you accept a book MPG Science Fiction Fantasy as MPG Science Fiction?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Jammin Jenny wrote: "Would you accept a book MPG Science Fiction Fantasy as MPG Science Fiction?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone"

I'm sorry, but since I didn't give the option when I posted the task, I think we need to stick to it as written.