Book Review: The Mystery of Hollow Places

THE MYSTERY OF HOLLOW PLACES by Rebecca Podos is a sophisticated and engaging mystery exploring issues of family and identity.

Imogene learned about sleuthing from her father who writes medical mysteries. With her father suddenly missing, Imogene searches to find the mother who abandoned her as a baby in the hopes of finding answers. Along the way, she learns family secrets that help piece together her family’s past.

The author’s realistic approach to the teen’s investigation and interesting twists and turns along the way will drawn readers into the story. It’s rare to find a high-quality psychological mystery that deals with authentic issues such as mental illness and depression.

Librarians will find this young adult mystery appeals to youth who enjoy realistic, contemporary fiction and intriguing investigations.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.rebeccapodos.com/.

Published by Balzer & Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins on January 26, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: Zooniverse

ZOONIVERSE is a website that provides users the chance to participate in real discoveries through citizen science projects.

This collaborative volunteer project lets users contribute to real-world, cutting edge research across content areas including the sciences and humanities.

Participants can jump into dozens of current projects including transcribing historical documents, recording the life of chimpanzees, and characterizing bat calls.

Daily Zooniverse provides engaging, quick resources and activities that would make great lesson starters.

The Talk area provides a place where users can ask questions. The Blog shares the latest project news.

The companion website, ZOOTEACH contains high-quality lessons and resources that connect with the citizen science projects in the areas of sciences, mathematics, humanities, and arts. Resources are available for K-12 and higher education.

Librarians will find the many authentic projects a great catalyst for inquiry and learning. Use one of the projects to jumpstart an investigation in your library.

Visit the website at https://www.zooniverse.org/.

Visit the lessons at http://www.zooteach.org/.