Stephen Hawking: Unlocking the Universe

School Library Journal

Gr 5 Up-- Stephen Hawking, as the man who sets a new record every day for length of survival in spite of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), is an appealing subject for a children's biography; Hawking as the man who uses his brilliant scientific mind building on theories most people meet in college if at all is a very difficult one. Simon takes full advantage of Hawking's flair for the quotable quote as he shifts somewhat awkwardly between his subject's home life and highly simplified descriptions of his work on the evaporation of black holes or combining the previously immiscible quantum mechanics and general relativity. Hawking's low opinion of studies of ESP and inconclusive statements about how his ideas on the beginning of the universe mesh with religion get lengthy treatment. The whole is illustrated with a reasonable scattering of clear black-and-white photos of Hawking, his family, and the buildings where he has lived or worked. This is not a stylistically superb book, but it is an acceptable one. --Margaret Chatham, formerly at Smithtown Library, NY