Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Candlewick (2018), Edition: Reprint, 176 pages
Description
Before Isaac Newton became the father of physics, an accomplished mathematician, or a leader of the scientific revolution, he was a boy living in an apothecary's house, observing and experimenting, recording his observations of the world in a tiny notebook. As a young genius living in a time before science as we know it existed, Isaac studied the few books he could get his hands on, built handmade machines, and experimented with alchemy--a process of chemical reactions that seemed, at the time, to be magical. Mary Losure's riveting narrative nonfiction account of Isaac's early life traces his development as a thinker from his childhood, in friendly prose that will capture the attention of today's budding scientists--as if by magic.
User reviews
LibraryThing member julieandbeli
I read this book with my children and we absolutely loved it. Detailed with information that was entertaining and interesting to children and adults alike. My children begged for more each time we read and they were fascinated and amazed by all the crazy things that Isaac Newton did. I received
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this book from an Early Readers giveaway. Show Less
LibraryThing member bogreader
Mary Losure biography of Isaac Netwton is both accurate and gentle. Isaac Newton experimented with both science and magic, which Losure explains as a product of the day in which Newton lived, rather than a personal failing to experiment with magic. The context of Newton's life brings fullness to
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this story of his scientific discoveries. This book would be a good fit with discussions of the scientific method or early science history. Show Less
LibraryThing member eduscapes
ISAAC THE ALCHEMIST by Mary Losure takes a fascinating look into the life of Isaac Newton.
This work of narrative nonfiction immerses readers in the life of a boy living in an apothecary’s house. Readers will be particularly intrigued by the connections between magic and science during Isaac’s
Librarians will find this well-written biography to be popular with both children who enjoy narrative nonfiction as well as those simply looking for good report material. The short chapters, discussions of magic and science, and interesting primary source visuals will appeal to reluctant readers. Look for this title on “best of children’s nonfiction” lists for 2017.
Published by Candlewick on February 1, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
This work of narrative nonfiction immerses readers in the life of a boy living in an apothecary’s house. Readers will be particularly intrigued by the connections between magic and science during Isaac’s
Show More
time period. The book concludes with information about Isaac’s notebooks, science, and additional sources.Librarians will find this well-written biography to be popular with both children who enjoy narrative nonfiction as well as those simply looking for good report material. The short chapters, discussions of magic and science, and interesting primary source visuals will appeal to reluctant readers. Look for this title on “best of children’s nonfiction” lists for 2017.
Published by Candlewick on February 1, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
Show Less
LibraryThing member themulhern
Very nicely constructed book of 176 pages, rather large print. Many illustrations, reproductions of contemporary notes, engravings, and paintings all black and white. The focus is really on Newton's life up until he wrote the Principia. The alchemical metaphor is of Newton's transformation of the
The book is full of questions, as if daring the reader to write a novel about Isaac Newton: a sad one, a crazy one, or maybe an occult one. As usual, I wish that the illustrations had been better captioned.
Chapter 1: The Apothecary's House
Isaac lives in the apothecaries house, and brews stuff up. The store of his early life and anger at his mother and stepfather.
Chapter 2: Book of Mysteries
Isaac is influenced by John Bate's "The Mysteries of Nature and Art". Isaac grows up in very Puritan England.
Chapter 3: Stars
Isaac records the names of stars and their positions in his notebook.
Chapter 4: School
Isaac's notebook contains a mix of things, some may be his own thoughts, but some may be exercises. We will never know. The story of how he beat up a fellow school boy is told.
Chapter 5: Siege Weapons
Isaac also reads "Mathematickall Magic" by John Wilkins. This chapter has several illustrations taken from that work.
Chapter 6: An Inclination for Mechanics
Isaac Newton the builder and model maker. He fights w/ the apothecary's children, but is friendly with Katherine.
Chapter 7: Chymistry
Alchemists and apothecaries.
Chapter 8: Triumph and Recreation
Isaac flies lighted kites, which alarm the neighbors.
Chapter 9: Hemlock, Henbane, Mandrake Root
Isaac reaches his teens, writes out a list of occupations. Hangs out with some other kids. Arthur Storer eventually emigrates to the Americas and becomes a prominent astronomer. There is no other book that I have read that has mentioned this fact.
Chapter 10: What Good is Such a Bookish Boy
Isaac goes home to become a yeoman farmer and does not thrive. It is decided to send him to Cambridge, where is uncle had gone.
Chapter 11: Truth is My Greater Friend
Isaac relocates to Trinity and launches his own private personal research programme, laying out his philosophical questions. This book indicates that that Trinity was a quiet place, but most books seem to concur that it was rowdy, full of Cavalier frat boys.
Chapter 12: Astrology...to Mathematics...to the Ghosts of Light
Isaac gets into math through astrology, picks up a prism at Stoubridge Fair, and does his fearsome "bodkin in the eye socket" experiment.
Chapter 13: The Comet
A comet shows up, the plague reaches London, Isaac goes home to Woolsthorpe, sets up his study, and does crucial experiments in optics.
Chapter 14: Year of Wonders
Isaac invents the calculus and does numerous calculations in his Waste Book.
Chapter 15: Isaac's Alchemy Begins
Isaac goes back to Cambridge, keeps mum about his discoveries, and gets into alchemy. He also gets promoted; is given a stipend and some status.
Chapter 16: Enter the Royal Society
Isaac's telescope is built and brought to the notice of the society and he gets into a fight with Hooke about the nature of light. Correspondence with John Collins, great quotation: "For I see not what there is desirable in publick esteeme.It would perhaps increase my acquaintance, the thing which I chiefly study to decline."
Chapter 17: Isaac the Alchemist
Isaac gets deeper and deeper into alchemy and mostly ignores all his colleagues.
Chapter 18: Transformations
Newton is persuaded to publish the Principia and all the rest of his life happens.
Afterwords:
Isaacs Notebooks:
Childhood notebooks, written in a secret shorthand, not decoded until the 60s.
Chymistry Demistified
Stinks, Bangs, and More Chymical Secrets
Show More
whole world. The book is full of questions, as if daring the reader to write a novel about Isaac Newton: a sad one, a crazy one, or maybe an occult one. As usual, I wish that the illustrations had been better captioned.
Chapter 1: The Apothecary's House
Isaac lives in the apothecaries house, and brews stuff up. The store of his early life and anger at his mother and stepfather.
Chapter 2: Book of Mysteries
Isaac is influenced by John Bate's "The Mysteries of Nature and Art". Isaac grows up in very Puritan England.
Chapter 3: Stars
Isaac records the names of stars and their positions in his notebook.
Chapter 4: School
Isaac's notebook contains a mix of things, some may be his own thoughts, but some may be exercises. We will never know. The story of how he beat up a fellow school boy is told.
Chapter 5: Siege Weapons
Isaac also reads "Mathematickall Magic" by John Wilkins. This chapter has several illustrations taken from that work.
Chapter 6: An Inclination for Mechanics
Isaac Newton the builder and model maker. He fights w/ the apothecary's children, but is friendly with Katherine.
Chapter 7: Chymistry
Alchemists and apothecaries.
Chapter 8: Triumph and Recreation
Isaac flies lighted kites, which alarm the neighbors.
Chapter 9: Hemlock, Henbane, Mandrake Root
Isaac reaches his teens, writes out a list of occupations. Hangs out with some other kids. Arthur Storer eventually emigrates to the Americas and becomes a prominent astronomer. There is no other book that I have read that has mentioned this fact.
Chapter 10: What Good is Such a Bookish Boy
Isaac goes home to become a yeoman farmer and does not thrive. It is decided to send him to Cambridge, where is uncle had gone.
Chapter 11: Truth is My Greater Friend
Isaac relocates to Trinity and launches his own private personal research programme, laying out his philosophical questions. This book indicates that that Trinity was a quiet place, but most books seem to concur that it was rowdy, full of Cavalier frat boys.
Chapter 12: Astrology...to Mathematics...to the Ghosts of Light
Isaac gets into math through astrology, picks up a prism at Stoubridge Fair, and does his fearsome "bodkin in the eye socket" experiment.
Chapter 13: The Comet
A comet shows up, the plague reaches London, Isaac goes home to Woolsthorpe, sets up his study, and does crucial experiments in optics.
Chapter 14: Year of Wonders
Isaac invents the calculus and does numerous calculations in his Waste Book.
Chapter 15: Isaac's Alchemy Begins
Isaac goes back to Cambridge, keeps mum about his discoveries, and gets into alchemy. He also gets promoted; is given a stipend and some status.
Chapter 16: Enter the Royal Society
Isaac's telescope is built and brought to the notice of the society and he gets into a fight with Hooke about the nature of light. Correspondence with John Collins, great quotation: "For I see not what there is desirable in publick esteeme.It would perhaps increase my acquaintance, the thing which I chiefly study to decline."
Chapter 17: Isaac the Alchemist
Isaac gets deeper and deeper into alchemy and mostly ignores all his colleagues.
Chapter 18: Transformations
Newton is persuaded to publish the Principia and all the rest of his life happens.
Afterwords:
Isaacs Notebooks:
Childhood notebooks, written in a secret shorthand, not decoded until the 60s.
Chymistry Demistified
Stinks, Bangs, and More Chymical Secrets
Show Less
LibraryThing member rgruberhighschool
RGG: Well-written and surprisingly clear science explanations. The brevity of the text combined with the illustrations makes the best target audience somewhat difficult to determine. But an understanding of chemistry and physics would probably add to the reading experience. Reading Interest: 12-YA
Awards
Orbis Pictus Award (Recommended Title — 2018)
Society of Midland Authors Award (Winner — Children's Nonfiction — 2018)
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction (Nominee — 2018)
Minnesota Book Awards (Finalist — Middle Grade Literature — 2018)
CCBC Choices (2018)
Nerdy Book Award (2017)
Notable Children's Book (2018)
Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids (Nonfiction — 2017)
Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List (Youth — 2018)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Informational Books for Older Readers — 2017)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
9.06 inches
ISBN
1536203637 / 9781536203639