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10 young adult books for smart readers of all ages

Here are 10 young adult books for readers of all ages who like to learn.

5. "Eruption: Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives (Scientists in the Field Series)," by Elizabeth Rusch and Tom Uhlman

  • By Ross Atkin Contributor

(HMH Books for Young Readers, 80 pp.)

There are 1,500 potentially dangerous volcanoes around the world, and this addition to the acclaimed Scientists in the Field series examines how two American volcanologists are dedicating their lives to find ways to predict eruptions and prevent tragedies.  

EXCERPT:

“Thousands of crop terraces form shallow steps all the way up the mountain as if the volcano were a temple, and to many villagers, Merapi [on the Indonesian-Javanese border] is a temple. They cannot abandon it. They can pray, plow, and carry their harvest to market. They can leave at a moment’s notice – and return and rebuild. That is life on Merapi.

“Without scientists watching their backs, many, many more people would be killed when Merapi erupts, that much is clear. But if more people died, would fewer people move back? Would fewer people take the risk of living in the shadow of a dangerous volcano?

“Maybe. For a while. But the volcano gives the people everything they need: food, cool air, building materials, and beauty.”

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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