Heroes of Discovery Who Changed the World (Graphic Greats)

This collective biography delivers short introductions to inventors and scientists from Johannes Gutenberg to Katherine Johnson and Elon Musk. Each entry provides a “highlights reel” of the subject’s life, focusing on groundbreaking accomplishments in briskly paced spreads. Unfortunately, the brief text’s formal tone occasionally backfires; a description of brilliant mathematician Katherine Johnson as “sassy” feels more condescending than respectful, and a mention of heroic code breaker Alan Turing’s death, “too early... after being put on trial for homosexuality,” is puzzling in its lack of context. For a quick, accessible introduction to STEM heroes, though, this offers a serviceable starting place. Also available: Heroes of Flight Who Changed the World, Heroes of Science Who Changed the World, and Heroes of Space Who Changed the World. Ages 9–12. [em](Apr.) [/em]