Ada Twist, Scientist

 

Ada Twist, Scientist

By Andrea Beaty
Illustrated by David Roberts


    The book Ada Twist, Scientist is about an inquisitive young girl named Ada Marie Twist. Ada is full of questions about the world; her first word was "why" followed by "what, when, and how." She questions everything she encounters, such as why a clock ticks and why roses have thorns. One day, Ada encounters a particularly difficult puzzle: what is the source of the terrible stink? Ada conducts experiments to try to find out the answer to this question, however, she leaves a trail of chaos in her wake. At first, her parents are overwhelmed and mad at Ada for the mess she has created. But they soon realize that Ada is extremely curious and begin to work together to solve the answers to Ada's questions.  

    Ada Twist, Scientist is an incredible picture book that features a variety of important lessons. The book focuses on Ada Twist, an African American second-grader who loves to figure out the whys, whats, hows, and whens of life. She was actually inspired by real-life scientists Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie. Ada uses experiments and the scientific method to try to answer the questions. I loved this book because the main character, Ada, is both female and African American, breaking common stereotypes about those who are typically in the STEM field. Having a diverse protagonist is so important, especially in young reader books, because it gives children a role model they can relate to and shows them that anyone can be what they want to be. I also loved that the book was written in rhyme and featured fun and colorful illustrations. By presenting the book in this way, children are entertained while still learning lessons, such as perseverance and the importance of curiosity. The book also teaches children that even though you might not solve the question, thinking, asking, testing, and eliminating are what makes a great scientist. Ultimately, Ada Twist, Scientist is a great book that challenges both gender and racial stereotypes and encourages children to think, question, experiment, and follow their dreams. Additionally, the Ada Twist books have been made into a series on Netflix!



Ava Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty; illustrated by David Roberts. Abrams Books for Young Readers (2016). 

For more information about Andrea Beaty click here. 

Word Count: 353

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