Human-Made Disasters (Science of Catastrophe)

This entry in the Science of Catastrophe series examines issues and topics—some of which could be downright scary for children—in a frank and systematic way, focusing on human-created catastrophes and the scientific explanations behind their causes. Events such as the Hindenburg explosion, the Challenger disaster, the Chernobyl meltdown, and the 2007 Mississippi River bridge collapse are included. West’s digital illustrations are eerily realistic and haunting, especially the depiction of a hijacked aircraft just moments before it collides with the World Trade Center. A world map of notable man-made disasters is included along with a glossary of technical terms. This is not a book for children with worrisome tendencies, but the scientifically rooted explanations may be a comfort to some, suggesting that these horrible disasters were preventable and that we can and should learn from our mistakes to keep them from happening again. Grades 5-8. --Erin Anderson