Kate the Chemist: Dragons vs. Unicorns

March 1, 2020

Gr 2-5-Kate lives and breathes science and chemistry-literally! After a successful attempt to breathe fire during her after-school chemistry club session, Kate thinks a science camp would be just the ticket to enjoying her fall break. Instead, her friends and her principal mom encourage her to join the drama camp, where Kate snags the coveted assistant director position. After a few disasters, including a glue mishap, Kate realizes someone is trying to sabotage her. Using hypotheses and scientific methods, Kate is on the case to uncover the saboteur before the opening night play becomes a failure. What she ultimately discovers, however, is something much more important and timely. VERDICT This title, which features playfully worded definitions sprinkled throughout, proves that science and fun go together like molecules in a polymer. A delightful addition to early middle grade collections.-Amanda C. Buschmann, Carroll Elementary School, Houston

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March 15, 2020
A fifth grade girl brings her love of chemistry to the school play. Kate loves science so much she's determined to breathe fire. Of course she knows that she needs adult supervision, and so, with her science teacher's help, Kate demonstrates an experiment with cornstarch and a blowtorch that nearly sets her teacher's cactus on fire. Consequences ensue. Can someone who loves science as much as Kate does find pleasure spending her fall break at drama camp? It turns out that even the school play--Dragons vs. Unicorns--needs a chemist, though, and Kate saves the day with glue and glitter. She's sabotaged along the way, but everything is fine after Kate and her frenemy agree to communicate better (an underwhelming response to escalating bullying). Doodles decorate the pages; steps for the one experiment described that can be done at home--making glittery unicorn-horn glue--are included. The most exciting experiments depicted, though, include flames or liquid nitrogen and could only be done with the help of a friendly science teacher. Biberdorf teaches chemistry at the University of Texas and also performs science-education programs as "Kate the Chemist"; in addition to giving her protagonist her name and enthusiasm, she also seems represented in Kate-the-character's love of the fictional YouTube personality "Dr. Caroline." Kate and her nemesis are white; Kate's best friends are black and South Asian. A fun-if-flimsy vehicle for science lovers. (Fiction. 8-10)

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March 15, 2020
Grades 3-7 Fifth-grader Kate absolutely loves chemistry! But chemistry can't help her figure out what to do with her friends over fall break. When one of her best friends announces that the Drama Club is putting on a musical called Dragons Vs. Unicorns and they need an assistant director, Kate is intrigued. To her surprise, she lands the job! Unfortunately for her, someone is out to sabotage her best efforts at doing a great job. Can Kate use her chemistry knowledge to find out who is playing tricks on her and trying to sabotage the show? And, most important, can chemistry help her figure out how to get those unicorn horns to stick and her dragon cast to breathe fire? This is a fun read that weaves science concepts throughout the story. Kids will enjoy reading about Kate's antics and will love trying out the chemistry project included at the end of the story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)