SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

August 16, 2018 by Lori Henderson

Review: Smash! Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider

August 16, 2018 by Lori Henderson   Leave a Comment

Smash Exploring the Mysteries Header

Smash! Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider
Written by Sara Latta, Illustrated by Jeff Weigel
Teen
Graphic Universe, Jan 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5124-3070-7
72 pgs, $11.99USD

When the Large Hadron Collider was first built, the public imagination went wild with concerns about antimatter and black holes destroying the world. But these sci-fi inspired events don’t compare to the real science being done there. Smash! Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider not only explores the work being down now, but also the history that led to it.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Smash Exploring the MysteriesNick is visiting CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, with his cousin Sophie. Nick is hoping to come up with some ideas for a new comic. Sophie’s parents work on the Large Hadron Collider, so she shows him around the facility. Starting with a sculpture called Art And Science, they explore the history of physics and The Standard Model, a collection of theories that explain what the universe is made of and what holds it together. Einstein’s famous equation, E=MC² and the big bang are also discussed, leading to the actual Large Hadron Collider, how it works, and how the Higgs particle was discovered. By the end, Nick has a better understanding about science and new characters for his comic.

Physics is a subject that is often talked about but not really understood. Author Latta breaks the topic down and uses visuals that make it easier to grasp. She uses real life examples such as a sock stuck to clothing to describe the electromagnetic force and a famous artist at Comic Con for how a particle can gain mass. She explains what the Higgs boson really is, and she dedicates the last half of the book to showing how the Large Hadron Collider works and what scientists found to prove the existence of the Higgs particle.

Artist Weigel’s art is instrumental in getting these concepts across. He depicts decaying particles as popping like party poppers, and he also uses Nick’s illustrations to show Nick’s growing grasp of physics. His depiction of the four forces as superheroes was amusing and appropriate.

Smash! Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider is a fun and informative look into what physicists do and why it is important that they do it. While each new discovery adds another piece to the puzzle, there are still a lot of places left to look. Hopefully, this volume with inspire more kids to want to help complete it.

Filed under: Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
graphic novelgraphic universescienceTeen

About Lori Henderson

Lori Henderson is a mother of two teenage daughters and an avid reader. She blogs about manga at her personal blog Manga Xanadu as well as contributing and editing for Manga Village. She blogs about all things fandom (mainly Doctor Who) at her other personal blog Fangirl Xanadu. She's been at it so for over 5 years now and counting!

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Review: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

by Lori Henderson

March 2023

Review: Victory! Stand!

by Lori Henderson

March 2023

Nayra and the Djinn | Review

by Lori Henderson

March 2023

Walt Disney's Donald Duck: Donald's Happiest Adventures | Review

by Lori Henderson

February 2023

Insomniacs After School, vol. 1 | Review

by Lori Henderson

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

One Star Review, Guess Who? (#184)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Announcing the 2022 Winners of the Annual Blueberry Literary Award!

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

The Transformative Power of Books, a guest post by David Aleman

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

PEN America and Trust Project Release Newsroom Transparency Tracker | News Bites

15 Franco-Belgian Comics That Go Beyond "Tintin"

Best Graphic Novels 2020 | SLJ Best Books

10 Manga Titles for Teens Who Watch Anime

Seven Titles with Censorship Themes

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023