Gross Universe: Your Guide to All Disgusting Things Under the Sun is one of a growing group of books that use the lure of the "gross" and "sickening" to engage middle school students in the study of science. Titles like “You’re in the Urine” and “Mind Your Pees and Q’s” are sure to grab your students' attention.
This book features 28 sections of fun and interesting facts about topics that most adults would consider slightly nauseating--nose mucus, intestinal methane, vomit, and perspiration. A cartoon dialogue between two scientists throughout the book makes facts understandable to kids, and colorful artwork vividly illustrates the gross descriptions in the text.
Strange and disgusting facts may be an excellent hook for middle school readers, but this author also broadens their knowledge with sound science and applications from the animal kingdom. At the end of this neat little book the author credits 38 “amazing and awesome” researchers that helped make this book scientifically accurate.
This book will be irresistable to the very same middle schoolers who regularly resist science. What more can I say? I highly recommend it for any young adult who would like to know more about what is not normally discussed about their bodies and the world around them.