RA RA Read: Stories with Science

When I originally made this list in 2016, it was a small, but popular sub-genre: chapter books that included science experiments or concepts. Some include back matter with science, some incorporate experiments and concepts directly into the narrative. Readers who prefer non-fiction and kids who like hands-on learning often like these stories. Over the years, the volume of science-based narratives has really exploded, thanks to adults discovering the maker movement "look at this cool new thing!" (librarians and teachers mutter that we've been doing it for decades thanks very much) and a new emphasis on STEM. However, more science-based stories is good no matter what the reason!

Beginning and transitional chapters

• Summer Camp Science Mysteries by Lynda Beauregard
• Mystery, Graphic Novel, Science Experiments
• Each book in this series is focused around a different science concept. The counselors at camp pose questions, challenges, and perform experiments relating to the central concept. It's mostly still in print, either in paperback or more expensive library bound.
• Zoey and Sassafras by Asia Citro
• Fantasy, Science Experiments
• I love, love, love this series! Zoey uses science to help her mother treat the magical creatures that come to their door. She tests compounds to help a monster get rid of the mold on his fur, learns about bacteria when helping a unicorn with a cut, and so on. There are science experiments in the back as well as the science included in the book.
• Ellie Engineer by Jackson Pearce
• Realistic Fiction, Making
• This series is based more on the maker movement. Ellie has a hammer, drill and other tools and likes to build things. Along the way, she gives the reader tips, learns about math, and also negotiates social relationships. Safety tips and suggestions are included in the back.
• S.W.I.T.C.H. by Ali Sparkes
• Science Fiction, Nonfiction Blend
• This series is in two parts; it starts with bugs and then moves on to reptiles. This weighs more heavily on the narrative side; it features twin boys, a mad scientist neighbor, and transformations into bugs or reptiles. Incorporated throughout the books are facts and information about bugs, reptiles, and other animals. Science, with varying levels of realism, is used to solve each crisis. Some titles are out of print, but most are still available from Darby Creek, an imprint of Lerner, in either paperback or (expensive) library bound.
• Doyle and Fossey by Michele Torrey

• Mystery, Science Experiments
• This six-book series is still available in paperback, although most hardcover and prebound versions are out of print. They're basically Encyclopedia Brown but with science instead of logic puzzles. The solutions and science experiments are at the back of the book.
• Girls Who Code by Various
• Realistic Fiction, Coding
• This is a fairly typical friendship series, with a diverse group of girls working together. They all meet in and around coding club which is incorporated into their projects and activities. This quartet is written by a variety of authors and sponsored by the Girls Who Code group.

Middle Grade Chapters

• George's Secret Key by Stephen Hawking
• Action and Adventure, Scientific Theory, Technology
• The loose story lines, treasure hunting, journey to space, etc. are just filler for the explanations of technology, scientific theory, and essays from prominent scientists throughout the book. These won't appeal to kids who want a straight-forward narrative, but those who want science with a little story to hold it together will enjoy it. There are several sequels.
• Club CSI by David Lewman

• Mystery, Scientific Method
• These are spin-offs of the popular CSI tv shows. They feature middle school students using their forensic class studies and logical deductions to solve various mysteries. There is no blood or gore. Most are out of print.
• Nick and Tesla by Bob Pflugfelder
• Action/Adventure, Technology
• This series is based around the stories of twins Nick and Tesla, who live with their eccentric uncle, who is also an inventor. They fight off bad guys and discover secrets about their parents all while creating various scientific contraptions like robots, alarms, and more. The books are all available from Quirk Press.
• Explorer Academy by Trudi Trueit
• Action/Adventure, Technology
• This is an ongoing series from National Geographic, their first step into middle grade fiction. It's kind of like 39 Clues but with technology. A lot of the gadgets, technology, and futuristic science is explained at the back.
• Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang

• Graphic Novel, Coding, Math
• I will admit these drive me crazy, but the kids like the combination of puzzles, adventure, mysteries, and coding they include.
• Science Comics by various authors/illustrators
• Graphic Novel, Science
• This series from First Second often includes some kind of framing story around the central scientific concept. For example, in Koch's Bats: Learning to Fly, a bat being rehabilitated invites readers to join in learning about the different species. In Dinosaurs by M. K. Reed and Joe Flood, readers learn the story of Mary Anning and the history of fossils, both their discovery and natural history. This is an ongoing series and includes Maker Comics and History Comics now.