How to Hear the Universe

February 1, 2022
Grades K-3 The story begins in Berlin with Einstein carrying out some of the imaginative thought experiments that led to his groundbreaking work, including a reference to the collision of large space objects causing ripples in space-time, ripples that in his opinion, we would not be able to detect. Shifting forward 50 years, an Argentinian girl named Gabriela (Gaby) Gonz�lez wonders about the night sky. She grows up, studies physics, and moves to the U.S., where she eventually leads a team of physicists finding ways to eliminate background noise for two complex machines built to listen for ripples within space-time. A century after Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, the project succeeded in detecting ripples in space-time caused by two black holes colliding. Given the audience, the book's text concentrates more on Einstein's creative scenarios than on his physics, but even more, it tells the story of a Latina physicist whose team made a significant contribution. The upbeat illustrations, digitally enhanced watercolors, set a jaunty tone, and appended notes provide additional information. An ambitious picture book.

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May 9, 2022
Physicist Gabriela “Gaby” González (b. 1965) stars in this polished STEM biography that opens 100 years ago with a skillfully rendered, approachable description of Albert Einstein’s theory that space-time could ripple. The problem: “Without a way to hear ripples in space-time, people considered Einstein’s idea simply a fairy tale.” Fast forward 50 years to Argentina, where young González develops a passion for physics. In lively prose, Valdez describes how González moves to the U.S. and spends “long days and long nights thinking, testing, and measuring,” trying to encounter Einstein’s ripples, until eventually, she and a team—portrayed with varying abilities and skin tones—successfully perceive the collision of two black holes. Palacios’s digital and watercolor art bursts with science tropes, including equations, stars, and white lab coats, supporting the book’s broader, empowering embrace of science as transcending space and time. Ample back matter includes an author’s note alongside further resources. Ages 4–8.

Starred review from April 29, 2022

Gr 1-4-Albert Einstein published his theory of general relativity in Germany in 1915, but he could not detect or measure the ripples (gravitational waves) in space-time that he theorized existed. Years later, in Argentina, a young girl named Gabriela (Gaby) Gonz�lez became curious about time, space, and gravity; she went on to study physics, and became part of the team that eventually was able to measure the gravitational waves Einstein had described. This advanced subject matter is presented with clarity and a sense of wonder, making it accessible to a young (often space-obsessed) audience, with additional back matter (time line, glossary, sources, notes) for those who want more detail. Palacios's illustrations feature recurring motifs of dragonflies, frogs on lily pads, speech bubbles filled with pictures and diagrams, chalkboards full of equations, and five-pointed stars. VERDICT This STEM title is an excellent addition to any public or school library; Gaby Gonz�lez deserves the same recognition as Margaret Mitchell, Katherine Johnson, Grace Hopper, Ada Lovelace, and Mario Molina.-Jenny Arch

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