The Doomsday Detectives: How Walter and Luis Alvarez Solved the Mystery of Dinosaur Extinction

Gr 4-8–An excellent, format-defying nonfiction introduction to the origins of paleontology and the quest to solve the mystery of dinosaurs’ extinction. With a mix of prose and comics, Jenson-Elliott and Lorenz present an illuminating and impeccably researched work that will take readers through the history of paleontology, from Mary Anning to present day, and explore how every scientific field impacted what we know about the “terrible lizards.” Geology, physics, biology, and more figure into the telling, but young readers won’t get lost because the text is supported by graphs, diagrams, maps, and photos. Sidebars on related topics, like the scientific method, science word roots, and the geological time scale (era, subdivision, and periods), will keep kids captivated. The graphic novel panels, which give insight into what might have happened to the dinosaurs during the extinction event, are lushly illustrated and break up the prose narrative while adding momentum to the storytelling. The lyrical text in the comics will make readers feel like they are witnessing the events as they happened. Though the subtitle emphasizes the work of the Nobel Prize–winning father-son team, this volume highlights the many scientists, credited and uncredited, who brought this discovery to light and who continue the research to this day. Back matter includes a glossary, source notes, end notes, and index.