Spare Body Parts and Other Weird Science
Royce Bond & Mitch Vane

Hodder Headline 2001
101pp. pbk.  $14.95
073361311X

 

Intro: Oh no! You forgot to tape your favourite TV show that’s on now and you’re three hundred kilometres from a TV set! What are you going to do?! Ring up your fridge and tell it to pass the message to the VCR.

It’s not science fiction, it’s reality! In the future, people might be able to talk to their fridges. Spare Body Parts outlines possible options future generations might use daily.

Age Group: Spare Body Parts is a captivating book for nine to eleven year olds. It can also be read by younger children, as it has a glossary for all those difficult words.

Topic: The topic is suitable for this identified age group, opening their minds to the possibilities of the future.

Storyline: The storyline of Spare Body Parts is based entirely on what might happen in the future. Ideas include growing new arms or having a mini computer in your brain.

Illustrations: The illustrations add humour to the book and are suitable for this type of literature.

Language: The language used in this book is easy to understand and suits the intended audience.

Text: The style and size of the print in Spare Body Parts is easy to read. It causes no problems like squinting or having to hold the book too close to the readers eyes.

Layout: The layout of Spare Body Parts assists the reader as it has main chapter headings. Sub-headings are also used throughout the book. It has a contents page listing the different headings, so the reader may turn directly to where his or her interest lies.

Type: Spare Body Parts is not a book children would read aloud or read along with someone. It’s more of a book that the reader would read privately.

Opinion: I think Spare Body Parts is a great book, though very repetitive with certain phrases and paragraphs. Spare Body Parts should spark interest between children and can be used for light reading. It may also be used to begin discussion and brainstorming ideas on future inventions. This is a fantastic book, and I would recommend to anyone with an interest in technology, cloning or the future.

Reviewer: Alexander, 11, Sunshine Coast, May 2001