Science Geek Sam and his Secret Logbook

My 11 year old loved this book. She has lots of questions about the Bible and the world, and this was a fun way to learn that science and faith can coexist.

Sam is a ten or eleven year old (based on highest grade in primary school) who loves science. His Uncle Jack is a science professor. When a meteorite crashes on the bike shed at Sam’s school, Uncle Jack is one of the experts called in to investigate. Many questions arise from the meteorite crash and Sam’s teacher, Mr. Nolan, decides to set up a “People Library” to bring in people with expertise to share knowledge and answer questions for the students.Uncle Jack is one of the speakers who comes in to explain the scientific aspects of the meteorite, planets and the universe. In the process he describes the science of the Big Bang. However, Sam’s school is a Christian school and some of the parents are alarmed that the students are being taught science facts that might conflict with the beliefs they have been taught. The students hear from other people about God’s Creation but there are still conflicting arguments.Mr. Nolan arranges a week-long camping trip for the class where the students can visit a museum, a planetarium and get some hands-on experience as well as researching their questions.Not everyone is thrilled with the idea of “camping out”. When they go, there are conflicts among the students, but they work through issues and end up having a great week.The story is told in a very fun fashion through Sam’s journaling, narrating and email exchanges, mostly with Uncle Jack. There are fun interactions and incidents with the students that add a personal element of appropriate aged fun.Sam is a curious ‘science geek’ and the book is packed with tidbits of information about things such as meteors, stars, fossils and even DNA. Throughout the book there are weblinks and scan codes to explore the facts and theories that are discussed. I thought this was very clever and hope young people would take advantage to see the additional resources.The authors do an engaging job of sharing scientific arguments and Christian foundations of creation. The authors make a presentation that allows a merger of Biblical and scientific elements, allowing for God to have created the world over a long period of time. The overall package encourages young people to be open minded in their studies of creation and science.The book combines the scientific knowledge and evangelist faith of Cees Dekker with the fun writing skills of child author Corien Oranje. The illustrations by Perta van Rijssen are basic, fun and fitting to add to the story. I don’t agree totally with the science that is presented but I thought the method of sharing the arguments was fun and thought provoking.Source: NetGalley.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from Netgalley for review consideration.Corien Oranje and Cees Dekker had laudable goals in the creation of Science Geek Sam. There are many inquisitive minds out there who have been told to believe in God- no questions asked - and yet they get exposed to information about things like that makes them wonder. And it can be hard to reconcile the two. People are very much "Only this way, or only that way." Especially when it comes to something like religion and scienceBut it's possible for there to be a middle ground. And that's what Science Geek Sam is all about. That, and a young boy's celebration of all things science. This book is packed with lots of cool tidbits of information about things from meteors to DNA. And the layout of the book is one that's becoming more common. Parents or kids with a QR scanner on their phone will find several opportunities to utilize it to view things online. Where codes aren't accessible, text links are. The authors do a great job of linking lots of sites and videos so that kids can further their knowledge beyond what is presented in the book. This interactivity adds an additional level to the book that I really like.I like Sam. He was curious, intelligent little boy who really just wanted answers to his questions. I felt for him as he tried to reconcile the information that he was getting from different people. I was happy that he had people in his life that were happy to try to answer his questions and guide him. It balanced out the people that were just pig-headed "The book and nothing but the book!" And that's how life is. Most children don't get to grow up in an environment where everyone around them encourages them to think, explore, and reach their own conclusions.Unfortunately, I don't see this book ever having a mass market appeal. It's got a very specific goal, and most parents I know aren't really interested in buying a book that shows there can be a middle ground between religion and science.Personally, I'm just happy to see people trying to reconcile religion and science and get it through to kids early on. While my non-religious inclinations make me an adamant disbeliever in all things omniscient being, I'm perfectly fine with finding a platform to meet believers on. Faith and facts can be friends, even if they have to agree to disagree on a few things.

The shed holding students’ bike exploded and the principal sent the students home early. However, there is no one at home waiting for Sam so he has to stay at school. Luckily, his Uncle Jack shows up to investigate what may have been a meteorite strike. Later, Uncle Jack talks about the universe in Sam’s class. It created a controversy since Jack goes to a Christian School that is not supportive of the Big Bang Theory. Visits from a horse-loving mother and a vicar leave more questions than answers. The solution is a five-day class trip to find some answers to the conflict between evolution and god’s existence. On the trip, they look at landmark, the stars, experiment with DNA, and learn about Darwinism. According to the authors, science and theology can coexist. There are numerous sidebars on the science topics with additional information, activities, and websites to investigate.I received this book free through Net Galley. Although encouraged as a courtesy to provide feedback to the publisher, I was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I was surprised that the overall view of the authoritative figure in the book is that evolution is a fact. Despite the general western media hammering this home it is NOT fact but a THEORY. My 9yr old son is enjoying the way the book is put together and it is helpful in discussing what is NOT helpful in this discussion. The author should not pander to the pressure of worshipping God and Darwin when Neo-Darwinism has nothing to do with sensible people discussing real evidence or lack of. Yes David Attenborough and all his cronies including Dawkins play on our needs to find meaning in life - at the expense of real evidence. The funny thing is that the author uses a silly simplistic argument to say the earth is extremely old - 'just look around you - isn't it obvious' - actually if I look around me it seems pretty obvious there is no evidence for true evolution. Lets not even talk about the chances of a primordial soup producing life - something coming from nothing. Good story telling - wrong information!

Loving this book, easy reading but great writing on a much needed subject. Kids and adults will get a lot out of the facts presented in such an interesting way.

Grandson very happy 😃

Yeah, it was quite fun reading it. My nephew was very much engaged in it. I read it too.