Snoozefest

August 15, 2021
Studies show that nearly half of the teens in this country don't get enough sleep--and here's a look at what they're missing. Gamely battling the inherent tendency of books about the topic to make readers drowse off, Kyi effervescently digests accumulated knowledge and recent findings from the dozens of scientific studies cited in the endnotes to highlight ways in which sleep gives our brains a chance to organize experiences, benefits our immune systems, and affects bodily functions from motor skills to weight control. She also offers nods to the history of sleep studies, from the invention of the EEG on, the stages of sleep and disorders like sleep apnea, and biochemical processes that initiate or disrupt sleep. In response to findings that teens need over nine hours of sleep a night for best results, she spends some time on the growing movement to experiment with later start times in high schools. If she spares barely a glance at the hazards and side effects of sleeping pills and leaves unmentioned the fact that animals dream too, still she covers a lot of territory in a reasonably systematic way. Some of her observations may even prompt young night owls to reexamine their habits. Aside from the occasional anatomical image, Goulet's cartoon illustrations are just decorative...but human figures wakeful and otherwise are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Solidly research based, this may shutter some eyes, but it's likely to open more. (index, further reading) (Nonfiction. 10-13)

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September 1, 2021
Grades 6-9 Welcome to what Kyi calls "the strange history of snooze science," an engaging presentation that features an overview of breakthroughs, their applications, and related topics. Plenty of books offer advice on sleep, but this one goes a step further by briefly discussing the theories, studies, trials, and experiments that have led to solid information on slumber and backing them up with sources in the appended bibliography. The very readable text introduces researchers who have made significant discoveries about sleep and sleep-related topics, including dreaming, healing, the immune system, the brain, memory, learning, and circadian rhythm, not to mention sleep stages, deprivation, and disorders. The short section on medications is followed by a lengthy discussion of practical, alternative suggestions for improving sleep. With a colorful digital illustration or design element on nearly every page, this volume looks inviting, and the approachable text covers a lot of ground. Noting that our society undervalues sleep, the book provides useful facts that are pertinent to teens and tweens and encourages them to make sound decisions based on the science of sleep.

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October 2, 2021

Gr 5-8-An exciting exploration of sleep. Part history, part science, part advice manual, this slim volume packs a lot of sleep-related information into its pages, with additional information in the bibliography, resources, and index. Kyi's informal and casual writing, even when discussing serious science, is accompanied by Goulet's bright, painterly illustrations. It reads like a fun textbook: dense material wrapped in a popping package. Readers may find Snoozefest a resource for school research projects, or even spot-read snippets to answer typical questions: How many hours of sleep do I need? What do I do if I can't sleep? How can I have better sleep? This might be most useful in libraries where STEAM research attracts young patrons to its stacks. VERDICT A fun choice for browsable nonfiction shelves and reports.-Jessica Schriver, Rutgers Univ., Newark, NJ

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