A black teenager in the ‘7s-era Bronx was fascinated by space and frequently took his telescope up to the rooftop. But his neighbors were frightened, thinking he was an armed burglar. They called the police. In the mid-199s, this same person was named Director of the American Museum of Natural History’s world-renowned Hayden Planetarium. This enthralling biography of Neil deGrasse Tyson, America’s favorite astrophysicist, takes the reader from the hardscrabble streets of the inner city to the hallowed halls of science to the outer reaches of our galaxy and beyond. As this inspiring volume attests, Tyson’s life beautifully illustrates the maxim “through adversity to the stars.” Gr 10 Up-Even famous science experts struggle in school, as readers learn in this series, which sheds light on the human face of geniuses. Readers will be intrigued to learn, for example, that Jane Goodall kept pet guinea pigs as a child. Some titles emphasize the science writers' literary background more than others. For example, Goodall's book focuses heavily on her work as a scientist, while Isaac Asimov's delves into his literary influences and childhood writings. Quotes from Neil deGrasse Tyson's writing are scattered throughout his biography, helping students connect to his voice. Readers will be swept away by his journey as an African American astrophysicist who first stargazed atop a Bronx apartment building and later walked dogs to earn money for a telescope. Throughout his biography, Tyson's passion for space exploration is palpable. Dynamic, understated artwork does not distract from excellent writing here. Strong additions.α(c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.