Becoming Bionic and Other Ways Science Is Making Us Super

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 6 And Up

Take a tour of the science of superpowers and see how science fiction is becoming science fact

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Fly like Shazam? Turn invisible like Violet Parr? Or maybe have the super strength of the Hulk? Believe it or not, many of the extraordinary abilities we see in comics and movies are already a reality—or could become one soon!

This middle-grade nonfiction book uses superheroes to explore how science is transforming our bodies and our experiences. Engaging text, detailed timelines, and intricate diagrams break down how superhero traits have been reflected in technological innovations throughout history, and how they could appear in the future. Jetpacks and rocket belts can help us fly like Superman. Prosthetic limbs and lab-grown human tissue mirror the regenerative powers of Wolverine and Ms. Marvel. But readers are also invited to think critically about these incredible, and sometimes controversial, advancements—after all, with great power comes great responsibility!

A fresh and timely take on innovation, Becoming Bionic and Other Ways Science Is Making Us Super blends pop culture, history, and STEM for a fun, engaging, and thought-provoking look at the science of superpowers.

About the Author

Award-winning writer HEATHER CAMLOT is the author of Secret Schools and What If Soldiers Fought with Pillows?. A journalist for more than 20 years, she has written, edited and translated for various print and online publications. Originally from Montreal, she now lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her family.VICTOR WONG is a graduate of the Sheridan College Illustration Program. This is his first book for children, but his previous illustration clients include Reader's Digest Canada, Monocle, Cottage Life, YouTube, and The Walrus. Originally from Nova Scotia, Victor now lives in Mississauga, Ontario.