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Description
A Really Short History of Nearly EverythingPerfect for ages 8 to 80! Adapted from A Short History of Nearly Everything, this stunningly illustrated book from Bill Bryson takes us from the Big Bang to the dawn of science, and everything in between! Ever wondered how we got from nothing to something? Or thought about how we can weigh the earth? Or wanted to reach the edge of the universe? Uncover the mysteries of time, space and life on earth in this extraordinary book a journey from the centre
Perfect for ages 8 to 80!Adapted from A Short History of Nearly Everything, this stunningly illustrated book from Bill Bryson takes us from the Big Bang to the dawn of science, and everything in between! Ever wondered how we got from nothing to something?Or thought about how we can weigh the earth?Or wanted to reach the edge of the universe?Uncover the mysteries of time, space and life on earth in this extraordinary book - a journey from the centre of the planet, to the dawn of the dinosaurs, and everything in between. And discover our own incredible journey, from single cell to civilisation, including the brilliant (and sometimes very bizarre) scientists who helped us find out the how and why. The ideal book for curious young readers everywhere. ************************************************************************Reviews for A Short History of Nearly Everything:'It's the sort of book I would have devoured as a teenager. It might well turn unsuspecting young readers into scientists.' Evening Standard'I doubt that a better book for the layman about the findings of modern science has been written' Sunday Telegraph 'A thoroughly enjoyable, as well as educational, experience. Nobody who reads it will ever look at the world around them in the same way again' Daily Express 'The very book I have been looking for most of my life' Daily Mail
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4.6 ★★★★★
Based on 20 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Reminds us of the value of a college education beyond academic facts and skills.
Format: Kindle
At a time when many students and families are questioning the value of a 4-year college education, Porterfield does a great job of describing the intangibles behind an earned degree. Many people are aware that there is more to a college education than academic facts and skills, but this book presents the case comprehensively. It identifies "soft skills" specifically and gives good examples of how they can be taught and learned in the college environment.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Loved it!
Format: Kindle
Mia is a ten-year-old Chinese immigrant. She had immigrated to California from China 2 years earlier with her parents, who were hoping for a better life. Unfortunately, the United States in the 1990s was not exactly welcoming to Chinese immigrants, and many struggled. Mia and her parents were no different. After gaining and losing several jobs and facing homelessness again, Mia's parents take a job managing a motel. Unfortunately, the motel owner - who is Taiwanese, not Chinese, as he is quick to point out - is not only overtly racist, he is also exploitive and seems almost happy to point out to Mia's parents that they could be replaced immediately when they question his actions.
But Mia and her parents try to make the best of it. Mia works the front desk when at the motel, quickly learning the ropes and consistently trying to find ways to help the guests and her family. She also becomes friends with the weeklies at the motel - those guests who live at the motel and pay weekly - and they quickly become part of her growing family.
At school, though, Mia struggles. She can't tell the other students - most of whom are white - that she lives in a motel. She struggles in English, though she loves writing, and she also has disagreements with her mother who thinks she should focus on math and forget about writing because "she'll never be able to write as well as the white kids" for whom English is their native language.
Most of the book is a slice-of-life look at running a hotel and Mia's struggle to integrate with the other students at school. Though it may seem to some that too much goes wrong at the motel in too short a period of time, I can say from experience that this depiction is incredibly realistic. While reading it, I was having flashbacks to my own experience managing a motel and running the front desk. The news Mia and her family get in chapter 55, in particular, hit hard on the feels for me, because my husband and I went through that same situation. We didn't use the same solution that Mia and her family did, and I definitely loved the solution they came up with.
Throughout the story were the letters that Mia wrote, each for a different situation. These were an added touch, helping to bring the reader back to the days of the early and mid-90s, before email was ubiquitous and text messaging was still a dream. Her struggle to put word to paper, to make sure she was using the right words and tenses, was an added dimension to the story that I didn't expect but definitely appreciated. The author's note at the end, where she discussed her own experiences was also incredibly moving, and I loved learning that much of the book's scenarios were pulled from her own experiences, while also wanting to give a hug to the child that had to experience that struggle.
I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, narrated by Sunny Lu, and I highly recommend it. Lu did a wonderful job with the narration, injecting just the right amount of emotion and tension into the performance. I had to force myself to stop listening so I could go to bed; had I not, I would have listened right through to the end and not getting any sleep. While I would have enjoyed the story, work the next day would not have been fun. Lol.
So, long review short, I definitely recommend this book. For younger readers, I would recommend a parent read with them, as there are some tough situations that they may need/want to talk about. But overall, this is a story of hope for an immigrant family who is struggling to make a better life for themselves.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2022
★★★★★ 5
A great book for all
Format: Paperback, Format: Paperback
What a great book. I bought it for my 12 year old granddaughter. A story of resilience.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2026
★★★★★ 5
My favorite middle grade book of 2018 so far
Format: Hardcover, Format: Hardcover
I'll never look at a motel with the same eyes again. Author Kelly Yang brings us Mia Tang, a younger version of herself, who helped her parents manage a motel in southern California in the early 1990s.
Mia and her parents arrive from China with two hundred dollars, unwavering optimism, and the belief that if they work hard enough, they will achieve the American dream: a big house, a dog, and an endless supply of juicy hamburgers. After two years of backbreaking jobs and sketchy living conditions, Mia's parents rush to sign a contract to manage the Calista Motel located five miles from Disneyland.
Mr. Yao, the notoriously cheap and unscrupulous motel owner, informs the Tangs that the contract allows him to make any changes and if they don't like the terms, "Just say the word. There are ten thousand immigrants who would take your job in two seconds" (p. 27).
Mia quickly makes friends with the "weeklies" and assigns herself front desk duty because her parents must clean every room themselves and be available 24/7 to check in guests.
Mia's moxie and sense of justice emerge as she takes on adult responsibilities with a sense of pride and unbridled enthusiasm.
She makes plenty of mistakes which makes us empathize with her struggles and root for her as she tackles the english language, bullies, crime, and embarrassment about her thrift store clothes. (Keep your eyes open for the tale of the designer jeans.)
Chapters are vignettes that are strung along with seamless transitions to make reading a pure pleasure. The author captures Mia's voice so authentically that the reader is instantly drawn into the story. Mia's uses the power of the written word to advocate for herself and others.
Kids will fall in love with Mia and cheer her fierce determination as she navigates her way through poverty and injustice, bringing her family, the weeklies, and everyone else who want to be part of the American dream with her.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2018
★★★★★ 5
Outstanding!
Format: Hardcover
Hiya Bumbles! I am so excited to share this upper elementary/middle grade book with all of you! This is the story of Mia Tang, a Chinese immigrant, and her family’s quest for a better, “freer” life in America. The Tang family is given the opportunity to manage a motel and a journey of heart breaking and heart filling experiences begin. Ms. Yang artfully brings sass and humor to very serious topics regarding social issues that continue to pervade our communities. This is quite a relevant read right now and I can see how fabulous discussions and lessons will arise from this novel. The main character, Mia, is spunky, bright and spreads love everywhere she goes. She also stands up for herself and others when it counts. I loved getting to know her. It was eye opening to read some of the circumstances that the immigrants in the story have to live through. And although there are heavy social injustices that are prevalent in her life, Mia handles them with grace and just the right amount of sass and compassion. I absolutely would recommend this story and I think it teaches so many valuable lessons to readers! I also think that it can transcend age up through YA and it’s a great read for adults too. It’s actually based on some of the author’s own experiences.
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 from me! Loved it!
#frontdesk #kellyyang #scholastic #kidlit #bookstagram #immigrant #chinese #miatang #spunkandsass #booknerd #kellyyangisawesome
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Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2018
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