Hydrogen Hot Stuff Cool Science by Rex A. Ewing is an exciting book that makes hydrogen energy and its future uses in our world come alive for even the most reluctant of science students. It is a literature-based book that relays information through an exciting adventure packed story. From the very first chapter of the book, one realizes that they are going to learn a great deal of information. The reader finds oneself on Wasserstoff Farm, which is a hydrogen farm, and being led on an amazing journey by a very well-informed wizard. Wasserstoff is the German word for hydrogen. This is just one example of how every paragraph is packed with learning opportunities.

Besides the exciting story, the book is filled with tables and graphs for the visual learner. I also appreciate the "At-A-Glance" and "Zed says" sections at the end of the chapters, which give a bit more clarification. In between the chapters that are the story are sections called technistoff, which go into specific data and resources that support the story.

I must admit that our family is not particularly strong in chemistry or physics, but this book ties the two sciences together and shows how they are used in our everyday lives. Even the math in this book is explained well and presented in a fun way. All of these positive aspects make the subject matter much more tolerable. However, it really is more information than I personally would ever want to know about hydrogen energy. I read this book myself but will use it when my children are in high school. This book is a good fit for children who have been raised with a literature-based background, such as Charlotte Mason. I definitely think this is a valuable resource for high school science education.

-Product review by Dawn Purdom, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, May, 2017