The vast majority of books in this category are neither new nor hot, mainly consisting of rather worthy but weighty text-books aimed at getting teens through examinations on the subject.
I has to be said, that without doubt, titles like the AQA guides on biology, environment and microbes and disease are solid, dependable and a must for those taking the exams that these books support. However, is it a hot gift for Christmas? No, probably not?
Something that might be more interesting and acceptable when opened is “Hotspots Revisited: Earth’s Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions” by Gustavo A. B. de Fonseca, Harrison Ford, Peter A. Seligmann, Russell A. Mittermeier, Patricio Robles Gil, Michael Hoffman, John Pilgrim, Thomas Brooks, Cristina Mittermeier, John Lamoreux.
Origned by Conservation International, it sets out to create an encyclopedic reference point on the biodiversity of endangered regions. This is a “revisit”, continuing to highlight and reference biologically diverse and threatened regions.
The book is illustrated by hundreds of pictures of its subjects, riotously colourful enough to make a coffee table book, but intensely interesting and ecologically important. Something a teen interested in biodiversity could not fail to be enchanted and informed by. It has to be said that it comes in at a coffee table price too 41.00, but the work involved makes it worth considering.
Another interesting topic, outside the normal text-books available is The Biology of Bats. For anyone interested in the leathery, furry creatures this is a must-have. Retailing at 17.99, the book details the biology of the mammals, their physiology, phylogeny and ecology. Echolocation, also known as biosonar is also discussed thoroughly. Written by Gerhard Neuweiler, an acknowledged expert it takes its studies from North American and European species.