Brynie, Faith Hickman. 101 Questions About Blood and Circulation...With Answers Straight From the Heart. Twenty-First Century, 2001. ISBN 0761314555. $25.80. 176 pp. A 6-10 NF Reviewed by Sharon Kuttler The fourth in Byrnie’s series about the human body, 101 Questions About Blood and Circulation answers questions about the circulation system asked by high school students. Topics discussed include the operation of the heart, palpitations, heart attacks, components of blood, the immune system, use of leeches, heart transplants, and how to keep one’s heart healthy. The question-and-answer format captures the reader’s attention. The illustrations, though sparse and rudimentary, clarify Brynie’s explanations of complex processes. A few black and white but no color photographs are included. The strength of this book is in its text. Intriguing facts abound. For example, if the arteries, veins, and capillaries inside a human were placed end to end, they would stretch for over 60,000 miles, a distance equivalent to two and a half times the circumference of the world at its equator. Tables, notes, a glossary, a list of organizations and websites, and an index help make this well-organized book useful to student researchers, yet the topics are intriguing enough for leisure browsing. The author has written books with a similar format about the brain, skin, and immune system.
