Mosquitoes Don't Bite Me - by Pendred Noyce (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Mosquitoes don't bite Nala Simiyu. It's part of who she is, like being a half-Kenyan seventh-grader whose mother is in a wheelchair. But when a schoolmate's father--who happens to head up a large drug company--learns of Nala's special power, the excitement begins. After helping out with mosquito research, Nala has the chance to travel to Kenya to investigate mosquitoes' reactions to her father's family. All goes well until a man heartbroken by his daughter's death from malaria kidnaps Nala. In the midst of a realistic adventure story, this book will introduce young readers to such dilemmas as health disparities, subtle racism, and who owns biological information. Brave, fallible, compassionate and spirited, Nala is a strongly relatable character in a loving, imperfect family.

Review Quotes

"An unusually thought-provoking read highly recommended for young fiction readers who will receive more than action alone." --Diane Donovan, donovansliteraryservices.com

"Bravo! A wonderful story, full of interesting science and important social issues." --John Carlson, Higgins Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University

"How do you make science research, social justice, and history come alive for middle schoolers? You might not think of mosquitoes as the 'secret sauce' but Pendred Noyce did. With a spirited main character, Nala Simiyu, Pendred writes a compelling and personal story that makes scientific research come alive so that you can't put the book down. She also weaves in social justice and social dynamics that kids in middle school navigate through. I enjoyed reading the story and would have loved to read aloud with my son when he was little. I encourage you to share a copy with a girl or boy in your life, with a library at your local public school, or a Free Library in your neighborhood." --Linda Kekelis, CEO and Executive Director, Techbridge

About the Author

Pendred Noyce is a doctor and author of 11 books for young people. She has worked to improve science education and afterschool science opportunities for young people nationwide, and she has three half-Kenyan nephews.