• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 7 to 12

A Bank Street Center for Children's Literature Best Book of 2024

Go back in time with Nobel Prize winner Michel Mayor to understand the secrets of the universe!

Go back in time with Nobel Prize-winner Michel Mayor to understand the secrets of the universe and meet the great names in physics, from Newton to Einstein and many more. This graphic novel guide to the universe explains the universe's most complex ideas in a way anyone can understand. It's a book full of adventure—as well as some of the most important concepts humankind has ever studied. On the program: gravitational waves, the theory of relativity, black holes...and more!

Jeremie Francfort's profile page

HERJI's profile page

Jeffrey K. Butt's profile page

Herji loves to explain complex concepts in simple illustrations. He works as an illustrator in the Swiss media and for organizations across Europe. He holds a degree in political and cultural geography and loves immersing himself in all kinds of topics. Big Bangs & Black Holes is his second graphic novel.

Jérémie Francfort received his PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, at the exact time he finished working on his graphic novel. Passionate about popularizing science, he provided the scientific basis for the book.

Jeffrey K. Butt is a translator residing in St. John’s, Canada. Jeffrey holds a Master of Arts degree in French from Memorial University of Newfoundland, as well as a Master of Philosophy in Literary Translation from Trinity College, Dublin. When not translating, Jeffrey enjoys spending time at his cottage, gardening, hiking, traveling, and practicing Taekwon-Do, in which he holds a 4th degree Black Belt.

“Herji adds wry humor to the slapstick interactions of Aster and Mayor with celestial bodies and theorems. The book wraps up by reiterating that unraveling the mystery of the universe is an ongoing science prone to reevaluations and adjustments. An excellent glossary is appended. VERDICT This is a great addition to high school graphic nonfiction collections. Hand this to students who love the “Science Comics” series.” – School Library Journal

“From Galileo dropping chickens from deadly heights to Einstein modeling the universe with marbles, complex topics are presented through a smart blend of often-humorous visual metaphors and speech bubbles. This slim volume will appeal equally well to both teen and adult science readers.” – Matthew Noe, Booklist

"A challenging overview conveyed with authority and contagious enthusiasm" – Kirkus Reviews

"A lively look at some of the grand and mysterious phenomena that keep the observable universe ticking." – Kirkus Reviews

"The full-color illustrations of human figures in animated poses, including glimpses of Einstein in skimpy bathing suit bottoms and cheery looking fundamental particles bonding or whizzing past each other, help lighten the substantial informational load." – Kirkus Reviews