Module 12: Biography and Autobiography
Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown
Brown, D. (2004) Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein [Kindle version]. Retrieved from Amazon.com
Plot Summary
From his birth, Einstein was an oddball. He was "too fat" for his grandmother and failed to coo and babble like other babies. But when he does talk, he proves himself as clever and sharp. At the age of three, he gains a baby sister, Maja. Young Einstein is not a fan of his new companion. He hits her and strikes her in the head. Maja would go on to say that to be Einstein's sister you needed a "sound skull."
As a child, Einstein struggled with controlling his temper. He throws tantrums and even ends up scaring off a tutor with his rage. However, when he is not angry, he gives single-minded attention to the activities he finds enjoyable, such as building a house of cards. Einstein is full of wonder and often is curious of how things work, like the compass that his father gives him.When his family moves to Munich, the four-year old Einstein is left to wander the streets without supervision.
Once he begins school, he gets labeled as an odd boy. He doesn't like to play sports or the soldiers on parade. His classmates mock him for his Jewish heritage. In class, he focuses on subjects that he enjoys and abandons the rest. His teachers become frustrated with the amount of time it takes him to provide answers in class. However, Einstein earns good grades so they cannot say that he is dim. In his home life, he practices violin and excels without a tutor.
At age 12, he befriends Max Talmud, a medical student, who introduces him to geometry. Max recalls Einstein quickly devouring the material. Einstein becomes transfixed by math and focuses on it in school. Meanwhile, his disinterest in other subjects irritates his teachers. His teachers criticize his interests and insist that nothing will come of them.
When Einstein is 15, his family moves to Milan, Italy. However, the German law dictates that Einstein must serve in the military before he can leave. He is left behind to complete high school and the military. Einstein becomes depressed when he is separated from his family. Because of his failing health, he is given special permission to leave school and reunite with his family in Italy.
When he joins back up with his family, he is able to pursue private study of math and is able to explore his interests. Einstein attempts to enroll in Zurich Polytechnic, a college in Switzerland, but is unable to because he fails the entrance test in the subjects that he disregarded in class. For the next year, he earns his high school diploma and is able to enter Polytechnic.
Einstein graduates and tries to find a teaching job at a university. However, there are no opportunities available. In 1992, he begins work at the Swiss patent office in an Expert III Class position. He then goes on to marry and become a father. But all this time, he continues wondering and examining how things work. He is constantly thinking about things, such as light, time, energy and matter. Through his exploration, Einstein comes up with the photoelectric effect, theories of relativity, and E= mc^2. From his work, he ends up willing the Nobel Prize and a household name.
Impressions
What I enjoyed most about the book was how the illustrations provoked the emotional state of Einstein. For example, when he falls into depression after his family leaves for Italy, the colors are blue with a great deal of shading. It gives the reader a greater understanding of how Einstein is feeling. I also appreciate how the book only slightly touched on Einstein's theories, so the reader does not get bogged down on understanding the science behind his discoveries. Instead the reader is able to gain understanding of the man behind the theories. The book focuses on Einstein's progression from a moody outsider to the genius that we think of today.
One thing that I wish had been expanded upon was Einstein's marriage. We get very little about who he married or their life together and very little about his child. All we really get is that he marries, has a son, and pushes around his son's carriage through Zurich while thinking about theories. I think that more information would be helpful to understand the adult Einstein. However, the book seems to be focusing on his childhood so I understand why their focus was elsewhere.
Reviews
Publishers Weekly. (2004) Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein [Book Review]. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-618-49298-5
"Brown's narrative and appealing quirky pen-and-ink and watercolor art effectively illuminate the eccentricities and intelligence of Einstein the boy and the man."
Kirkus Reviews. (2004) Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein [Book Review]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/don-brown/odd-boy-out/
"Kids won't need to understand relativity to appreciate Einstein's passage from lonely oddball to breathtaking genius. An author's note and bibliography fill out this terrific package."
Library Suggestions
For a library, I would suggest this book for younger readers for a biography unit. It is a simple read and has additional information and a bibliography at the back of the book.
This could also be read aloud or assigned by a librarian or teacher when studying scientists or famous people, Einstein is a household name, but many people do not know how he grew up. This would be a chance to show a new side to Einstein.
Yaccarino, D. (2011) All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel. New York, NY: Random House.
