Remember This: The Fascinating World of Memory

by Monique Polak, Valéry Goulet (Illustrator)

Uncover the science of memory and how important it is to our daily lives. We all make memories, and memories make us who we are. Remember This explores the science of memory, how and why we remember what we do and what happens when we start forgetting. From working memory to flashbulb memory, young readers are introduced to the field of neuroscience. It also looks at the role memory plays in our daily lives and collective history, and how major global events get imprinted in our minds. You will also find out how memory can work for you. Have you ever met Roy G. Biv? (He helps you remember the colors of the spectrum.) How come you can't forget the word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ? (Because it's set to music.) Why don't elephants ever forget? (They've got a great sense of smell.) Discover more tips and tricks to train your brain to remember. Young or old, let's start making memories.

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Science

96 pages, Hardcover

Published March 12, 2024

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thirteen chapters packed with intriguing information and diverting examples attempt to explain how memories work, what happens in the brain, why some things are remembered and others forgotten, and what tricks aid memory. Photographs and colorful, graphic illustrations that represent a wide diversity of age and race break up the text. An informal conversational tone strives to engage interest. But disconcerting choices undermine the effort, raising questions without advancing understanding. Examples seem selected for shock value - a car crash, multiple accounts of violent death, a horse with a prosthetic leg. The text and illustrations fail to integrate and support these sensational elements, leaving readers distracted and unsettled. Visuals, central to the text, are not pictured, leaving readers struggling to imagine what Chilenian arpillera look like or how the two-dollar bill of a 911 victim formed a heart shape. Some definitions don’t clarify – knowing ‘neural circuits are groups of neurons connected by synapses that carry out specific functions’ doesn’t explain much. A chapter on false memory fails to acknowledge a debt to Piaget when describing an experiment based on his most famous example of false memory, and then concludes with the wildly inaccurate statement that false memories only happen in a lab or in the movies. Even in the strongest chapter - tricks to boost memory – major flaws distract. Conclusions are advanced without addressing why or how - why does physical writing aid memory, why do subjects falsely remember disturbing images but not pleasant or neutral ones? Is ‘chunking items on a bucket list’ the ideal mnemonic example for middle schoolers or is ‘surfing the Internet’ the typical skill an Alzheimer patient forgets how to do? The conclusion focuses on the creative and redemptive shaping of memory and asks readers to reflect on whether they are the hero of their story. Problems arising from casting oneself as a hero are unexamined. While exploring the creative aspect of memory seems benign, encouraging children to reshape memory to boost self-esteem crosses a troubling line. Backmatter includes a glossary, print and online resources and index. Thanks to Orca and Edelweiss for an advance copy in return for an unbiased review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm interested in lots of science-y subjects, but that doesn't mean I always want to read a thick, technical tome about them. This is where non-fiction books written for kids come in really handy. They usually offer a helpful overview of a subject using clear, easy-to-understand language. These books are generally shorter, more approachable and more engaging than books on the same subjects that are intended for adults. I'm all for reading children's non-fiction to gain some quick insight into subjects I find interesting. If I want to know more, I can always look for other books to further my knowledge.

Considering this, I always find myself drawn to books like REMEMBER THIS: THE FASCINATING WORLD OF MEMORY. I was eager to see what it would teach me. It's been a long time since I took a science class, so it was helpful to go over the parts of the brain, how memories are created, why they are helpful, how they can be harmful, etc. The book covers other interesting aspects of memory: false memories, mnemonic devices, eidetic memories, neurological research, and more. Polak's tone is upbeat and conversational, making the book both engaging as well as informative.

Polak, who's the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, spends a lot of page time talking about collective memory and how we, as humans, choose to remember history and traumatizing events. I found this part of the book especially interesting and thought-provoking.

I'm not sure kids will find all of the information presented relevant or intriguing. I do wish it included some fun memory experiments that young readers could try for themselves or some other elements to engage them more. Still, I think they will respond well to this book over all. Is it unique enough to stand out from other texts like it? Probably not, but it does provide a solid introduction to the subject of memory. It should pique the interest of children who are interested in neuroscience and propel them to want to know more.

If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not meant to be a comprehensive text, more about defining words and providing an understanding of the brain's function in memory. And like other books that I've read regarding the body, it always comes back to the fact that doctors and researchers learn the most from the disordered brain/memory about the brain/memory and this book is another example of that referencing dementia and Alzheimer's. And then it bounces to items related to the brain's olfactory connection to memory being the strongest of the senses to remember something because it actually bypasses the thalamus which relays information to the cerebral cortex. Sight, taste, touch, and sound all do which makes smell special.

As a book for a younger audience, it brings up all kind of facts, images (both real-life and illustrated) to explain how people remember long words or people, who are often labeled as savants, who have a memory to remember whole cityscapes from one chopper ride above it.

Here are some cool facts I learned:
"As we grow older, especially after middle age, our sense of smell fades."

"The Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, Croatia, is one of the world's strangest museums. Nicknamed Brokenships, this museum is dedicated to failed relationships. It was founded by Drazen Grubisic and Olinka Vistica, who, when they were breaking up, did not know what to do with some of their shared possessions, including a windup toy rabbit that Drazen or Olinka used to pose with in photos when they were traveling without each other. The museum has over 4,000 objects, most accompanied by stories. One is a jar of Love Incense, which has been labeled Doesn't work. The museum has a branch in Los Angeles, and its exhibits have traveled to other cities including Toronto, New York, London, Tokyo, and Shanghai."

"Top-selling souvenirs: Korea: tea; Poland: amber jewelry; Japan: origami paper; Egypt: papyrus scroll; Canada: maple syrup; Jamaica: Blue Mountain coffee; Tunisia: ceramic plate; Uganda: banana-fiber toy."

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty competently done survey of memory for schools. How it's formed and where it lives, what is easier to remember – the good or the bad; how actors might get their lines fixed so well and some of us just can't retain a single name; and so much more is all here. (I would say that pretty much all that we'd expect was here, which kind of implies nothing we wouldn't expect – wrong, as a needless mention of Chauvin vs Floyd is dragged in to little purpose. There's also a very woke look at statuary vandals and such iconoclasts later on – something to do with collective memory being changed, apparently.)

Decent use – as is very, very typical of this publisher – of illustrations and judicious photos, decent levels of new quotes from experts, more than decent coverage of the typical contents of such books – this has to go down as a success. It kind of ends with the hint that memories can be extremely important things for both life and the common good, from the musician with the ideal brain for their craft, to a better memory set leading to a better life, to memory being the foundation blocks for creativity across the board. That is about the only thing that really distinguishes this from copious other such memory science primers, but that doesn't make this a bad choice – far from it. A healthy four stars.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as a nomination in the nonfiction book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).