Spark: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone

The Black Innovators

by Ainissa Ramirez, Setor Fiadzigbey (Illustrator)

In this first picture book in the Black Innovators series, meet the insatiably curious Jim West, who invented a vital piece of the device we all carry in our pockets—transforming how the world communicates today.

Young Jim West loves to pull apart whatever electronics he can get his hands on to see how they work. Those around him say there’s no path for a kid like him to become a scientist, but Jim is determined to forge his own way. His knack for all things electric (and luck in landing a summer job offering the freedom to experiment) lead him to invent an important part of the devices we rely on every day. In this picture book biography for science lovers, future inventors, and anyone aiming to inspire the next generation, author Ainissa Ramirez shares the story of the man who patented the foil-electret microphone, a unit integral to everything from cell phones to hearing aids. Just as Jim West’s advocacy for more diversity in the field paved the way for many scientists of color to follow, Spark inspires readers of all ages to follow their curiosity—and see what it ignites. Back matter provides an author’s note, a time line, a bibliography, and more information on the life and work of Jim West.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

43 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2025

About the author

Ainissa Ramirez, PhD, loves science. When she was little, Ainissa got the idea of becoming a scientist from her favorite public television show "3-2-1 Contact." This put her on a path to get degrees in materials science from Brown and Stanford universities, and later work as a research scientist at Bell Labs and as a professor at Yale.

Ainissa not only loves science, she loves to share science with others. She has written for Forbes, Time, Science, The Atlantic, American Scientist, and Scientific American. She’s explained science on CBS, CNN, NPR, and PBS. She also speaks on the topics of science and technology and gave a TED talk on the importance of STEM education. She is the author of several books, including the award-winning title “The Alchemy of Us” (MIT Press). Ainissa has a new picture book coming out in October 2025 that celebrates a hidden figure in science, "SPARK: Jim West's Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone" (Candlewick Press).

Reviews

[Candelaria Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to sharing it with a young friend who has a similar curiosity to Mr. West.
Capturing the curiosity that sparked Jim West’s becoming a scientist who invented and patented a microphone with a clear tone and the ability to be miniaturized that is in use in dozens of applications around the world, SPARK is an inspiring book to share with children.
Ainissa Ramirez shares Mr. West’s wonder and willingness, as a child, to take things apart to figure out how they work and try, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, to put them back together. She shows his mischievous shenanigans that literally shock him but don’t deter him. He has the internal determination that has him go to college to study science without financial support from his family.
The illustrations by Setor Fiadzigbey are perfectly aligned to the story and elevate this book. The supplemental material at the end of the book are very informative, well-researched and are sure to make any reader delve further into Mr. West’s life (and provides an ample list of articles and interviews with him) as well as the path to invention of his and previous microphones.
Ms. Ramirez was blessed to actually meet Mr. West when she worked at Bell Labs, where he'd had an internship while in college, that allowed him to invent his microphone. He was very encouraging to her and that encouragement gave her a respect and love for him that is shown through this story. A scientist champions another scientist!
I look forward to reading more biographies by her. (My one complaint is that there is no photo of her or the illustrator on the jacket of the book. This is an unfortunate omission. It would add representation for kids to see that a Black female scientist and illustrator brought this story to life.)

[Tracey Kiff-Judson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Jim West’s invention of the foil-electret microphone is a tale of perseverance and untamable curiosity. Jim’s constant tinkering as a child was a source of frustration to his family, but like so many kids, Jim felt compelled to understand why things worked the way they did. Jim’s curiosity led him to a deep understanding of the mechanics of electricity, sound, and materials, which enabled him to piece together concepts from different fields in inventive ways. In today’s world, where fitting in can feel like a priority, the story of Jim’s unstoppable curiosity inspires us all to be willing to stand out and ask why.

Ainissa Ramirez is a powerhouse of engineering knowledge with a unique ability to explain technical mechanisms with simplicity and clarity. Her writing offers an uncommon pairing of technical concepts with lyrical prose. For example, Ainissa’s description of the “skyline of vacuum tubes” that Jim found inside an old radio encourages readers to think about both the function and form of objects, as Jim did.

Illustrator Setor Fiadzigbey blends a modern comic style and a rustic sepia palette in his artwork with electrifying results. Setor’s art gives a feeling of time and place but also conveys the power of “shocking” events.

Spark will ignite curiosity in young minds and is perfect for home reading as well as elementary school libraries and classrooms.

[Marilyn Wolpin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In young Jim West’s life, everything inspired curiosity, and nothing was exempt from his attempts at reverse engineering. One question led to another and ultimately to his desire to study physics. Against society’s prejudices and even his parents’ wishes, he enrolled in college in Philadelphia. But it was his summer job that led to his eventual acceptance into the science community. Bell Labs became his playground where he was encouraged to take apart, study, tinker, research, and invent. The result, better headphones and the microphone that changed the way we all communicate. In this debut picture book from Ainissa Ramirez, a physical materials scientist and author of 2020’s The Alchemy of Us, we learn about this young African American’s refusal to be pushed aside and his drive to get answers. Setor Fiadzigbey’s realistic, warm palette adds excitement and explosiveness to each spread, befitting such a tale. MIT Press will be publishing more books on unknown African American inventors and scientists, and I know they will all be as spark-filled as this one.

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely fascinating kid's biographic book about a little know scientist. It also demonstrates the ingenuity and perseverance of a young black kid whose curiosity led him from "first spark" (literally) to becoming an icon of invention. His story parallels, to some degree, the space exploration mathematicians "Hidden Figures" venture into the working world of black scientists.

Jim West's story is well written and illustrated for the young reader and will hopefully instill a sense of inventiveness and discovery in another young person.

I encourage the inclusion of this book in school libraries everywhere. Also, parents should seek out a copy for their own child in order to encourage them to venture forward with their own inquisitiveness.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

[Erin Lavik · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I read this book and both adored it. The story is fascinating and not one I heard before. It unfolds like an exploration, and the illustrations are fantastic. The book transported us and we learned a great deal along the way. I highly recommend it.