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Why Space Will Freak You Out: The Scariest, Strangest Parts of the Universe
Not yet published
Expected 10 Feb 26In this photo-illustrated outer space book by two NASA scientists, readers will have a blast exploring the scary, creepy, horrific parts of the universe. From rotten-egg moons to zombie planets to spaghettification to real-life death stars, they'll find out just how bonkers space truly is. Open this book if you want to be freaked out just a tad . . . and make sure to read with the lights on!
Topics
The terrifying two-faced planet (Mercury)The stormiest world in the solar system (Jupiter)The anti-freeze and fertilizer moon (Titan)The saltwater tomb (Enceladus)The planet cloaked in darkness (Tres-2B)A world being eaten by its own star (Wasp-12B)An expanding, exploding brain in space (Eta Carinae)
Topics
The terrifying two-faced planet (Mercury)The stormiest world in the solar system (Jupiter)The anti-freeze and fertilizer moon (Titan)The saltwater tomb (Enceladus)The planet cloaked in darkness (Tres-2B)A world being eaten by its own star (Wasp-12B)An expanding, exploding brain in space (Eta Carinae)
- GenresChildrensSpaceNonfiction
112 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 10, 2026
5 people are currently reading
4475 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly K. Arcand
6 books52 followersKim was working in biology and public health when she was hired for a job with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory in 1998. Since she always wanted to be an astronaut when she was little, this opportunity got Kim close to the cosmos but without the hazards of a long distance commute. Today, Kim uses data to tell stories about science, whether in the form of a 3D model of an exploded star, a tweet about how fireflies glow, or a book about light. Kim's latest book "Magnitude: The Scale of the Universe," ( Magnitude: The Scale of the Universe) co-authored with Megan Watzke will be out November 7, 2017!
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 23, 2025
Reading this collected biography of space places will freak you out, if you visited to any, you would be killed instantly. This book updates encyclopedic space writing with NASA's latest discoveries, profiling weather, geography, and atmospheric conditions about exoplanets and cosmic bodies.
Like many space books from Earth, the first section profiles our Solar System. We learn about Venus's temperamental volcanic surface under acid-cloud skies, or and Titan's dozens of hydrocarbon lakes— one being enough to power US energy consumption for 300 years, made tricky by the-290℉ surface temperature. Things get weirder when we depart for the Milky Way and beyond.
The darkest discovery, TrES-2b, absorbs 99 percent of light from its parent star, a member of the "Hot Jupiter" family of gas giants closer to their sun than our own Jupiter. Or HD 189733b, where the atmosphere contains silicates and the wind blows at 5,400 mph, meaning, to put it more cuttingly, it rains glass sideways. Gamma Ray Bursts, created when stars collapse, are "BOATs," brightest of all time, and are given names if seen, like GRB 221009A, seen on 9 October 2022.
Two types of sidebars aid the reader. Brain Boosts with are fun fact like theoretical states of matter contained within dead stars or who won Nobel Prizes for first seeing this stuff, and "Learn Lifts," which add context, like why we on Earth should care about astrobiology. A healthy about of "what" is balanced with some "why" to meet the challenge of explaining the hypereality of these places, and the Star Wars references help too.
This book's feast of information is not helped by the layout. It's crowded; the walls of textual information shunt Ball's 1950s hysteria-style illustrations to blurry corners and the probably gorgeous NASA photos are stuffed in the corners. Between all these text features is a lack of white space, which here is a fittingly moody night-sky color. Such visual cramping won't kill you like black hole would, but the reading atmosphere is a little oppressive.
I would recommend this book to "500s kids," a Melvil Deweyite name for them— science browsers who enjoy troves of fun facts. Budding sci-fi authors may find some hard science inspiration here too.
Like many space books from Earth, the first section profiles our Solar System. We learn about Venus's temperamental volcanic surface under acid-cloud skies, or and Titan's dozens of hydrocarbon lakes— one being enough to power US energy consumption for 300 years, made tricky by the-290℉ surface temperature. Things get weirder when we depart for the Milky Way and beyond.
The darkest discovery, TrES-2b, absorbs 99 percent of light from its parent star, a member of the "Hot Jupiter" family of gas giants closer to their sun than our own Jupiter. Or HD 189733b, where the atmosphere contains silicates and the wind blows at 5,400 mph, meaning, to put it more cuttingly, it rains glass sideways. Gamma Ray Bursts, created when stars collapse, are "BOATs," brightest of all time, and are given names if seen, like GRB 221009A, seen on 9 October 2022.
Two types of sidebars aid the reader. Brain Boosts with are fun fact like theoretical states of matter contained within dead stars or who won Nobel Prizes for first seeing this stuff, and "Learn Lifts," which add context, like why we on Earth should care about astrobiology. A healthy about of "what" is balanced with some "why" to meet the challenge of explaining the hypereality of these places, and the Star Wars references help too.
This book's feast of information is not helped by the layout. It's crowded; the walls of textual information shunt Ball's 1950s hysteria-style illustrations to blurry corners and the probably gorgeous NASA photos are stuffed in the corners. Between all these text features is a lack of white space, which here is a fittingly moody night-sky color. Such visual cramping won't kill you like black hole would, but the reading atmosphere is a little oppressive.
I would recommend this book to "500s kids," a Melvil Deweyite name for them— science browsers who enjoy troves of fun facts. Budding sci-fi authors may find some hard science inspiration here too.
December 5, 2025
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
This was a pretty good book about space for young readers. I love the artsyle in this one and how colors were used. This book provided more information per page than I was expecting which is pretty good. The pages are filled with information on space to get young readers into the topic of space, which I certainly agree can be pretty freaky with how vast and dangerous space can be. I would highly recommend this book for young readers interested in space.
This was a pretty good book about space for young readers. I love the artsyle in this one and how colors were used. This book provided more information per page than I was expecting which is pretty good. The pages are filled with information on space to get young readers into the topic of space, which I certainly agree can be pretty freaky with how vast and dangerous space can be. I would highly recommend this book for young readers interested in space.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Why Space Will Freak You Out" is a fascinating book about the oddities of space. Although I read voraciously about space, and this is a children’s book (for 5-18 year olds), I still learned something.
For example, Enceladus is one-seventh the diameter of Earth’s moon and is 314 miles across. I hadn’t realized how tiny it is.
The book starts in our solar system and branches outside our Milky Way galaxy, even considering our date with destiny & the Andromeda Galaxy in a few billion years.
The only downside is that the book had a poor layout in the advanced ebook copy I read. I hope they clean it up on the final release. Sample the ebook before buying. I’m sure the hardback book is perfect.
For example, Enceladus is one-seventh the diameter of Earth’s moon and is 314 miles across. I hadn’t realized how tiny it is.
The book starts in our solar system and branches outside our Milky Way galaxy, even considering our date with destiny & the Andromeda Galaxy in a few billion years.
The only downside is that the book had a poor layout in the advanced ebook copy I read. I hope they clean it up on the final release. Sample the ebook before buying. I’m sure the hardback book is perfect.
November 10, 2025
"Why Space Will Freak You Out" is a non-fiction book about the universe and all the many ways in which it could spook you. This book is made for children, I'd recommend for early elementary grades but younger ages (3-4 year olds) would still enjoy this either with an adult or looking at the pictures independently. It's very informative and even as an adult I learned new things.
A must for a child you know who loves space and isn't afraid of a bit of spook.
Thank you, Sourcebooks Kids and Sourcebooks Explore, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
A must for a child you know who loves space and isn't afraid of a bit of spook.
Thank you, Sourcebooks Kids and Sourcebooks Explore, for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is interesting and definitely pretty creepy. I am fortunate enough to already be terrified of space, so I didn't need this book to help me get there. For young readers, though, this makes space seem like a place full of mystery and adventure and questions ready to be answered. I wish we had more illustrations, but the info is solid.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Storygraph
Such a sweet short book!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This book offers many space facts in a fun way. With it's illustrations, text and sidebars. It is great for the curious reader young and not so young alike.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews