Kirkus Reviews says: "Preston guides us deftly on another scary excursion (Hot Zone, 1994) into the world of really bad viruses—this time smallpox, with a side helping of anthrax. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide from microscopic infectious agents? Welcome to Mr. Preston’s frightening neighborhood."

One of the Spooky (but Not Too Scary) books, although if "terrifying" is in the subtitle, perhaps this one goes beyond merely "spooky"? In this nonfiction thriller, Preston details the emergence of the ebola virus in a pageturning, day-by-day, truth-is-scarier-than-fiction account, starting with the initial discovery of the virus in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, and tracing its origin back to the central African rain forest.

I first read this book years ago and continue to recommend it ALL THE TIME. Follow a group of young botanists and naturalists as they explore a beautiful forest of redwood trees in this account of their discoveries, passions, and adventures. I'll never climb or sleep under a redwood tree, but it was certainly enjoyable to live vicariously through these explorers as they walk through the redwood canopies and "fire caves." Told in a narrative style, this one is great for readers who love nonfiction that reads like a novel.