Polymer Chemistry is designed for science teachers working with grades 9–12. I can also picture it being used successfully as a textbook for advanced or gifted classes at the high school level, as a secondary text in introductory college science courses, and as a primary text for seminars on science, technology, and society. This is a book that gently promotes science literacy among its readers, a characteristic that should earn it a favorable reception with science teachers at all levels.

The book is divided into four sections. The introduction covers the development of polymer chemistry, reviewing the basic chemistry that underlies the field and describing many of the major advances that took place during the 20th century. The second section goes into greater detail about the synthesis and properties of polymers. This is where one learns that catsup is thixotropic, how mayonnaise differs from catsup, and why the properties of these common food items help us understand polymers. The inquiring reader will note that while the term “thixotropic” is found in the index, unfortunately it is absent from the glossary.

The third section presents the life cycle of polymers, including a relatively well-balanced discussion of the environmental impact of plastics. Environmental problems posed by the characteristics of plastics plus actual and potential solutions to these problems are considered. The fourth and final section offers eight lab experiments that introduce properties of solutions and gels, the solid state, and polymer synthesis (including the classic demonstration of the synthesis of nylon-6,6). There are also two pages that list sources of additional experiments. This section is relatively short—I wish that the author had included a few more entries.

Teegarden’s background includes extensive experience with polymers in educational and industrial settings, and his expertise is apparent throughout the book. Information I learned in organic chemistry and biochemistry courses is conveyed clearly in the text, without sacrificing detail. Most importantly, as one would expect from an NSTA publication, the material is presented accurately. With minor exceptions —one missing photo, and a couple of typos that confused mm with μm (I was particularly amused to picture a spider trying to spin a “20 mm diameter silk”)—I found no errors.

One of the features I like best about this book is the way Teegarden has used storytelling to ground the current state of knowledge in the field firmly within a historical–developmental framework. Stories include the standard examples—the development of Post-it notes and vulcanized rubber—but also describe lesser-known yet interesting advances like Bakelite and HDPE. Teachers will be pleased to find that these innovations are presented at just the right level so that their stories can be retold successfully to high school students to support the acquisition of chemical concepts. I predict confidently that Polymer Chemistry will find a home among the most useful books in every chemistry teacher’s reference shelf.