Magnetars: Beacons in the Darkness

The Most Magnetic Stars in the Universe

What happens when a star becomes the most powerful magnet in the universe?

Tiny—only city-sized. Heavy—a mountain in a teaspoon. And magnetic enough to boss around light itself. Meet the magnetar, a neutron star that cracks, flares, and sends lighthouse-style pulses through space.

This illustrated narrative nonfiction (ages 8–12) turns cutting-edge astrophysics into an unforgettable story:

• Follow a magnetar’s life—from supernova birth, to stormy youth, to growing quiet.
• Learn how starquakes, trapped fireballs, and twisted magnetic “rails” make X-ray and gamma-ray flares.
• Discover why some magnetars “whisper” in radio like pulsars—and sometimes “shout” as fast radio bursts.
• See how scientists listen from Earth: timing pulses, reading X-ray colors, and even measuring light’s wiggle (polarization).

Why kids (and teachers) love it

• True science, told like a detective story—no lists, no jargon walls.
• Rich prose + clean black-and-white diagrams you can sketch in class.
• Built-in glossary and references for curious minds.

For readers who enjoy: astronomy for kids, space mysteries, STEM adventures, and books about black holes, pulsars, and supernovas.

Great for: independent readers 8–12, read-alouds, classroom libraries, science clubs, and homeschool units.