INTO THE VOLCANO

At 32, O’Meara went back to college and fell in love with volcanoes and the instructor who introduced her to volcano watching; they have been researching volcanism ever since. This personal account combines their experiences with a fast-paced introduction to the science of volcanoes. O’Meara describes harrowing visits to volcanoes of different types: Kilauea in Hawaii, Arenal in Costa Rica, Pacaya in Guatemala, and Stromboli off the coast of Italy. Sidebars add scientific fact (the formation of volcanoes, the nature of pyroclastic flows) or interesting additional details (life in the rainforest on Kilauea, necessary gear for volcano watching). Readers accustomed to sharp reproduction may be disappointed by the quality of the illustrations: Photographs taken by the author and her husband, ranging from dramatic full-page scenes of sparkling molten hot lava to snapshots of the two on various occasions including their wedding. Like titles in Houghton Mifflin’s Science in the Field series, this volume will introduce young readers to a passionate scientist at work. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)