by Karen Liptak ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 15, 1992
Humankind has kept records for only a few thousand of its two million years; scientists (archaeologists, paleontologists, anthropologists) and historians are still finding new ways to read our history and that of the eons that preceded us. The remains include rocks, fossils, and artifacts; there's a variety of dating methods and tools—rock layering, potassium/argon migration, radioactive carbon decay, tree rings—each with its own strengths and limitations. Those in current use, plus some that are still experimental, are described here with examples of their uses. The result is a wide-ranging overview of methods and tools. Objects, time frames, and some of the people involved are also depicted in drawings and photos. Liptak's prose is a little leaden, but serviceable, though her explanations can be skimpy: ``trillion'' is explained, but ``half-life'' is deferred to the glossary, and although potassium/argon dating is described as the major dating clock for dinosaurs, neither word appears in the index. Uneven, then, but since there's little on the subject, it'll make a useful addition to science collections. Glossary; further reading; index. (Nonfiction. 12+)
Pub Date: March 15, 1992
ISBN: 1-56294-134-8
Page Count: 72
Publisher: Millbrook
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1992
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More by Karen Liptak
BOOK REVIEW
by Karen Liptak
BOOK REVIEW
by Karen Liptak
by Hannah Testa ; illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 13, 2020
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change.
Testa’s connection to and respect for nature compelled her to begin championing animal causes at the age of 10, and this desire to have an impact later propelled her to dedicate her life to fighting plastic pollution. Starting with the history of plastic and how it’s produced, Testa acknowledges the benefits of plastics for humanity but also the many ways it harms our planet. Instead of relying on recycling—which is both insufficient and ineffective—she urges readers to follow two additional R’s: “refuse” and “raise awareness.” Readers are encouraged to do their part, starting with small things like refusing to use plastic straws and water bottles and eventually working up to using their voices to influence business and policy change. In the process, she highlights other youth advocates working toward the same cause. Short chapters include personal examples, such as observations of plastic pollution in Mauritius, her maternal grandparents’ birthplace. Testa makes her case not only against plastic pollution, but also for the work she’s done, resulting in something of a college-admissions–essay tone. Nevertheless, the first-person accounts paired with science will have an impact on readers. Unfortunately, no sources are cited and the lack of backmatter is a missed opportunity.
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change. (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-22333-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
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More In The Series
by Shavone Charles ; illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky
by Leo Baker ; illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky
by Jennifer Power Scott ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 15, 2010
From the Arctic Ocean to Africa to Oregon, people are finding exciting careers that help save the planet, and this lively and graphically upbeat volume presents some of the stories behind this green revolution. Creating a $35-million empire out of worm poop and garbage, building a micro-hydro plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo and designing Earth-friendly bikinis are just some of the green-warrior stories in this wide-ranging collection. The attractive design reinforces the environmental theme, with black text and green sidebars and illustrations, and an eight-page, full-color photo section presents photographs of the “eco-pioneers.” The zealous tone is clearly celebratory and laudatory—“[T]his green angel is definitely earning her wings”; “Well, weren’t they amazing? I knew you would be impressed”—but the enthusiasm is infectious. A volume that just may inspire young readers to pursue career paths both exciting and green. (endnotes, resources, index) (Nonfiction. 12 & up)
Pub Date: April 15, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-897550-18-2
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Lobster Press
Review Posted Online: June 20, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2010
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