A YOUNG PERSON'S FIELD GUIDE TO FINDING LOST SHIPWRECKS

Marine geologist Zaleski introduces young readers to the world of maritime archaeology in her debut memoir.

“Maritime archeology is a specialized branch of archeology,” the author states early on, “which studies the physical remains of human interaction with a water body.” Put simply, the crew of the research vessel Hercules, in this book, hunts for sunken treasure. Zaleski chronicles her experience searching the coast of Cadiz, Spain, for the Santisima Trinidad, a Spanish flagship that was lost after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Zaleski, acting as survey manager to a crew of archaeologists, sailors, divers, engineers, and interns, was responsible for gathering and interpreting survey data using multibeam sonar, a technology that’s rarely used for this purpose—and thus, a kind of exploration in its own right. Throughout, the author includes detailed accounts of the tech she used, the jobs of various crew members, the difficulties of mapping the ocean floor and working around volatile weather, as well as pleasant, humanizing stories of time spent onshore in Spain and the camaraderie of her crew. Zaleski approaches her subject with a deep love of science and a genuine desire to share her work with children, and the prose is approachable and easy to read throughout. On the whole, though, the book may be a bit dry and short for some readers, and more details about the decks of the Hercules and its contents, the crew’s other missions, and the ways in which submerged targets are transformed by the ocean would have been welcome. That said, curious children interested in scientific exploration will find the author’s encouraging voice and zeal for discovery to be relatable.

An informative introduction to a career that combines treasure hunting, scientific experimentation, and ocean exploration.