Maintains a brisk pace and clearly depicts riveting maritime action.
The daring and dangerous rescue of a ship caught in the maelstrom of Hurricane Sandy.
In late October 2012, Connecticut was bracing for the arrival of Sandy, which was moving north from the Bahamas. Capt. Robin Walbridge, 63, who had been through hurricanes before, decided to outmaneuver the coming storm by taking his ship, the HMS Bounty, out of the path of the storm. Modeled after the legendary 18th-century merchant vessel, this modern three-masted ship was built in 1960 for use in the maritime drama Mutiny on the Bounty and also featured in two Pirates of the Caribbean movies. After reinforcing several parts of the ship, Walbridge and his 15 crew members left New London for St. Petersburg, Florida. The authors document the crew members’ various apprehensions and misgivings, but among them there was broad respect for the captain. The backstories of these men and women are peppered through the narrative in tidbits that don’t slow the propulsive story. Each titled chapter reads like an episode in a serialized adventure tale, often beginning with the ship’s location and ending with a cliffhanger. The courage of the crew, the high-stakes battles with the elements, and the ensuing tragedy are hallmarks of the tale. Analysis of what happened, which would have slackened the story’s accelerating velocity, is saved for culminating notes by both Tougias and Campbell.
Maintains a brisk pace and clearly depicts riveting maritime action. (glossary) (Nonfiction. 9-13)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-83139-2
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: June 7, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Most children know what an astronaut is, but an aquanaut? Not so common. Focusing on a one-week expedition in the underwater science station Aquarius, Mallory and marine photographer Skerry literally immerse themselves in this adventure. The science station is an 80-ton cylindrical steel chamber that's like “a mobile home someone has driven into the ocean.” The team's project is to electronically tag fish and observe their daily habits. The narrative chronicles the safety training needed before the expedition, the implantation of tags or pingers inside the fish and the day-to-day experience of living 60 feet below the ocean’s surface. What do aquanauts eat? Can you make telephone calls and send e-mails? And most importantly—is it possible for a toilet to explode from too much pressure? (Answer: yes.) Full-page interludes on topics such as sea-habitat history and the importance of decompression are disruptive at times but ultimately add to the understanding of this undersea adventure. A rather dry design aside, this book intrigues. (introduction, further reading, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59078-607-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: Jan. 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Extreme storms never cease to appeal. This visually tempting title defines and explains the storms people call twisters, gives examples of four particularly devastating ones in this country, describes tornado watchers at work, offers a hands-on activity and suggests precautions for tornado safety. Aimed at middle-grade readers, it includes step-by-step explanatory text, striking images and helpful graphics. The author introduces Ted Fujita and his tornado-measuring scale. She makes clear that tornado formation is still a scientific mystery. Much of the explanatory text is printed on a backdrop of remarkable photographs of storms and storm damage. Sidebars introduce extra information, vocabulary and short firsthand accounts of storm experiences with snapshots. Along with the clear explanations and visual interest, this volume and its companion, Carson’s Inside Hurricanes (ISBN: 978-1-4027-5880-5), are thoughtfully designed. The many fold-out and fold-up pages work. A symbolic arrow directs the reader; pages are numbered clearly and consecutively. Even the backmatter—bibliography, source notes, further resources and glossary—is on a fold-up page. Maps show storm locations in this country and around the world. Impressive. (index) (Nonfiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4027-5879-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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