It's
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
at
at
and #IMWAYR day
at
March 4, 2025 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
By 1939, Atlas Wade and his father have scaled a number of mountains, since his father is a map maker who has inherited wealth. Since Atlas' mother died three years ago, Atlas accompanies his father on many of their expeditions. The newest one is a climb of Mt. Everest, something that is fraught with difficulties. They have Mr. Thromley leading, Chodak, who is a sherpa, and the difficult Mr. Blake in their group. They are in communication with Mrs. Thromley, who gives them updated weather reports, checks in with them, and as Europe descends into war, tells them what is going on. Atlas is not very careful, putting himself in danger when a yak falls into a river. When the group gets partway up, they meet Americans Jasper Pierson and his daughter Maddie. The Wades have met Pierson before, and he witnessed a serious misstep of Atlas'. He is studying the effects of high altitudes on climbers, so hopes to go with the climbers as far as Base six. Maddie is afraid of heights, but does a decent job. When the group reaches the Advanced Base Camp, the plan is to leave Maddie and Atlas with Chodak, who has injured his hand. There is an avalanche, and while it doesn't affect the Advanced camp, there is no longer any radio communication from the rest of the group. Atlas (who really would like to summit) is determined to climb up to Base Six to rescue the group, so the three take off up the mountain. This does not go smoothly, but at one point they do hear a Morse Code SOS from the other group. Will Atlas be able to find his father and save him, or will he continue to lack focus and perish on the mountain?
Strengths: Ms. Nielsen has painted a riveting picture of all of the reasons I will NOT be climbing mountains! Atlas is only fifteen, and makes a lot of mistakes that would be inconsequential on the ground, but are nearly fatal given the terrain and altitude. There's a decent amount of history not only surrounding attempts to summit the mountain, but also concerning the escalating war in Europe. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Mr. Pierson was studying the effects of altitude on the body, so when Atlas and Maddie neared Camp Six and Atlas had headaches and other symptoms, Maddie was able to tell him what was going on. For sensitive souls, this ends in a more positive manner than George Mallory's failed expedition did.
Weaknesses: I thought this would have a little more to do with World War II. There is some mention of the events that are occurring in Europe, and some hints that one of the climbers might be associated with the Nazis, but if you are looking for a microcosm of Axis behaviors set on Mt. Everest, you will be disappointed. (I was perhaps envisioning something like Tarshis' I Survived: The Hindenburg Disaster, 1937.)
What I really think: Olson's Into the Clouds or Purja's Beyond Possible: One Man, 14 Peaks, and the Mountaineering Achievement of a Lifetime would be the perfect nonfiction accompaniment to this mountain adventure, which is similar to Smith's Peak or Reedy's Racing Storm Mountain.
Weaknesses: I thought this would have a little more to do with World War II. There is some mention of the events that are occurring in Europe, and some hints that one of the climbers might be associated with the Nazis, but if you are looking for a microcosm of Axis behaviors set on Mt. Everest, you will be disappointed. (I was perhaps envisioning something like Tarshis' I Survived: The Hindenburg Disaster, 1937.)
What I really think: Olson's Into the Clouds or Purja's Beyond Possible: One Man, 14 Peaks, and the Mountaineering Achievement of a Lifetime would be the perfect nonfiction accompaniment to this mountain adventure, which is similar to Smith's Peak or Reedy's Racing Storm Mountain.
March 4, 2025 by Albatros Media
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Do you love hiking? Do you want to share the joy of that experience with young children? This is the book to pick up. Following a family of four as they hit the trails, this book gives a good overview of how to prepare for hikes and to stay safe while out in the wilderness. There's a note at the beginning that only one member of the family does the right thing; the other three serve as examples to avoid throughout the book.
Many topics are covered, but they all are shown with explanations of the proper ways to do things along with the pictures of the family members over packing, under dressing, etc. There are helpful pictures to show exactly what should be packed, for example. I love the reminder that it's good to make a list so you don't forget key elements of your pack. There is even a diagram showing the best way to stow things away, and helpful examples of the kinds of clothes to wear "like an onion".
In addition, there are sections on how to act in the wilderness so that nature is protected, water safety tips, guides on what to eat for optimal energy. There's brief information about how to treat injuries, along with what to include in a first aid kit. Guidelines for finding ones way are included, with insets on how to read a compass. There's even a good overview of how to set up a tent, including details such as where to stow hiking poles.
My only two quibbles are that food is shown hung in a tree in an open bag; I was taught that food should be secured in something so that animals couldn't smell it. There's also an admonition to keep hands and feet warm so that the readers "don't catch cold". This isn't expressed as "catch A cold", so it might just refer to maintaining body temperature rather than picking up the sniffles, but it's a phrase I don't think is used much.
This was a bit young for my school library, but I am thinking about buying a copy for myself if I ever have small children to influence! It would be fantastic to read on repeat before a child's first camping trip, and to reference while out on the trail.
Rachel Carson's Wonder-Filled World
March 11, 2025 by Calkins Creek
Copy provided by the publisher
Rachel Carson's legacy has many facets to it; not only was she a champion for nature and the environment, helping to get DDT banned, but she was a poetic writer who captured the wonder of the natural world in her works like Something About the Sky. Both of these STEAM pursuits started in her youth, and her upbringing encouraged a curiosity and enthusiasm for the environment. Using Carson's quotes throughout the book, we see how Carson interacted with the world around her, with frequent pauses to describe what she sees, hears, smells, feels, and tastes. This makes certain events, like the destruction of a local forest, seem very immediate.
This biography does a great job of describing Carson's work and life concurrently. It's devastating to read about her work on her seminal Silent Spring while she was dying of cancer, which eventually took her at the age of 57, especially since we have such a delightful window into her younger days. Hannigan, whose biography Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine: Josephine Cochrane's Bright Invention Makes a Splash and middle grade fiction The Detective's Assistant (which has an appearance by real life detective Kate Warne) both focus on women's history, does a great job of humanizing Carson and making her work seem personal for the reader.
Hickey's illustrations are rich in natural landscapes, and seeing Carson surrounded by trees, oceans, and fields reinforces the importance of these backdrops in her work. The facial expressions show the difficulties that she faced, and I loved the photographs at the end of the book, one of Carson a few months before her death, and one of her as a girl with her dog.
Hannigan includes extra information in an author's note, and the timeline is very helpful. There are also discussions about DDT and ecology, and well as a bibliography for further reading.
Carson is a historical figure close to my heart; my daughter chose her to portray in a third grade Wax Museum project. I'm always glad to recommend biographies about environmental activists, like Sawyer's Marjory Stoneman Douglas: Guardian of the Everglades, Daniele and Wu's The Girl Who Tested the Waters: Ellen Swallow, Environmental Scientist, D'Aquino's She Heard the Birds: The Story of Florence Merriam Bailey, and Lang and Christie's The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest.
Rachel Carson's legacy has many facets to it; not only was she a champion for nature and the environment, helping to get DDT banned, but she was a poetic writer who captured the wonder of the natural world in her works like Something About the Sky. Both of these STEAM pursuits started in her youth, and her upbringing encouraged a curiosity and enthusiasm for the environment. Using Carson's quotes throughout the book, we see how Carson interacted with the world around her, with frequent pauses to describe what she sees, hears, smells, feels, and tastes. This makes certain events, like the destruction of a local forest, seem very immediate.
This biography does a great job of describing Carson's work and life concurrently. It's devastating to read about her work on her seminal Silent Spring while she was dying of cancer, which eventually took her at the age of 57, especially since we have such a delightful window into her younger days. Hannigan, whose biography Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine: Josephine Cochrane's Bright Invention Makes a Splash and middle grade fiction The Detective's Assistant (which has an appearance by real life detective Kate Warne) both focus on women's history, does a great job of humanizing Carson and making her work seem personal for the reader.
Hickey's illustrations are rich in natural landscapes, and seeing Carson surrounded by trees, oceans, and fields reinforces the importance of these backdrops in her work. The facial expressions show the difficulties that she faced, and I loved the photographs at the end of the book, one of Carson a few months before her death, and one of her as a girl with her dog.
Hannigan includes extra information in an author's note, and the timeline is very helpful. There are also discussions about DDT and ecology, and well as a bibliography for further reading.
Carson is a historical figure close to my heart; my daughter chose her to portray in a third grade Wax Museum project. I'm always glad to recommend biographies about environmental activists, like Sawyer's Marjory Stoneman Douglas: Guardian of the Everglades, Daniele and Wu's The Girl Who Tested the Waters: Ellen Swallow, Environmental Scientist, D'Aquino's She Heard the Birds: The Story of Florence Merriam Bailey, and Lang and Christie's The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest.
No comments:
Post a Comment