Skip to main content

Review: Force of Nature

Image
By
Written by Ann E. Burg
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 278 pages.

This lovely novel in verse follows the life of Rachel Carson during her childhood, her youth, as a student in college, and as she grows into her dream career as a scientist. Rachel loves writing, being in nature, and is an incredibly curious child! As she explores her world, Rachel’s mother is a great guide who is happy that her daughter loves many of the same things that she does. The flip side is that her mother places a lot of her hopes and dreams on Rachel’s success and this is sometimes a heavy burden for her to carry. 

Rachel struggles to find her place in a world where only men are viewed as scientists. Women who want to be involved in science are only considered for teaching positions. This is frustrating to Rachel, and she refuses to accept the status quo. Throughout this informative novel, Rachel continues to foster her love of writing, reading, nature, and science, while persistently trying to solve the problem of how she can be accepted in the world of science.  

A unique finishing touch to this novel are the illustrations by Sophie Blackall. Known for her award-winning work in more than 50 children’s books, the illustrations in this book were inspired by Rachel Carson’s science journals.

I loved this book and would recommend it for anyone interested in science and nature, as well as those who want to feel inspired by a young woman who is relentless in her pursuit to accomplish her goals. 

Labels:

Comments

Ann E, Burg said…
Thank you for this lovely review. Writing about Rachel reminded me how beautiful the world is and how important it is for us to take care of her! Again thank you your kind words! Have a wonderful summer!💕
July 8, 2024 at 9:12 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

By
If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.
Post a Comment
Read more

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

By loo
Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: The New Girl

By
The New Girl By Cassandra Calin New York: Graphix, 2024. Comic. 261 pages. 12-year-old Lia and her family have just moved from Romania to Montreal, and she's doing her best to keep up with the changes. But, she's homesick. She misses the rest of her family, her friends, and her favorite Romanian treats. She doesn't speak French and her English is shaky, which makes it hard to make friends, even in her international immersion class. And she's dealing with super painful menstrual cramps every month. But before long, Lia starts to hit her stride. She befriends the other bilingual girls in her class, she gets a spot as the artist for her school's magazine, and even has a new crush -- Julien. Though she may be the new girl, Lia is starting to fit in. This slice of life graphic novel is an adorable choice for middle grade readers and young teens. Lia is a likable protagonist and readers will have little difficulty relating to her adjustment to school. The text speaks to a...
Post a Comment
Read more