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Overview
Rachel Carson had to deal with many obstacles in her life - including the belief that women shouldn't be scientists. Still, the quiet and shy Carson never gave up on her love of writing, her passion to uncover the truth, and her commitment to protect the natural world. Rarely does a single person change the course of history. But in Silent Spring, her book about the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment, Carson did exactly that - and laid the groundwork for the modern environmental movement.Synopsis
Rachel Carson had to deal with many obstacles in her life-including the belief that women shouldn't be scientists. Still, the quiet and shy Carson never gave up on her love of writing, her passion to uncover the truth, and her unwavering commitment to protect the natural world. Rarely does a single person change the course of history. But with her book Silent Spring about the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment, Carson did exactly that-and laid the groundwork for the modern environmental movement.
VOYA
In the crowded field of biographies for young people, this series does not break new ground. Nonetheless, although neither the choice of subjects nor the content is terribly original, these books are well executed and welcome choices for libraries that need coverage of the eight individuals currently in this series. In Rachel Carson, readers learn not only about her successful writing career but also about the sacrifices she made for her family and the injustices she sometimes suffered, both as a woman scientist and as someone who fought against chemical companies long before today's environmental movement. In Elie Wiesel, readers are exposed to more than his terrifying ordeal during the Holocaust. His biography also recounts the struggles he experienced as a Holocaust survivor and as someone who still works to end all violence against humanity. Other titles in this series detail the lives of Maya Angelou, Ray Bradbury, Katie Couric, Che Guevara, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Steve Jobs. With much content drawn from autobiographical accounts, these narratives seem immediate and compelling. A great deal of additional content, including time lines, glossaries, and Q-and-A sessions with experts in related fields, provides a sense of history, clarification on a handful of less familiar terms, and context on the subject's most significant contributions. Many photos, images, and sidebars, as well as the expected back matter contribute to well-done volumes that inform without being didactic and educate without preaching. Reviewer: Catherine Gilmore-Clough