Taking a Stand Against Environmental Pollution

School Library Journal

Gr 9-12 --Typically, books about pollution, such as Stwertka's Industrial Pollution: Poisoning Our Atmosphere (Watts, 1989), discuss the sources and effects of pollutants and conclude with a chapter recommending action. Newton's aim is to convince young people to become activists. A simplistic historical overview of attitudes towards the environment and the contributions of well-known individuals and organizations provides the background. Several cases of ordinary citizens, including teenagers, being instrumental in effecting change are discussed. Nearly one third of the book is devoted to ways to become involved in an existing organization (an annotated list is provided) or to create one's own. The rewards and successes as well as the drudgery, frustrations, and disappointments are superficially outlined. The black-and-white photographs are adequate, although one caption identifies Theodore Roosevelt as John Muir. As Newton has relied almost exclusively on secondary sources, some of the information is quite dated. Berger's Restoring the Earth (Doubleday, 1987) is comprised entirely of case studies and is not specifically directed to teens. Newton's encouraging tone has the potential to motivate young people, and if it does, this book's shortcomings can easily be overlooked. --Meryl Silverstein, formerly at Meyer Levin Junior High School, Brooklyn