Ocean speaks How Marie Tharp revealed the ocean's biggest secret

Keating's latest picture book introduces geologist Marie Tharp, who worked in a research laboratory while her male colleagues were on ships using high-frequency sounds to explore the ocean floor. She could not join them, because having a woman aboard ship was considered unlucky. Her job was to tabulate the data they recorded and use it to create a map of the Atlantic Ocean floor. When she did, she discovered a deep rift. Her male co-workers were sure that she was mistaken, and explorer Jacques Cousteau sent cameras into the depths to prove her wrong. But she was right. Working in the background, Tharp had made a significant discovery. The digitally assembled illustrations, created with watercolor, pencil, and mono-printing, are imaginative and attractive. While young children may find the occasional metaphor confusing ("instead of the dark, mysterious ocean depths, she swam through bottles of pitch-black ink"), the text clearly shows the prejudice and diminished opportunities that might have deterred Tharp, as well as the intelligence, hard work, and quiet determination that led to her success.

PreS-Gr 2--This is a sweet picture book biography with a strong feminist message. Marie Tharp worked as a geologist and oceanographic cartographer at a time when women were not particularly welcome in the field. When her male colleagues put her on desk duty, she analyzed the data they gave her and created the first map illustrating the mid-Atlantic Ridge, part of Earth's longest chain of mountains. Despite her colleague's disbelief, she stood behind her work. Jacques-Yves Cousteau even sent his cameras deep into the ocean to prove her wrong, but instead, he validated her map. Hickey's blue-soaked illustrations are whimsical and energetic, perfectly complementing the succinct text. Despite the short word count, this book is packed with information and effectively conveys the gravity and impact of Tharp's work and the obstacles she faced. Back matter adds factual weight to the narrative and provides valuable context for readers. The majority of people are depicted with light skin; the racial demographics of the field at the time are not addressed. VERDICT A wonderful introductory biography of a woman changing the world from behind the scenes. Recommended as a general purchase for public and school libraries.--Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR

A scientific journey through sexism and across the ocean floor. Marie Tharp (1920-2006) grew up fascinated with the natural world but as a girl was not allowed to study it. The accessible text focuses on general rather than specific historical detail but provides overall context; when war broke out and women were encouraged to learn about science, she welcomed the opportunity and eventually landed a job in a laboratory. As male scientists returned home, however, they were sent to do research while women such as Tharp were confined to desks. But Tharp was charged with creating a map of the ocean floor, a project that engaged her skills and imagination and led to her identification of a great rift, information that was initially dismissed as "girl-talk" and eventually revolutionized earth science. Engaging and inventive illustrations, including one fabulous foldout that depicts her expanding map, show her gradually becoming the skilled scientist and ocean cartographer she is recognized as today. Tharp presents white and race goes unmentioned, though there are darker-skinned people depicted in the background. The narrative doesn't mention what Keating places in her author's note: that when findings were first published, Tharp received little or no credit. Still this is a story that will doubtlessly inspire curiosity and consideration of the many forms of exploration and scientific inquiry while showing how one woman was able create new knowledge despite sexist constraints. An intriguing tale of feminism, scientific exploration, imagination, focus, and resilience. (Q & A, further reading) (Picture book/biography. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.