Review by Booklist Review
Here comes another offering from the middle-grade series History Smashers, multifaceted nonfiction works designed to let kids in on the real stories behind historical events and social issues. The hook this time is that while Earth Day may seem like an annual celebration that popped into existence in 1970, humans have taken steps to conserve natural resources and protect the environment for thousands of years. Indigenous cultures in both North and South America instituted sustainable farming systems long before the Industrial Revolution, and many nineteenth-century scientists and activists worked to improve sanitation, water, and air quality and campaigned to conserve wild spaces. It amusingly notes that the iconic nature-recluse Thoreau is actually a mediocre example of conservation advocacy, as Walden Pond was only about a 20-minute walk from his mom's Concord abode (and she allegedly did his laundry). Multiple biographical profiles accompany accessible coverage spanning evolving political issues, legislation, environmental disasters, radical activism, climate change, and solutions, supported by generous back matter. This attractive treatment provides solid information, debunks a few climate-catastrophist claims, and should help assuage eco-anxiety.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--7--This "History Smashers" installment explores the history of environmentalism in the United States from the beginnings of this country and leaders that worked to keep water clean, the true origin of the first Earth Day, to current efforts to combat climate change. While this book is informative and fast-paced overall, the very beginning reads more like a textbook refresher of elementary social studies that some younger readers might skim over, despite needing the background knowledge. Throughout each chapter are vignettes that feature detailed profiles of people, places, and animals discussed, along with lots of photos and illustrations/comics to bring the text to life. The "Changemakers' Yearbook" is another section that features environmentalists and their impact. Messner does not shy away from making it clear when injustices and racism were a part of efforts to help the environment, or how some efforts hindered poor and BIPOC groups from access to clean water and air. The back matter includes a time line of environmental history, author's note, several recommended book lists broken up by environmental topics, a selected bibliography, and an index. VERDICT A strong purchase for middle and high school collections needing more books on environmentalism and climate change.--Molly Dettmann
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The latest in the History Smashers series untangles myths around the history of humans and the environment and the origins of Earth Day. Messner uses the first Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, 1970, as a kicking-off point before explaining that this momentous day, "when millions of people came together to teach and learn about how humans have changed the planet," was far from the beginnings of people's environmental awareness. She covers the extensive history of humans' relationship with the environment, from sustainable farming techniques used by the ancient Maya to the European colonizers' fur trade in North America, the Industrial Revolution, U.S. environmental legislation, and climate change. Text boxes are interspersed throughout, containing pertinent background material presented against a graphic resembling a paper scroll, such as "What Is Coal?" and "What Happens When You Flush the Toilet?" These interludes break up the chronologically presented information and connect the subjects to present-day concerns. Five sections of several pages each labeled "Changemakers' Yearbook" appear between some chapters, introducing readers to a diverse, global range of notable environmental figures from the 1800s to the 21st century, including both famous and lesser-known people. Reproductions of historical images, black-and-white illustrations, and comics panels enhance this entertaining, informative, and well-paced work. Final art not seen. As comprehensive as it is engaging. (timeline, author's note with resources, selected bibliography, image credits, index)(Nonfiction. 8-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
