Sylvia Earle by Beth Baker

On August 30, 1935, Sylvia Alice Earle was born. Eventually, the child would become a respected marine biologist, concerned with environmental issues and persuading the government to invest in funding underwater research. She formed the values that caused her to fight for her causes during her youth.

Her upbringing stressed that one must protect and care for nature; her mother was an amateur veterinarian. She could often be found outdoors, collecting data on the areas around her house. She was particularly fascinated by the ocean from the age of three when she leapt up after being knocked down by the water she was playing in (6).

She kept this mindset throughout her whole life, never losing her passion for the ocean and the life within. Enamored with it all, she didn’t understand how people could do any sort of damage to it.

One of the experiences she cites as “most exciting” happened in 1977 when she was able to swim with humpback whales. After her first time in the water with them, she “never worried since in all [her] encounters with humpback whales” (58). During a particularly vicious storm, Sylvia still went in to swim with them, even though she was aware that there were sharks in the water: “Sylvia has more guts than almost anybody you can name” (63).

In the Just the Facts Biographies book Sylvia Earle, one can learn even more about this incredible woman’s life and the challenges she faced. It also provides various pieces of information on things mentioned in the text, such as improvements to diving equipment. Through this biography, one can imagine the passionate, driven nature of the woman who manages to accomplish so much. Most pages have one or two pictures, which help with visualizing the information being read. Certain pieces of anecdotal information are not particularly useful, but some may find them interesting.

The book does not simply consist of information on Sylvia Earle. Besides the notes that are information on other people, the book includes a Glossary, Sources and Further Reading.

The language used in the book is almost simplistic at times and certain situations seem to be a bit simplified. The book is probably appropriate for middle school and some elementary students with a higher reader level. Grades 4 to 8 would probably find this book the most helpful.

Jane Bandak

Mark Twain BY: Beth Baker

Samuel Langhorne Clemens also known as Mark Twain was born in Florida, Missouri on November 30, 1835. He was the son of Jane a native of Kentucky, and John Marshall Clemens, a Virginian by birth. He was the sixth of seven children but only three of his sibling’s survived childhood. When he was four, Twain's family moved to Hannibal, Missouri a port town on the Mississippi River. Missouri was a slave state and young Twain became familiar with the institution of slavery, a theme he would later explore in his writing. When Twain was 11, his father died of pneumonia. The year after his father’s death Twain became a printer’s apprentice. He began working as a typesetter and contributor of articles and humorous sketches for the Hannibal Journal, a newspaper owned by his brother Orion. Mark left Hannibal at the age of eighteen and worked as a printer in New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. Twain began his career writing light and humorous verses like Huckleberry Finn in where he combined humor and social criticism. Twain’s next major publication was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which drew on his youth in Hannibal. Throughout the book Mark spoke about the adventures he came across while traveling from place to place with his family. He also describes the individuals he met and helped him with the publication of his books. Mark Twain also came across a deep depression when his three daughters passed away each with a different illness. As the years moved on his wife was ill and passed away. Mark then had no family and became lonely after being used to seeing his wife and daughters. It took a certain amount of years for Mark to feel inspired and write books like he used to when he had a family. Mark Twain had a heart attack and passed away. I would recommend this book to a middle school library for students grade six through eight who are interested in knowing the story behind Mark Twain’s life. This book is very appealing and descriptive it informs the reader on Twain’s life and the obstacles he came across.

Karen Salazar

The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins (Book Review)

In a future dystopian world, where people struggle to survive, trapped in their own districts, there are the Hunger Games. One child of each gender from each of the twelve districts between the ages of twelve and eighteen is chosen to compete. Winning means fame, wealth, glory. Losing means death.
In District Twelve, Primrose Everdeen has been chosen for the games. Instead of allowing this, her older sister Katniss volunteers to fight in her place. The boy chosen is the baker’s son, Peeta, who saved her life many years ago.
District Twelve is a rundown, poor district and many don’t think that they have a chance to win. They usually don’t, but this year something is different. Out of a possible score of twelve, Katniss scores an eleven, putting her on the map for the competition.
Peeta and Katniss, coming from District Twelve, both have one trainer, a grouchy drunk named Haymitch. While at first, he is unhelpful, he quickly realizes that these two are fighters determined to survive and begins trying to prepare them.
Upon entering the Hunger Games—where your own survival means the death of others—Katniss will become entangled in a web of betrayal, romance and death.
Katniss may be playing to win, but can she handle the Hunger Games?
This book, even when nothing interesting seems to be happening, is captivating.
Personally, romance has never been something I’m particularly fond of, but the romance in this book was well-written and made me care more about the characters. The relationships in this book (romantic or otherwise) were believable and nicely executed.
While the main character is horribly dense (at least, in romantic matters), she is intelligent and determined, which is extremely appealing to me, especially after certain weak female characters have become so popular in recent years. Her slightly warped world view—whether it be due to personal tragedy or the world she has grown up in—does not allow her to consider certain aspects of people’s motivations at the same time as it permits her to see certain motives where others would see nothing. It makes everything more interesting, really.
While there is violence, it is not overly descriptive or gory—which was nice, as it could have gone that way. While the deaths are not understated, elegant things, the author focuses slightly more on the emotional impact than the nature of what took place. It flows very well with the rest of the book.
All in all, this book is a fast-paced, quick read that I would recommend to almost anyone.
Review End.