(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Jia Liu. Insect populations around the world are declining as a result of human actions such as deforestation, large-scale agricultural practices, and the production of greenhouse gases. Kurlansky presents three in-depth examinations of familiar insects: bees, beetles, and butterflies. Chapters in each section cover anatomy, reproduction, growth, and behavior, discussing topics such as the communication dances of bees and monarch butterflies' migration patterns. A "note on the scientific method" is appended. Reading list. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(4) YA Based on the adult book, this volume introduces the frozen-food inventor, who, as a young man, moved around the U.S. and Canada. Much like its itinerant subject, the narrative rambles, discussing family; fox farming; history of ice, salt, refrigeration, and freezing; challenges of developing, transporting, and storing frozen foods; among other topics. A black-and-white photo insert is included. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) YA As kids, Joel Bloom and his friends, children of WWII veteran heroes, played at saving the world from imaginary foes in their backyards. Now with the Vietnam War looming, Joel, eighteen, must decide what role he's willing to play in this real battle. Joel's journey is thoughtfully presented and may resonate with today's teens coming of age during times of conflict.

Reviewer: Juliet S. King

(3) YA Illustrated by Frank Stockton. The decline of fish populations, due to overfishing, pollution, and global warming, is a major environmental concern. Kurlansky digs deeply and engagingly into the history and science of the issue and provides important recommendations for sustainable fishing (the scientific terminology is very occasionally imprecise). Each chapter ends with a comic that imagines the impact of fish extinctions over a human's lifetime. Websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by S. D. Schindler. Despite a dry opening, this historical record of salt moves quickly, but not so quickly that readers can't pause and study Schindler's humorous illustrations, which lighten the weightiness of Kurlansky's premise (first developed in his book for adults, Salt). Numerous sidebars sprinkle the narrative with salt-related digressions. An illustrated timeline provides facts that support what would otherwise appear as facile conclusions within the text.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2006

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by S. D. Schindler. In a straightforward economic history, Kurlansky informs us that cod "played a central role in the history of North America and Europe." Cod provided both healthy food and a profitable commodity for explorers and settlers. By the mid-twentieth century, they became the backbone of the frozen fish industry. Schindler's humorous watercolors lend a light tone to the text. Sidebars present various methods of preparation. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2001