| IT'S GETTING HOT IN HERE The Past, Present, and Future of Climate Change Bridget Heos New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, February 2016 |
Rating: 5.0 High |
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| ISBN-13 978-0-544-30347-8 | ||||
| ISBN-10 0-544-30347-4 | 231pp. | HC/FCI | $17.99 | |
Bridget Heos is the author of 100 fiction & nonfiction children's books. In this one (for ages 12 and up) she presents a simplified overview of the current state of climate change, and of the American public's understanding of it. While it is simplified, it is comprehensive and generally accurate. It also considers ways to mitigate the problem, and after each chapter there is a page or two headed "BE THE CHANGE" which suggests a useful action individuals can take. Examples include composting vegetable wastes, switching to LED bulbs, and recycling everything that can be recycled. She also describes the scientific basis of global warming and the historical discoveries that comprise it.
These are the categories of green energy that she considers:
I'm gratified that she doesn't slight nuclear power, as many advocates of carbon-free energy do, and that she recognizes that it will take a balanced mix of energy sources to get our carbon emissions down in a timely way.
The book is very thoroughly researched. It is profusely illustrated with color photographs and a few plots. Most of these are well-done and effective at conveying their message. There is a Glossary and a good Index. A section titled "SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY" lists 14 books, 12 primary sources, and 101 articles. A good many of the articles are online. In addition, a section titled "FOR FURTHER READING" lists two books and five Web sites. All photographs are credited by author, with page numbers where they appear given.
The book is also very well produced, with glossy pages of heavy paper, an excellent binding, and a colorful jacket. It is a very worthwhile introduction for those just learning about climate change, and qualifies as a reference thanks to its Index and Table of Contents. I give it full marks and rate it a keeper. (However, those familiar with the subject may want to pass it along after reading it.) There are some errors and a few cases of clumsy wording. These do not detract from its value.
The author lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband and four children. Her Web page notes that she is the author of 120 books for children, with four new ones this year. The great majority of her books are nonfiction. She has been writing for thirteen years, and will do projects such as workbooks for hire. On 11 February 2019, she was the subject of a PBS Spotlight interview. She was asked what inspires her, and I find her answer inspiring.
Right now, I'm feeling most inspired in schools. They are places with one goal: to build up kids. All the ingenious ways they do that—from the gold standards they instill to the quiet down songs they sing to the special words for rough drafts to the coats they provide—it never ceases to amaze me. – Bridget Heos, quoted on PBS |
She evidently does virtual visits to schools fairly frequently.
This book will first take a look at climate and the history of climate change. Then it will show the evidence that global warming is already happening and describe how we as humans are causing it, Next, it will address the role that human psychology and politics play in global warming. Finally, it will present the path toward lowering greenhouse gas emissions and rescuing the world from dangerous warming. I hope that this book will be a call to action. Being informed and making small changes today can lead to bigger changes as you enter the workforce, step into leadership roles, and build a life. Global warming is already happening, but that doesn't mean it's too late to act. It's always the right time to do the right thing. – Page 7 |
I judge that her book will make a genuine contribution toward achieving that goal.
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