February 15, 2012
Grades 7-10 Part of the Environment: Ours to Save series, this title gives an overview of environmentalism, covers the histories of the environmental movement and environmental law, and concludes with two sections on endangered species. The chapters are wide-ranging and carry an international perspective, although the emphasis is on the United States. In one chapter the two approaches to environmentalism (anthropocentric and biocentric) and the activities of each are delineated. John Muir and Rachel Carson are highlighted in lengthy sidebars. The two chapters on environmental law give an overview including specific issues such as how NAFTA circumvents U.S. environmental laws. The final chapters give information on laws and endangered species, including drawings of some of the animals. Page borders featuring what look like wind turbines (although wind power is barely mentioned), ample stock photographs and drawingssome of which relate to the text better than othersand a few routine background designs provide a serviceable format that will probably neither attract nor repel prospective readers. A glossary, list of sources, and a bibliography are appended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)