BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
From a young age, Ursula Marvin was an explorer at heart. She never planned to become a scientist, but everything changed when she examined rocks under a microscope in college. Fascinated by what she saw, she fell in love with geology. When a professor refused to allow her to major in geology because she was a woman, Ursula did not give up. Instead, she transferred to another school and continued pursuing her passion. Through determination, courage, and perseverance, she overcame barriers, became one of the first women to conduct groundbreaking geological research in Antarctica, and made important discoveries that advanced our understanding of meteorites and Earth's history. Her story is an inspiring example of following one's dreams despite obstacles.
I loved the illustrations, and the subject matter was interesting. Ursula Marvin's story as a pioneering woman geologist who broke barriers and made important discoveries was both inspiring and engaging. However, the writing felt a little clunky at times, and there was often too much text on each page for a picture book. I also found it difficult to place the story in its historical context, as I did not know when it was taking place until I read the back matter. Despite these issues, I appreciated learning about an important scientist whose contributions are not widely known. Ursula Marvin is white.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
