Force of Nature: A Novel of Rachel Carson

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

A beautiful and hopeful story of how a young impassioned naturalist grows up to change the world. For everyone who cares about our fragile planet.Rachel was a girl who lovedscience and the seabooks and writingand all the creatures of the world.Rachel was quiet,a listener by nature.But when she saw problems,she could not remain silent.Some people thoughtgirls shouldn’t be scientists or writers.They thought girlsshouldn’t use their voicesto question or challengeeven to protectall the creatures of the world.Luckily Rachel didn’t listento them.

About the Author

Ann Burg's debut novel, All the Broken Pieces, was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Jefferson Cup award winner and an IRA Notable Book for a Global Society, among its many honors. All of her subsequent novels in verse have garnered multiple awards and starred reviews. Serafina's Promise was named an ALA Notable, a Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner, and an NAACP Image Award finalist. Unbound was the winner of the New-York Historical Society Children's History Book Prize, the Christopher Award, and an Arnold Adoff Poetry Honor. Flooded was a Bank Street College Claudia Lewis Award winner, a Bank Street College Best Children's Book (with outstanding merit), and a Junior Library Guild selection. Burg worked as an English teacher for ten years before becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Rhinebeck, New York, with her family. Visit her online at annburg.com.

SOPHIE BLACKALL (www.sophieblackall.com) is the illustrator of several award- winning picture books, including Meet Wild Boars by Meg Rosoff, Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson, Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan, and the Ivy and Bean books by Annie Barrows. Her many honours include a BCCB Blue Ribbon, Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award, Society of Illustrators Founders Award, Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book, Book Sense 76 Pick, and New York Times Top Ten Picture Book. Her artwork has also appeared in murals as part of the New York City MTA’s “Arts for Transit” program. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.