Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea

Working in a time when womenwere still unwelcome in her field, Marie Tharp maps the ocean floor andprovides convincing evidence for the previously rejected hypothesis ofcontinental drift. Burleigh's choice to write in Tharp's voice makes thedetermined geologist's story feel immediate, focusing tightly on her map thatrevealed the spreading Atlantic sea floor. He notes obstacles she overcame: aperipatetic childhood; gender discrimination; the superstition, still prevalentin 1948, that women were unlucky on ships; and disagreements about the drifttheory even with her friend and colleague Bruce Heezen. There's a shortdescription of Tharp's mapmaking process and a triumphant conclusion when thefinal, color version is published. But it's Col�n's watercolor-and-pencilillustrations that bring her story alive. Readers see the map-loving child, ships taking the soundings that provided her data, the cartographer with pencilin hand, both graphing and drawing, and, in a wordless double-page spread, theexciting revelation of the rift in the middle of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Thedistinctive combed swirls of Col�n's art masterfully suggest light on aseascape, and people are realistically depicted. Backmatter includes more ofTharp's story, useful vocabulary, bibliography and Internet links, and even"things to wonder about and do." An ideal introduction to a lesser-knownscientist and an important understanding about how the Earth works.(Informational picture book. 5-9)--Kirkus Reviews *STARRED* "October 1, 2015 " Gr 2-4-In this excellent biography of scientist MarieTharp, Burleigh, writing in the first person, allows this adept geologist andoceanographic cartographer to tell her own story. Map lover Tharp became one ofthe 20th-century's most important scientists, despite working in a field thatgreatly favored men. With fellow geologist Bruce Heezen, she mapped the world'soceans. Col�n's signature softly hued, textured watercolors greatly enhance thetext. One image depicts a research ship in the water upon which scientists tookmeasurements called soundings to chart the ocean's depth. The writing isaccessible and immediate, and though Burleigh acknowledges that Tharp was awoman working in a man's field, he casts her story in a happy, upbeat light. Abiographical page is appended, as well as thorough back matter. VERDICTA finely told, beautifully illustrated biography that saves a world classscientist from obscurity.--School Library Journal *STARRED REVIEW* "December 2015 " Burleighand Col�n follow 2013's Look Up! with the story of another female scientist, Marie Tharp. Raised by a mapmaker, Tharp developed an early interest inexploring uncharted land; her passion eventually led her to the oceans.Burleigh gives readers an up-close view of Tharp's experiences and hunchesthrough a first-person perspective: "Could the seafloor really be mapped? Ithought so--and I wanted to give it a try!" Despite discrimination she faced asa woman, Tharp became an accomplished scientist, mapping the Atlantic usingsoundings and helping advance the theory of plate tectonics. Col�n's warmwatercolor-and-pencil art brings warmth and energy to the pages through histhatched and wavelike textures, while an afterword provides further detailabout Tharp's undertaking. Ages 4-8.--Publishers Weekly "December 14, 2015 " The duo behind Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer spotlights another groundbreaking woman scientist: Marie Tharp, the oceanographic

cartographer whose mapping of the Atlantic seafloor yielded key evidence

confirming the theory of continental drift. Tharp holds the narrative reins here,

and her voice, as imagined by Burleigh, generally rings true. As an adolescent, she

describes her passion for maps and imagines one speaking to her: "Have an adventure.

Explore. Discover something new"--a bold challenge for a young woman

in the 1930s. Burleigh also touches on the discrimination Tharp faced. Applying

for a position as a scientist, she is informed: "We don't need any more file clerks."

A sexist boss won't let her join ocean expeditions: "Having a woman on a ship is

bad luck." (No sources are provided for these quotes.) Burleigh's writing is clear,

conversational, and lyrical on occasion. He handles the science content well; it's

never too dry or overly technical. He also portrays scientists realistically, actively

engaged in and arguing about their work. Col�n's illustrations, a textured wash

of sea- and earth tones, are thoughtful and attractive and accurately reflect the

time period. A final, memorable spread shows a contemporary girl looking over

her shoulder at Tharp; it's a subtle nod to Tharp's importance as a role model, as

well as to the importance of other women scientists, past, present, and future.

Back matter includes further biographical details, a glossary of science vocabulary,

a bibliography, websites (one with a slight error), and related activities.--The Horn Book Magazine "January/February 2016 " Though her discoveries were pivotal to the theory of plate tectonics, geologist and cartographer Marie Tharp is still relatively unknown. In this picture-book biography, Burleigh presents Tharp's story in her own enthusiastic, imagined voice. "Maps. I love them!" she exclaims before describing her life and accomplishments. In a conversational tone, she discusses her curiosity, her struggles to be accepted in the boys'-club atmosphere of 1950s research labs, her dogged determination to work in science, her belief in her sea-floor-mapping project, and her satisfaction at seeing her beautiful map gracing the walls of schools and museums. Along the way, she explains depth soundings, cartographic concepts, and plate tectonics. Col�n's soft colored-pencil illustrations are a wonderful match for ocean scenes and frequent maps, and a few helpful diagrams further illustrate concepts... very worthwhile. Further reading and some provocative critical-thinking questions close out the volume. -- Sarah Hunter--Booklist "December 1, 2015 "