Deadly Mine

October 1, 2017
Grades 3-6 The Eco-Disasters series examines environmentally based catastrophes that have severely impacted human life. Here readers visit Libby, Montana, where a long history of vermiculite mining has afflicted its residents with deadly lung disease. This lightweight mineral became a popular building insulator in the 1960s, but unbeknownst to anyone, Libby's vermiculite was contaminated with asbestos. Dust from the processing mill regularly blew over the town, exposing residents to asbestos for decades. Readers will connect with this tragedy through the compelling photos and personal stories threaded through the text. Rather than sensationalize the disaster, the book fosters a rounded understanding of how it occurred with a compelling mix of area history, science, and governmental action, along with the cleanup efforts in its wake. A fascinating history with numerous STEM connections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

November 1, 2017

Gr 4-6-A dramatic introduction sets the scene of each event, followed by short chapters that describe it from start to finish or to its current status, with an emphasis on its immediate and continuing human costs. Each book clearly states who or what was responsible for the disaster, and discusses restitution or lack thereof to victims, as well as the ongoing or long-term detrimental effects. "Fixing the Future" sections detail continuing cleanup efforts or measures to prevent future calamities. The texts are average and supplemented by numerous photos, most contemporaneous to the events; others are stock images that are poorly matched to the text, such as a description of a 1934 dust storm that coated the Statue of Liberty paired with a recent photo of a clean statue in Sick Soil. VERDICT This set will help readers understand the myriad large-scale ecological disasters that can happen and their lasting human and societal costs. A solid purchase.

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