Something Rotten

Starred review from July 1, 2018

Gr 4-8-In the same irreverent but well-researched style in Georgia Bragg's How They Croaked, this title offers readers an amusing, thorough overview of dead animals. What most are pleased to leave behind in their rearview mirror as they speed by, scientists appreciate for the data that can be found in these bodies. Readers will be fascinated as Montgomery recounts her adventures discovering how roadkill offers the world information, such as how pentastomes (parasitic crustaceans) are invading the snakes of Florida, thanks to boa constrictors released into the Everglades, and what these parasites mean to the ecosystem. With wry humor, gory detail, and great enthusiasm, the author explains how this mystery, and others, are being solved thanks to civilian scientists who pick up and/or report roadkill sightings to science centers. And then there is taxidermy, the art of turning dead critters into 3-D sculptures for museums or for art. As Montgomery warns at the start, this book is not for the faint of heart ("It's full of lung-eating parasites ropes of intestines, and, of course, bloody bodies."), but be prepared to laugh along the way (chapter six: "Please Pass the Salt") and to learn a lot. VERDICT Sure to be a hit among students. A top addition to STEM collections.-Dorcas Hand, formerly at Annunciation Orthodox School, Houston

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2018
The discoveries that arise from our flattened fauna will amaze you!Montgomery's story--part memoir, part scientific overview--begins with a squashed snake and follows her as she learns more and more about the animals she finds run over on the side of the road. Animals explored range from snakes to coyotes and deer, and although some international animals are discussed, the primary focus remains on those squished Stateside. For all the literal blood and guts, the tone of the book is light and slightly irreverent, but it never mocks either the animals or the scientists and volunteers who work with roadkill. Footnotes abound to help explain the occasional tangent or help readers understand more complex issues that are alluded to in the text. O'Malley's black-and-white illustrations are peppered throughout the text, sometimes illustrating a moment from the text, sometimes providing a visual description of an animal, tool, or related object. The icing on the cake is the wealth of backmatter, which is divided into three sections: "Simple Acts Save Lives," which provides practical tips for readers on how they can make an ecological impact; an annotated bibliography that's divided by chapter, allowing browsers to find out more info on their specific interests; and an index.There's nothing rotten about this book--it's a keeper. (Nonfiction. 10-14)

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