Kurlansky, beloved author of the award-winning bestseller "Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World," offers a riveting new book for kid...
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reviews
Apr 03, 2011
Lenore
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Along the lines of social thought and beliefs is the book World Without Fish. Mark Kurlansky feels that this may be where we are headed. He wrote this book to help kids understand they can make a difference in our oceans and world. Talking about how to incorporate sustainable fishing and to improved the oceans. I know we have had to deal more and more with oil spills and water pollution. Many are worried that if fishing practices are not geared toward was to sustain the fish population. Bu
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Aug 10, 2011
Lauren
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This book popped up on the "New" shelf at the library and I was surprised that I had not heard anything about it. Targeted at young adults, it is a great springboard into biological sciences. Kurlansky writes in a sophisticated style that will be appreciated by teen readers. The book is heavily illustrated with intermittent "comics" following a ocean scientist and his daughter, but there is also quality science writing here. With Kurlansky's own background in commercial fi
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Oct 31, 2011
Erin
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Everyone should read this book!!!! (Thank you, Elizabeth) (so when I say "everyone", I mean the one friend I have who is not Elizabeth) (This means you, Katie)
I took away a star because it had two mistakes in it. The first I don't remember the specifics, just that I felt sad, betrayed, and rather disappointed in Mr. Kurlansky's editors. The second one was a little more offensive, because it used "effect" when he really meant "affect". Believe it or not, th More...
I took away a star because it had two mistakes in it. The first I don't remember the specifics, just that I felt sad, betrayed, and rather disappointed in Mr. Kurlansky's editors. The second one was a little more offensive, because it used "effect" when he really meant "affect". Believe it or not, th More...
May 29, 2011
Anne-Marie
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A fascinating, and disturbing, look at the death of Earth's oceans due to overfishing, pollution, and global warming. Loved the serial comic that came between the factual stuff. The typography was interesting, too. Occasionally I felt as if I was being "yelled at," with the type increasing in size in statements Kurlansky particularly wanted to emphasize, but I finally realized that was exactly what he wanted to do--yell, that is--for us all to pay attention. The book was a great partne
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Nov 26, 2011
Haley
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Really good book. At first I didn't want to read it because I'm not a big fan of non-fiction and what not, but i had to do a book project an a non-fiction book or biography. The librarian at my school recommended this book and I read it, at first with some doubt. As i progress in the book I found it really interesting. I really liked the small comic story at the end of each chapter. The whole book over all was good and raised many good points. It made me want to change some of the things I do an
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Jul 27, 2011
Jill
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Kurlansky himself is a former commercial fisherman who has gone on to win a number of awards for his writing. I think his background adds an important element to the book, because he does not simply attack commercial fishing as many environmentally-oriented books do, but takes a more balanced approach. The illustrations and graphic variations in the font not only provide emphasis but keep the reader interested and actively involved in interpreting the text.
Evaluation: A wonderful book More...
Evaluation: A wonderful book More...
Sep 15, 2011
Jenn
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3 1/2, upon reflection. I count myself as a Kurlansky fan, but in general I've found his adult fare much more successful. I learn so very much from his books and this was no exception. He does a great job a showing how multi-faceted the issues are and that there are no simple solutions. But! There are things you - the kid reader, most specifically, but it works for adults too - can do. Which is awesome, especially because the whole situation has the potential to depress utterly. And the unique s
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Nov 20, 2011
Hester
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I am a big fan of Kurlansky's book on oysters, written for adults. I understand that he needs a less nuanced approach for books for a younger audience, but I do not think he should stoop to inaccuracies. He says on page "xiix" that "the North American Atlantic salmon is commercially extinct because it has only hundreds rather than hundreds of thousands of surviving fish." The Lake Ontario Salmon restoration project just restocked 3 tributaries with more than 2.5 million fi
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Dec 31, 2011
Laura
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Kurlansky explores the history of fishing, today's problems, and potential solutions to help our oceans recover. Using interspersed passages of large, colorful text and a graphic novel page to end each chapter, Kurlasky breaks up what could be a boring text with a lot of visual interest.
This is a great book to hand to middle grade students with an interest in environmental issues. Recommended for middle school students, science teachers, and for use in classes studying current iss
This is a great book to hand to middle grade students with an interest in environmental issues. Recommended for middle school students, science teachers, and for use in classes studying current iss
May 05, 2011
your neighborhood librarian
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The book’s about fishing, and fish populations, and how the one impacts the other, and the evolution of our knowledge about that impact, and how to continue doing the one without completely destroying the other. That’s interesting stuff. It involves biology, economics, geopolitics, and technology, and Mark Kurlansky understands those things well enough to explain them to anyone.
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/0...
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/0...
Jun 03, 2011
Kathy
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This book is geared towards children (ages 9 and up) but it just as touching for adults. It examines what will very likely happen if we continue over fishing and polluting our atmosphere. The writing is appealing and they even use comic strips to keep it light.
Not only does this book inform and keep a child’s attention but it gives direction of what we can do to turn things around and it really lets kids know that they can be the ones that make the most difference.
Not only does this book inform and keep a child’s attention but it gives direction of what we can do to turn things around and it really lets kids know that they can be the ones that make the most difference.
Sep 05, 2011
Trish
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I was surprised to find this book in the Children's section of my local library. We visited an aquarium this summer, and I was inspired to read this book after our visit. The author discusses dead zones, overfishing, various methods of fishing and what they do to the environment, etc. I will pay more attention to the sourcing of fish the next time I'm in the grocery store.
Apr 21, 2011
Emma
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World Without Fish is Silent Spring for the next generation! I try to be socially conscious of all things environmental because of my love for the mother, but I live in the midwest--far from ocean life. This book opened my eyes to an issue that I don't really think about. A fact-filled, riveting read! Great read for Earth Day! Love your mother!
Oct 28, 2011
Kara
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This book was very interesting but PREACHY. The use of all caps in what was clearly meant to be key points if the text was so irritating. I wouldn't accept it in an email from my ten year old daughter, never mind from a professional writer. I was so put-off I would have bailed long before the end if I wasn't required to finish reading.
Aug 16, 2011
Tamsyn
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Clearly presented issues about the threats to our ocean life, and therefore our planetary life, in an engaging and accessible way to middle grades and up. Has a running comic strip as well as different illustrations, insets, and historical background. List of suggestions and resources included.
Aug 28, 2011
Emily
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Written for kids but I still learned a lot from this book. It gives some background on the history of fishing and discusses what may lay in store for fish populations in the future. It all has a pretty sophisticated discussion of different solutions being proposed in fishery management.
Jan 30, 2012
Sarah
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I bought this book for my daughter because she's very enthusiastic about being green and saving the planet and decided to read it for myself. While the varying print sizes made me a little crazy, I found this book to be interesting and educational. It's a great first-introduction to the Save Our Planet movement, and the little comic strip at the end of each chapter is a good touch. Issues are explained by the author in a way that everyone can understand without sounding too much like a childr
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Jun 23, 2011
Becky
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Z said that this was "beyond great," which sort of surprised me because of its rather lengthy historical background of the fishing industry. I had picked this up a few times in the store, with a "I'll wait until later," but a librarian friend recommended it after we were chatting about young gifted kids and their existential crises. And she was spot on. Again.
Jun 12, 2011
Danielle
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Great book with a perfect mixture of somber and hopeful. Sure to scare the pants off of kids and make them into fierce little environmentalists.
Dec 25, 2011
Aiti
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So depressing, incredibly profound. I borrowed this from the library but will buy it some day.
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