This was a Printz honor book. I don't get that. I don't smell teen appeal here whatsoever or even think that a teen would pick this up, unless someone was doing a report on Darwin. What's more, I'm unhappy that a book about such an interesting person turned out to be so dull.

It's a run of the mill biography, not heavy on the theory, although science is addressed, and most of it revolves around Charles and Emma's home life. She was religious, he was not, but they got along swimmingly, truly loved and respected each other, and were decidedly warm and un-Victorian to their kids. And poor Charles got sick a lot. Like, a lot a lot. Like, "Okay, another water cure, can we talk about your work now?" a lot. That's the gist. There are a few interesting anecdotes scattered throughout, but overall it doesn't make for very interesting reading. Charles and Emma never really reconcile their religious differences or confront them too heatedly, although Emma writes the odd letter or two, hoping Charles will read some passage of the bible or other and feel differently than he does. And Charles wibbles and wobbles and usually writes back some kindhearted loving words to her and we all get the warm fuzzies...? I guess? Good for them, I'm glad they were happy together, but again: it's just not that interesting.

One good thing is that the best writing here is excerpted from Darwin's writing (which Emma played a large role in shaping), so maybe it will inspire the odd reader to read more of his work or read more about the pair. But teens getting into this? What? Not buying what you're selling, Printz committee, sorry.