The New Ocean: The Fate of Life in a Changing Sea
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
A fascinating look at the future of our oceans—and how human actions may change them.
The Earth—our home—is covered mostly with water: the wide, deep, salty, and very blue ocean. It regulates our climate in a way that makes life as we know it possible. This huge ocean is full of an amazing amount of life, most of which is too small to see.
But life in the ocean is in trouble. The ocean is becoming hotter, more polluted, and, in places, empty of life. The right amount of warming is good for us, but too much warming is causing shifts that are not good for life in the ocean. Global warming, pollution, and overfishing are creating a New Ocean, in which life is changing drastically.
This book tells the stories of the probable fates of six sea dwellers: jellyfish, orcas, sea turtles, tuna, corals, and blue-green algae. What becomes of them may help you understand what becomes of us.
Praise for Bryn Barnard’s Outbreak! and Dangerous Planet:
"An absorbing narrative that includes touches of humor. . . . Teachers will find many uses for this, but the book is so engaging it will also attract browsers—and hold them.” —Booklist, Starred
“An engrossing introduction for young adult readers to the chillingly topical subject of man vs. microbe.” —The Wall Street Journal
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In a book that's part compendium of fascinating ocean facts, part wake-up call, Barnard (The Genius of Islam) sounds a warning bell for the world's seas. After an introduction that discusses the rise of overfishing, global warming, and ocean pollution, the narrative turns to six sea-dwelling creatures (blue-green algae, coral, jellyfish, orcas, sea turtles, and tuna), speculating how each might fare if these trends continue. Noteworthy biological details about each organism precede disturbing facts about the negative impact modern societies have on ocean environments, and in turn, these creatures: "If you do eat tuna, beware. All tuna... contain at least some mercury in their bodies.... More than two tuna sandwiches a week is too much." The detail and perspectives in Barnard's paintings will awe readers, even as some scenes appear surreal: an overhead shot of a kayaker paddling into a garbage patch; a turtle's shell horribly deformed by a plastic six-pack ring. This thought-provoking and often alarming message, wrapped in stunning marine images, may indeed spur some to action, as the author hopes: "We need science. We need you." Ages 5 8.
