Secrets from the Rocks - Hardcover

Marrin, Albert

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0525467432 ISBN 13: 9780525467434

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile, 2002

Synopsis

Offers an illustrated and in-depth look at Roy Chapman Andrews's philosophy of "team" dinosaur hunting that began in 1922 in Mongolia and led to great finds, including dinosaur eggs, a new dinosaur species, and more.

About this title

About the Author

Albert Marrin is an award-winning author of many works of nonfiction, including Sitting Bull and His World and George Washington and the Founding of a Nation.

Reviews

Grade 4-8-This excellent biography tells what little is known of Andrews's childhood and youth, then focuses on the adventure and science of his explorations and dinosaur discoveries in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The fossils unearthed on his trips had an impact on our understanding of prehistoric life and cemented the stature of the Museum of Natural History in New York City. Marrin does an admirable job of recognizing the esteem due to such a robust and successful explorer without ignoring our contemporary views on excluding women, shooting rare animals, and plundering the national treasures of other countries. He includes compelling details of danger and triumph and offers scientific and political background. Many full-page, black-and-white photographs illustrate this oversized volume. Many of the archival photographs are identical to those in Ann Bausum's Dragon Bones and Dinosaur Eggs (National Geographic, 2000), which also includes some of the same details from the expeditions but does not offer the depth of explanation of important topics such as how fossils are formed or the role of women in scientific exploration at that time. Brian Floca's Dinosaurs at the Ends of the Earth (DK Ink, 2000) is a fictionalized picture-book version of the Gobi explorations illustrated with watercolors. Secrets will inspire and enlighten students who love dinosaurs or biographies or both.
Ellen Heath, Orchard School, Ridgewood, NJ
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 4-8. Andrews is best known for his famous 1920s Mongolian expeditions, during which he and his team unearthed rare dinosaur fossils, including the first dinosaur eggs known to Western science. In this photo-biography cum adventure story, Marrin gives brief mention of Andrews' early years, but focuses mostly on the Mongolian work, providing plenty of stories about the rigors of organizing such an ambitious expedition and of the scientific work itself, and folding in definitions of basic terms (for example, Mesozoic and warm-blooded). Marrin often sensationalizes his anecdotes, particularly when describing Mongolian life (there's a graphic story about Andrews being offered sheep eyeballs at a local feast). But the treatment of Andrews himself is more evenhanded, discussing both accomplishments and flaws (chauvinistic treatment of women; shirking of family responsibilities). The result is a colorful portrait that offers thought-provoking insight into the constantly shifting nature of scientific discovery. A spotty resource section concludes. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0525467432
• ISBN 13: 9780525467434
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 80