Wildheart: The Daring Adventures of John Muir

John Muir, a fascinating character in American environmental history, migrated to the U.S. from Scotland in the middle of the 19th century, where his fondness for nature sent him to explore and preserve some of America's most majestic sites, including Yosemite National Park. Divided into episodic chapters, this graphic biography shares the broad strokes of Muir's life in an accessible format. Bertagna (Exodus) recasts Muir as a mix of Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed, following him as he journeys across the Atlantic, settles into the frontier, and gradually begins life-changing trips that allow him "to drink in the grand show of nature." The first-person voice adds a lively immediacy to the spare text, which is extended in Goldsmith's panels, rendered in thick, uncluttered lines washed with watercolors that evoke the natural world that Muir loved so much. Unfortunately, the book's omission of Native Americans perpetuates an image of a white explorer "discovering" long-inhabited lands. While the book introduces an important conservation figure and offers a moving ode to nature, it fails to present an inclusive, accurate view of U.S. history. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

Gr 4-8--John Muir comes to life in this affectionate graphic format biography of the 19th-century environmentalist, inventor, and adventurer. Muir narrates, covering everything from childhood escapades to mountain climbing in Yosemite with President Theodore Roosevelt. Even as a boy, Muir was drawn to the outdoors, scampering across the Scottish countryside with his younger brother, Davie, and when he and his family moved to the United States, his love of nature grew stronger. Muir's travels as an adult throughout the country, seeing its beauty, grandeur, and, at times, danger, became fodder for writing that would inspire generations of readers. Goldsmith's charming cartoons, with black line drawings and washes of color, match the exuberant story. The author often relies on the subject's own words (a list of sources can be found at the end), and the result is a quick but deeply personal glimpse at a legendary figure. The text concludes with information on how Muir's work has spurred many to become lovers of the outdoors and protectors of the planet. VERDICT The graphic format will draw in many readers; a worthy purchase for most libraries, especially those seeking biographies.--Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

Wall Street Journal April 12, 2019
"Children unfamiliar with the early environmentalist who co-founded the Sierra Club, went camping with Teddy Roosevelt, and helped established national parks at Yosemite and the Grand Canyon will find much to admire in this exuberant, affectionate portrait.

San Francisco Chronicle March 26, 2019
"This kid-friendly homage extols the passion and purpose of a green pioneer." 

STARRED Review - Foreword Reviews - March/April 2019
"Muir's wonder at the natural world translates perfectly. . . . The beauty of Wildheart is that it delivers its message effectively and enjoyably for both children and adults."

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books - April 2019
"If a reader's previous introduction to nineteenth-century naturalist and pioneering conservationist John Muir has involved only a gray-bearded man spouting tributes to nature, or President Teddy Roosevelt being shuttled around California on a much-publicized camping trip, this delightful Scottish graphic novel import will restore excitement to the biographical details and foster appreciation for this eccentric spokesperson for the Great Outdoors." Recommended.