Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion (Scientists in the Field)

by Loree Griffin Burns (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Aided by an army of beachcombers, oceanographer Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer tracks trash in the name of science. From sneakers to hockey gloves, Curt monitors the watery fate of human-made cargo that has spilled into the ocean. The information he collects is much more than casual news; it is important scientific data. And with careful analysis, Curt, along with a community of scientists, friends, and beachcombers alike, is using his data to understand and protect our ocean. 

In engaging text and unforgettable images, readers meet the woman who started it all (Curt’s mother!), the computer program that makes sense of his data (nicknamed OSCURS), and several scientists, both on land and on the sea, who are using Curt’s discoveries to preserve delicate marine habitats and protect the creatures who live in them.

A Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book for Nonfiction.
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School Library Journal

Gr 5-8 While the subtitle leads one to believe that the heart of this book is about the science of ocean currents, it's actually about why we need to protect our marine environment. Burns tells the tale of Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer, an oceanographer who started to track trash (flotsam) that washed up on the shore near his Seattle home. Through floating sneakers and bath toys that accidentally fell off container ships and a computer program named OSCURS, Ebbesmeyer tracked the currents of the ocean. These experiments led to a discussion of how debris is polluting our oceans and causing harm to marine life. Burns introduces the work of several scientists who are working to clean up ghost nets and other dangerous debris. The well-written narration will keep readers engaged, and it's excellent for reports. The science is clearly explained, and the vivid and lively photographs and well-labeled charts and diagrams help to create interest and build understanding. This title will get readers thinking and possibly acting on these problems. - Esther Keller, I.S. 278, Marine Park, NY

Copyright 2007 Media Source Inc.

Kirkus

Starred Review
Step by step, the reader of this engaging description of research involving familiar objects like tub toys and LEGO pieces comes to the profoundly depressing realization that the oceans of the world and the stomachs of marine animals are filled with indestructible bits of human trash, just in time for the section entitled, "What You Can Do."

Hornbook

Scientific information builds from chapter to chapter, creating a natural detective story.

ALA/Booklist

Spacious layout, exceptionally fine color photos, and handsome maps give this book an inviting look. . . . A unique and often fascinating book on ocean currents, drifting trash, and the scientists who study them.

Review quotes

The writing is light, but the facts are weighty, and the message of reduce, reuse, and recycle comes across loud and clear. This book i—s fascinating on its own, but it also can hold its place in a middle-level science curriculum. The complex science behind the movement of the ocean is explained clearly with excellent supporting graphics.—VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) 

"Even kids not remotely interested in science might find this work captivating." —Newsday, 9/30/07 Newsday

"There's plenty of good reading . . . "—Columbus Dispatch

"[L]oaded...with information, insight, and intellectual twists." —Natural History Magazine 12/07-1/08

Loree Griffin Burns
Loree Griffin Burns is an award-winning writer who holds a PhD in biochemistry. Each of her books draws heavily on both her passion for nature and her experience as a working scientist. She is the author of Life on Surtsey: Iceland's Upstart Island, Citizen Scientist: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery in Your Own Back Yard, and Beetle Busters: A Rogue Insect and the People Who Track It.

Ellen Harasimowicz has been a professional photographer since 2003. She has made photographs for newspapers and schools, and she has illustrated four children's books, all with Loree Griffin Burns. Ellen loves to travel and photograph far-off places. www.ellenharasimowicz.com
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780547328607
Lexile Measure
1200
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Clarion Books
Publication date
April 05, 2010
Series
Scientists in the Field
BISAC categories
YAN050070 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Earth Sciences
YAN050080 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Environmental Conservation & Protection
YAN003030 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Animals | Marine Life
YAN056020 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Transportation | Boats, Ships & Underwater Craft
Library of Congress categories
-

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