Darwin: A Graphic Biography

Product Description Darwin: A Graphic Biography is an inspiring expedition into the physical and intellectual adventures of Charles Darwin. Presenting Darwin's life in a smart and entertaining graphic novel, Darwin: A Graphic Biography attempts to not only educate the reader about Darwin but also the scientific world of the 1800s. The graphic medium is ideal for recreating a very specific time frame, succeeding in placing the reader right next to a young Darwin on a "beetling" expedition. With specimens in both hands, and anxious to get another, Darwin ends up stuffing the third beetle into his mouth. Darwin's life presented in this form is an inspirational tale for kids of all ages. They'll be sure to identify with a curious young Darwin finding his way on youthful adventures in the fields near his house. The ups, downs, and near-misses of Darwin's youth are portrayed honestly and without foreshadowing of his later fame. This is a key point for younger readers: that Darwin wasn't somehow predestined to greatness. He was curious, patient, and meticulous. He persevered--a great lesson about what science is all about. From School Library Journal Gr 6 Up-Darwin's experiences and achievements are set within an overview of how societal views on science and religion evolved before his birth, during his lifetime, and after his death. The book is introduced by a group of anthropomorphic wild animals in Madagascar that are filming a documentary about Darwin's life for a channel called APE-TV. The monkeys serve to bookend the story, act as narrators and commentators, and provide comic relief. While readers who pick up this book will be able to learn a lot about Darwin's life, his theories, and the way they have stirred up controversy over the years, the format does not make the book accessible for assignments. That said, it is both witty and readable, and students who finish it will definitely have a better handle on the man and will see how his theories changed our understanding of the world. The black-and-white illustrations include cartoons, diagrams, and photographs, providing a good mix of scientific accuracy and humor that will make the subject matter more appealing.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Libraryα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. From Booklist It’s notable that Smithsonian Books, a publisher of long-form nonfiction, should make its first foray into graphic novels with this take on Charles Darwin. Although healthily humorous—the story is framed by an ape-hosted nature program—the book delves deeply into creationism, the scientific advances and culture that formed a foundation for Darwin’s thinking, his mischievous childhood, his schooling, his travels, and, of course, his world-changing theories. The humor and slightly exaggerated realism of the art humanize the great figure, and the treatment is, to say the least, thorough. The text, however, is extremely dense, often crowding out the art, which is forced to eschew sequential narrative and merely depict what is being described in the captions. This gives the effect of an illustrated book, where each panel serves as a miniature page in its own right, rather than a graphic novel per se. Although unlikely to be selected on a casual browse, this may find a home in school or even academic libraries, where it can serve a primarily educational purpose. Grades 9-12. --Jesse Karp Review PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Early in this bio, a college-age Darwin is out collecting beetles when he spies a rare bombardier beetle. With beetles already in both hands, he shoves the new specimen into his mouth, only to have it release a “hot, stinking mixture” of chemicals, causing him to lose all three insects. This is a typical anecdote in the account, which covers Darwin’s entire life, from his upbringing and studies to his fateful voyage aboard the Beagle and publication of On the Origin of Species. Usi