Part of the “A True Book” series, this volume emphasis the dangers inherent in some parts of science. The scientists shown here risk life and limb to collect their data and explore the earth. Squire opens with speleologists, who repel into caves using ropes or dive into caves from the ocean. Squire gives a quick overview of the geology, chemistry and climate studies that speleologists carry out. Then she moves on to volcanoes. Obviously someone who studies exploding mountains is taking risks, but Squire emphasizes the planning and the usefulness of the science. Other fields discussed are storm chasers, tornadoes and hurricanes, shark experts, and deep-water oceanographers. This book will appeal to kids who want lists, kids who want to understand, and kids who want suspense. The photos are bright and clearly placed. Captions are informative and are tied to specific parts of the picture with arrows. Back matter includes statistics, the answer to a quiz from the beginning, and a short list of resources. This book, and this series in general, is a good choice for libraries and classrooms that want to boost nonfiction reading. Reviewer: Amy S. Hansen; Ages 8 to 10.
