★ 04/27/2015 Silvey (The Plant Hunters) adeptly chronicles the life of Goodall from her childhood fascination with animal behavior to her groundbreaking field research of chimpanzees in Africa and her work to preserve endangered animals’ habitats. Goodall’s brief foreword offers a persuasive call-to-action for readers to do their part to save the natural world, and Silvey’s clear, engaging narrative moves briskly through Goodall’s career. The book’s photographs, many provided by National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute, include shots of Goodall’s face-to-face interactions with chimps, underscoring the animals’ intelligence and compassion, as well as the beauty of their homeland. Encouraged by paleontologist Louis Leakey, Goodall made scientific breakthroughs regarding the similarities between chimpanzees and humans. Text and photos also highlight Goodall’s extreme patience while observing and working with animals, and her tangible bond with and advocacy for them: “Chimp by chimp, Jane became involved in rescue missions around the world, always maintaining that ‘every individual matters.’ ” Incorporating sidebars, bursts, maps, illustrations, and other images, the book’s handsome design makes for easy, enjoyable navigation. Ages 8–12. (June)
"Silvey (The Plant Hunters ) adeptly chronicles the life of Goodall from her childhood fascination with animal behavior to her groundbreaking field research of chimpanzees in Africa and her work to preserve endangered animals’ habitats. Goodall’s brief foreword offers a persuasive call-to-action for readers to do their part to save the natural world, and Silvey’s clear, engaging narrative moves briskly through Goodall’s career.... Incorporating sidebars, bursts, maps, illustrations, and other images, the book’s handsome design makes for easy, enjoyable navigation." - Publisher's Weekly Starred Review
"This accessible account of [Jane Goodall's] life (with a foreword by Goodall herself) emphasizes the qualities that will likely resonate with young readers: her intelligence, sense of adventure, curiosity, and love of animals... Silvey accompanies her main narrative with informative text boxes and vivid photographs that are integral to understanding the places, people, and animals in Goodall’s life—including the chimpanzees she spent years observing. " - The Horn Book Magazine; www.hbook.com
“Adventurers and outdoor lovers will identify with the life and work of Jane Goodall, compellingly presented in “Untamed,” which is filled with full color photographs, illustrations, maps, and fun nature facts.” - The Boston Globe
"Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall by Anita Silvey is the fascinating story of the childhood and career of the famed scientist. With a foreword by Jane Goodall, a great many photographs of her early years and field work studying chimpanzees, a format that draws the reader in, and a carefully researched and written narrative, this is a book that will both educate and entertain young readers." - About.com
Jane Goodall transformed human understanding of chimpanzees’ intelligence and behaviors. Readers are first introduced to the young Jane and her interest in animals from an early age. She went to Gombe State, Nigeria, as a young adult, where she was fortunate to meet Louis Leakey who took her on as his protégé. Life was not easy as Jane studied her beloved chimpanzees, but she endured and became known internationally in the early 1960s through a National Geographic article and television show. Her celebrity status was both good news and bad, as it made her research and methods known to millions but it also led to much travel and less time in the field. In the 1980s, she altered her focus more toward conservation and education, and today devotes her efforts to the three organizations she founded with those same goals. Silvey has written a glowing account of Jane and her endeavors, with no mention of any disputes over her methods, findings, or writings. The text is packed with facts and material from primary sources but lacks punch. Oddly placed sidebars, while full of interesting information, interrupt the narrative flow and do not always line up with what has been covered in the text. The same is true for some of the captions and photos, which are indeed beautiful but slightly disrupting. Design occasionally supersedes legibility, with small neon or white fonts difficult on the eye. A wealth of back matter is included, containing a detailed timeline presented as a vine, an extensive bibliography, and an author’s note. Youngsters will enjoy the chimp “family album” scattered throughout the text and the tips for those wanting to work with animals, as well as learning about an important woman of science. This biography will be useful for such youngsters, for research, or for those wanting to browse through its stunning photos. Reviewer: Peg Glisson; Ages 9 to 14.
Children's Literature - Peg Glisson
★ 04/01/2015 Gr 4–8—Featuring gorgeous, full-color photographs; primary sources; and fun nature facts, this biography of Jane Goodall will easily entice children. Goodall is presented as inspiring and intelligent as well as down-to-earth in her personality and methods. Silvey focuses on the scientist's relationship to the chimpanzees she studied, and also discusses the anthropologist's trajectory from curious young girl to respected scientist (black-and-white childhood photos and anecdotes add to the appeal). Sidebars provide additional material, such as brief profiles of her mentor, Louis Leakey, and her mother. The photographs of Goodall and her primate friends are beautiful, and the book is well designed and laid out with care. The writing is clear and concise, and learning about the subject's work in such an accessible manner will boost children's self-confidence, especially girls with an interest in science. VERDICT An ideal purchase for science or biography collections.—Shalini Miskelly, St. Benedict Catholic School, Seattle, WA
2015-03-17 Jane Goodall, whose pioneering observations of chimpanzees in the wild changed scientific thinking about the differences between humans and apes, found a broader mission in conservation and education. Silvey surveys the life of "the most recognized living scientist in the Western world" in five chapters that dutifully cover high points but do little to convey Goodall's "wild life" of the subtitle. Moving from Goodall's early interest in animals to her subject's first years in Africa, the author gives examples of the difficulties Goodall faced in Gombe. "Celebrity Scientist" describes some of Goodall's other early activities and lists her most important observations about chimpanzee behavior. "Transformation" shows her career's new direction after 1986 and identifies three organizations she's founded: the Jane Goodall Institute, Roots and Shoots, and TACARE. In "Legacy," the author describes how our views of chimpanzees and methods of observation have changed. The book's lavish design does little to punch up the text. Numerous sidebars (some occupying a full page) interrupt the admiring narrative, which is not entirely chronological, and the many photographs don't always relate to nearby text. The appended, vinelike timeline is hard to follow. The text is frequently set on faint silhouettes of Gombe plants (a key appears opposite the author's introduction); the occasional use of a small, white type on an orange background also decreases legibility. Goodall provides a foreword; extensive backmatter includes maps, sources, and an index. A serviceable biography. (Nonfiction. 10-14)