Thursday, September 22, 2016

Heos, Bridget. It’s Getting Hot In Here.

Heos, Bridget.    It’s Getting Hot In Here.     Houghton Mifflin/Harcourt Brace  2015  231p  $17.99  ISBN 978-0-544-30347-8      ms/hs  Nonfiction  VG-BN           

This is a well-written book that explains the history and climatic changes that have resulted in the global warming facing us today, with special attention to the islands that are drowning in the sea (Kiribati) and ice caps melting and sloughing off icebergs, thus greatly reducing our fresh-water reserves. The author also warns her readers that our evil twin, Venus, was probably like us, but being closer to the sun, its oceans dried up. Therefore, it would benefit us to be more careful with our natural resources.

The author also point
s out that our earth was approximately nine degrees warmer during the last ice age and changed very slightly in the past. In recent years, our temperatures have warmed up more quickly, causing more extreme weather patterns. The areas that are dry got much drier, and the wetter climates became very wet.  We are seeing more floods and severe storms throughout the world. As the earth warms, the ice packs melt and much less surface ice is left to reflect sunlight, so that the climate stays cooler.

This is a well
-written and beautifully formatted book with topical challenges included throughout. The size and colorful illustrations make it a wonderful addition to any library. In addition, it contains a glossary, notes, a select bibliography, and an index. It has been recommended for our Books of Note.   

Summary: This is a clear, concise text that relates the causes and concerns about our changing planet.  It explains the history of how were got where we are and why our actions are causing earth’s changes, and concludes with a call to action.


Global warming                                                    --Linda McNeil

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