N I N E M WO
E C N E I SC
O W N SCICESM l I
y b n e t t i Wr Rooney Anne y b d e t a Illustrel Lundie Isob
Franklin Watts® An Imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Author:
Anne Rooney has a PhD in English from the University of Cambridge. She is the author of many books for children and adults, specializing in science and technology topics. Artist:
Isobel Lundie graduated from Kingston University in 2015 where she studied illustration and animation. She is interested in how colorful and distinctive artwork can transform stories for children. Editor:
Nick Pierce Photo credits: p.27 andyparker72 / Shutterstock.com Shutterstock and Wikimedia Commons.
© The Salariya Book Company Ltd MMXX No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to the copyright holder. Published in Great Britain in 2020 by The Salariya Book Company Ltd 25 Marlborough Place, Brighton BN1 1UB Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Rooney, Anne, author. | Lundie, Isobel, illustrator. Title: Rachel Carson / Anne Rooney ; illustrator, Isobel Lundie. Description: New York : Franklin Watts, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., [2020] | Series: Women in science | Includes index. | “Published in Great Britain in 2019 by Book House, an imprint of The Salariya Book Company Ltd.” Identifiers: LCCN 2019008971| ISBN 9780531235379 (library binding) | ISBN 9780531239544 (pbk.) Subjects: LCSH: Carson, Rachel, 1907-1964--Juvenile literature. | Women biologists--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. | Women environmentalists--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. | Science writers--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. | Biologists--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. | Environmentalists--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. | DDT (Insecticide)--Environmental aspects--Juvenile literature. Classification: LCC QH31.C33 R66 2020 | DDC 570.92 [B] --dc23
All rights reserved. Published in 2020 in the United States by Franklin Watts An imprint of Scholastic Inc. Printed and bound in China. Printed on paper from sustainable sources. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 SCHOLASTIC, FRANKLIN WATTS, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. This book is sold subject to the conditions that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form or binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
ARSON RACHEL C
E G A P S T N E T N O C
r o e l c a r i M 18 s e c a l ce? P a t n n e a M t r o p m 4 I achel’s Life les in R k c a T n o s r a C 0 2 n io DDT 5 Introduct ce n e i c S d o g o n h i d p l a i h 22 R eshPolitics 6 Rachel’s C and r ring’s 8 Writnetristo p S t n e l i S 24 Scie Impact g n i r a o y R c “ a g e 10 L s ’ n o ” s 26 Car Seaward f o h e t i n i l w e g m n i i T k 28 chel’s Life 12 WorSea Ra The ny a M f o ssary g o l n i G t i r 0 3 W 14 Kinds ndex I 2 3 lling e s t s e B A 16 Author
IMPORTANT PLACES IN RACHEL’S LIFE Rachel’s first marine biology work was at Woods Hole Marine Laboratory in 1929 (see pages 10–11).
CANADA UNITED STATES Massachusetts Woods Hole Marine Laboratory
Pennsylvania Springdale Baltimore Rachel Carson was born in Springdale in 1907 and grew up there (see pages 6–7).
Maryland Chesapeake Bay
Rachel and her mother moved to Colesville, Maryland in 1957 to look after her niece’s son, Roger (see page 17).
Atlantic Ocean N W
E
Rachel studied at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and lived in the city for many years (see page 9).
S
6
Rachel researched for the Fisheries Burea at Chesapeake Bay (see pages 12–13).
T
INTRODUCTION
hroughout history, there have always been women scientists. But it wasn’t until the twentieth century that women like Rachel Carson began to have the opportunity to study science disciplines at college and earn a living as professional scientists. Rachel Carson was both a scientist and a writer. She brought important scientific issues to a public who otherwise knew nothing of them. She worked as a biologist, studying sea animals in their natural setting, and writing about them. When she realized the terrible effects that chemical pesticides were having on the natural world, she worked to reveal them and push for change. Her book, Silent Spring, started the environmental movement in the United States. This book tells Rachel’s story: her childhood in Pennsylvania, her work as a marine biologist and writer, and her impact on the world as a pioneering environmentalist.
7
RACHEL, LOOK HOW GLORIOUS IT IS.
S ’ L E H C RA D O O H CHILD
1907. , 7 2 y a rn on M tarted when o b s a w rson ng s achel Ca nature and writi rge farm with la of Her love g. She lived on a ere much ther w y youn o r r e b v s d a n a w oors. she ister d s t u r e o e H n . s alo nt her pare e spent her time sh older so o
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THERE’S SO MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT...
Nature Walks
Carson went on daily walks with her mother around the sixty-four acres of their land in Springdale, Pennsylvania. Her mother encouraged her deep love of nature and curiosity about wildlife. 8
S A L HO
C I N D E T ST. STRA
ILLU
E N I AZ GIRLS
G ND A A S M BOY FOR
er be a writer. t i r W Young anted to d in
chel w ry publishe e a R , d l a chi s was a sto 8 when sh s a n e Ev 191 ory cces rst su agazine in as a true st fi r. r e H ld Wa ’s m It w r n . o e d l r W o d l ars irst a chi ten ye lot in the F becoming ut t s u j pi bo re, was brave lished mo d excited a a t u ub an abo ickly p thusiastic u q e en Sh singly riter. a e r c in w er as a e r a c a
The Glory of Nature Carson’s mother
was an enthusias tic supporter and fo llower of the Nat ure Study Movemen t. It encouraged the study of nature, with a Christian slant— urging children to see the glory of the Creator in the natural world around th em.
Finding Fossils
9
Rachel and her mother found fossilized sea shells in the rocks of their land. These were fossils of sea creatures that had died when their land was still covered in water, millions of years ago. These fossils gave Rachel a fascination with the sea and the things that live in it.
R O R E T I R W SCIENTIST?
Skinker’s Influence
A
ol in fter finishing scho nt to 1925, Carson we r Women to fo e g e ll o C ia n a lv Pennsy g to become in d n te in , sh li g n E study ruggled to st ts n re a p r e H r. a write became e sh , re e th e il h W meet the cost. y teacher, Mary g lo io b r e h y b d e inspir Scott Skinker.
Mary Scott Skinker
10
Skinker and Car son became very clo se, their relationship last ing until Skinker’s death . Skinker was Carson’s inspirat ion, mentor, supporter, and fr iend.
LOOK, RACHEL.
t A Dififisicounl Dec for women to
PETRI H DIS
ISH CO. RI D PET
. CO
A Change of Direction
t easy ases It was no tists. In many c age i scien en marr e w t become e b e to choos ose her they had reer. Skinker ch serious and a ca n never had any er arso o nev career. C hips with men s She s relation ke that choice. a e had to m er life to scienc h devoted writing. and
HI THERE, WE’RE GOING TO BE WORKING TOGETHER...
Skinker’s influen ce caused Carso n to decide to switch from studying E nglish to biology. She realized that her main interest would b e the sea. She w as devastated when Skinker left in Carson’s final ye ar to finish her PhD at Johns H opkins University.
catfish Peeing Catfish
The following year, Carson would win a scholarship to do her own MA in zoology on catfish at Johns Hopkins. Carson studied the development of the urinary system in young catfish. 11
G N I R A O “R ” D R A SEAW
Summ, CearrsoJnotobok a
In 1929 le t Woods Ho a b jo r e m ry sum al Laborato ic g lo io B e Marin ary. It was M d n ie fr r e h gy; (MBL) with marine biolo in b jo t s r fi her ended her m m o c e r d a Skinker h b set her on jo f ie r b is h for it. T ath. her future p
in the sea t s e r e t in e t a ion arson’s pass tgraduate s o p f o e ic o ch directed her he was S . r e e r a c r e studies and h at the coast. k r o w ld e fi delighted by
C
WHAT’S THAT THERE?
Mary
A Hub For h Sea Researc MBL was founded in 1888 in Woods Hole, Massachusettts, as a center for research and teaching, focusing on marine life. Research subjects range from the study of ocean-wide ecosystems to the ways different sea creatures’ brains work.
LET’S TAKE IT BACK TO THE LAB TO STUDY...
12
W E N
Turtle Nerves
At MBL, Rachel began a project comparing the nerves in the heads of sea turtles with those in other reptiles. She also went on a deep-sea collecting trip on MBL’s boat, Albatross II.
Y
E H
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T GREATON SI ncial S E fina
E H T
R rst-ever 29 to P 9 s wo from 1 crash ’ DE d l r t ran rke any e wo
Th ession ck ma y of m h r dep 9. A sto e mone em wit ans c h h 193 d out t aving t Ameri f e e wip stors, l llions o ome ic s i inve ing. M s, and eir bas of b h noth heir jo meet t ne-fifth e t lost gled to 933, o ans wer 1 g stru ds. By Americ alf the D YE O nee rking yed. H d, and sed. L M P RS wo emplo d faile collap E UN RKE un ks ha esses n was n n o d a i s r WO RING AT b bus n Car ot affo E WHAT A y n DU E GR SION ma pact o uld n to NERVE! co ad im TH PRES ke The tic. She e, and h 4 to ta DE t 3 a a 9 r m 1 . dra docto ies in tead s a d n i o u to d her st me job e i leav d full-t i a pa
Money T
Carso n and s ’s family h o her f e had to w ften strug ather g o died, rk while led financ moth stu er. Sh le ia e wou aving Rac dying. In lly he ld sup 1 port l to supp 935 relati o WAS ves al rt her HIN l GT her li ON fe.
rouble s
13