About the Author

Andrew Revkin has been reporting on the environment for The New York Times since 1995. His coverage of climate change won the inaugural National Academies Communication Award for print journalism.

He is also the author of The Burning Season and Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast. He lives in New York's Hudson River valley.

Reviews

"Although the text is for a younger audience, youths have not been written down to, and adults can certainly learn new information from the clear exposition." --Science Books and Films"This is a fascinating book on a timely subject, but it is not an easy read, despite the fact that it is being marketed for kids as young as ten...The writing is first rate, the facts and anecdotes informative and entertaining." --Children's Literature"The writing style is clear and engrossing, especially in the passages that deal with activities in which the scientists engaged. It is a recommended purchase for all libraries with strong young adult nonfiction collections." --VOYA"This exciting book is certain to fascinate readers...A blend of colorful full-bleed photos with text overlaid and smaller, bordered images makes for a dynamic layout. The wonderfully written narrative will pull youngsters into the book and hold them there willingly until the last page." --Children's Literature

Although the text is for a younger audience, youths have not been written down to, and adults can certainly learn new information from the clear exposition. "Science Books and Films" This is a fascinating book on a timely subject, but it is not an easy read, despite the fact that it is being marketed for kids as young as ten...The writing is first rate, the facts and anecdotes informative and entertaining. "Children's Literature" The writing style is clear and engrossing, especially in the passages that deal with activities in which the scientists engaged. It is a recommended purchase for all libraries with strong young adult nonfiction collections. "VOYA" This exciting book is certain to fascinate readers...A blend of colorful full-bleed photos with text overlaid and smaller, bordered images makes for a dynamic layout. The wonderfully written narrative will pull youngsters into the book and hold them there willingly until the last page. "Children's Literature""

Science Books and Films"Although the text is for a younger audience, youths have not been written down to, and adults can certainly learn new information from the clear exposition."- Children's Literature
This is a fascinating book on a timely subject, but it is not an easy read, despite the fact that it is being marketed for kids as young as ten...The writing is first rate, the facts and anecdotes informative and entertaining. VOYA The writing style is clear and engrossing, especially in the passages that deal with activities in which the scientists engaged. It is a recommended purchase for all libraries with strong young adult nonfiction collections. School Library Journal
This exciting book is certain to fascinate readers...A blend of colorful full-bleed photos with text overlaid and smaller, bordered images makes for a dynamic layout. The wonderfully written narrative will pull youngsters into the book and hold them there willingly until the last page.

Science Books and Films "Although the text is for a younger audience, youths have not been written down to, and adults can certainly learn new information from the clear exposition."- Children's Literature
This is a fascinating book on a timely subject, but it is not an easy read, despite the fact that it is being marketed for kids as young as ten. Revkin is an environmental writer for the "New York Times" who has visited and written extensively about the North Pole. His book covers the lore and history of polar exploration, its scientific value, and the current concerns about global warming melting the North Pole's ice. Reprints of "Times'" articles supplement Revkin's original material. The 128-page book contains lots of color and black-and-white photographs and illustrations. The writing is first rate, the facts and anecdotes informative and entertaining. The list of further reading is lame because it only cites articles from the "New York Times," But the list of Internet sites is good.
Sean Michael Fleming - VOYA
New York Times environmental reporter Revkin ventured to the North Pole to witness firsthand the impact of global warming. Evidence of the warming trend is more obvious at the poles, where the temperature changes have been more dramatic than at the latitudes where most people live. The author uses previously published articles from the Times, many penned by him, to expand on the text that describes his journey to the pole in 2003. Some history of initial efforts by explorers to get to the pole is included, but the focus of the book is the current state of the environment in this region, and scientific efforts to study what may be creating temperature changes.For example, the author describes how scientists placed a data recorder on the bottom of the ocean at the pole and struggled to retrieve it a year later when he accompanied them. Revkin does a nice job of packaging the material he presents to make it interesting for the reader. Maps, photos, and diagrams all complement the text to illustrate what researchers and other explorers are currently studying at the pole. Author of Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast (Abbeville Press, 1992) and The Burning Season, (Houghton Mifflin, 1990), Revkin clearly has much expertise on the subject of climate change. The writing style is clear and engrossing, especially in the passages that deal with activities in which the scientists engaged. It is a recommended purchase for all libraries with strong young adult nonfiction collections. VOYA CODES: 5Q 3P M J (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2006, Kingfisher/Houghton Mifflin,128p.; Index. Illus. Maps. Source Notes. Further Reading., Ages 11 to 15.
School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up-This exciting book is certain to fascinate readers. Revkin, a New York Times reporter, relates his journey to the top of the world in the company of scientists studying climate changes. The informative chapters weave together accounts of his experiences and observations with details about the environment, its exploration, and scientific concepts. He recounts ancient perceptions of the far north, the difficulties faced by the first explorers, and the highly publicized early-20th-century race to the pole. He also covers topics such as the movement ofthe magnetic pole, extracting and studying core samples of ancient rock for geological information, and tactics for surviving extreme conditions. The work of climatologists and oceanographers is introduced, along with a glimpse at the possible effects of global warming. Shortened articles from the New York Times on related subjects appear throughout. The illustrations include full-color photographs of the author's trek, archival reproductions and photos of previous excursions, original diagrams that clarify concepts, and maps. A blend of colorful full-bleed photos with text overlaid and smaller, bordered images makes for a dynamic layout. The wonderfully written narrative will pull youngsters into the book and hold them there willingly until the last page.-Jodi Kearns, University of Akron, OH Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

What an exhilarating book! Andy Revkin provides a lively reminder that
there are places on earth where adventure still reigns, and a warning
that we may be endangering them.
- Bill McKibben, author, The End of Nature