Review for "The Tarantula Scientist" by Sy Montgomery

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Montgomery, Sy. The Tarantula Scientist. Orlando: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.  ISBN 978-0-618-14799-1

PLOT SUMMARY

Spiders! A creature that causes many people to jump when sighted! But this is not the case for Sam Marshall, an arachnologist. This book follows Marshall through the rainforests in South America and provides lots of interesting information about various arachnids including tarantulas. Learn the difference between rainforest and dessert tarantulas. How do the different climates effect the species? Marshall travels from Arizona all the way to Venezuela to answer this question and more about Tarantulas. Visit his actual “Spider Lab” at Hiram College in Ohio and learn what kind of research is done by Arachnologists.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book is written in such a way that the reader feels as if he/she is on a journey with Arachnologist, Sam Marshall, through the rainforest, dessert, and into the research lab. The author, Sy Montgomery, writes as though she is speaking directly to the reader. She does a great job of working facts and data into an exciting story about a scientist. The photographer, Nic Bishop, provides a new view of spiders and other creatures that they are used to seeing. He also provides very raw photographs that show the reader what life in the rainforest is like. For example, he does not use photo editing software to eliminate sweat or dirt from Marshall’s face. Readers are able to understand the and almost feel what it would be like to be in the rainforest with Marshall. Montgomery provides an excellent index of additional resources, including definitions, websites, etc. Anyone who loves learning about creepy crawly stuff with enjoy this non-fiction piece!

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

School Library Journal Best Books Of The Year 2004

Automatically Yours - CATS Awards 2004

From School Library Journal 2004: “this is a vivid look at an enthusiastic scientist energetically and happily at work, both in the field and in the lab, questioning, examining, testing, and making connections. A treat, even for arachnophobes.”

From Booklist 2004: “Enthusiasm for the subject and respect for both Marshall and his eight-legged subjects come through on every page of the clear, informative, and even occasionally humorous text.”

CONNECTIONS

Gather other books that are a part of the Scientists in the Fields series to read such as:

•                      Turner, Pamela. The Frog Scientist. ISBN 978-0547576985

•                      O’Connor, Jane. The Octopus Scientists. ISBN 978-0544232709

Gather other Sy Montgomery books to read such as:

•                      Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot.  ISBN 978-0544668294

•                      The Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea.ISBN 978-0547248929

Use this book to enhance a unit on Spiders or Arachnids. 

This is a great example of writing nonfiction to be an interesting story instead of strictly providing facts. Challenge students to write a report with this style of writing.