Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/20/2022 Gr 3–6—The latest installment of the consistently excellent "Scientist in the Field" series features the work of Denver Holt, a snowy owl researcher who travels to Alaska's north slope and the town of Utqiagvik, formerly Barrow, each June to survey snowy owl nesting. It may be summer, but the temperature is a brisk 38 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 degrees Celsius), so warm layers are required. So is an ATV as the few roads are gravel and, once off-road, much walking needs to be done to protect the nests, which are made on the ground. Holt and his assistants locate the nests, count eggs and owlets, and monitor food resources. The conversational text is engaging and accessible, but it's the photographs that shine, from the arresting and appealing front cover to the impressive final image on the back. There are images on nearly every page that get readers up close and personal. These include helpful maps and thumbnails, sketches of wing feathering, photos of the flora and fauna of the area, and dramatic action shots. Sidebars include extra pertinent information such as quick facts and what to do if one finds an injured owl. Back matter includes a glossary, references, and an index. VERDICT A first purchase sure to inspire budding scientists and snowy owl aficionados.—Brenda Kahn - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/01/2022 *Starred Review* The terrific Scientists in the Field series gets another installment, this time focusing on the stunning snowy owl. Photographer and owl afficionado Wilson follows long-time field researcher Denver Holt to the Alaskan tundra, home to nesting snowy owls for millennia. Holt has been keeping an eye on the owls for years, and readers are treated to an intimate look at the spectacular raptors, Holt’s tireless fieldwork, and the remote town of Utqiagvik and its human residents. It’s an incredibly detailed and engrossing inquiry, and the frequent first-person narration makes the text urgent and inviting, transporting readers into a wild, windswept world. Tinted sidebars point the audience to brief biographies, observation tools, or anatomical information, so the dense material never feels overwhelming. The abundant humor and honesty about the sometimes-difficult conditions and repetitive aspects of fieldwork is delightfully refreshing, though it is clear that it remains rewarding and essential work. Truly astonishing photos appear on nearly every spread—midflight skirmishes, sudden strikes on a scientist’s backpack—capturing an impressive range of flora and fauna along with the beauty of the stark landscape. There is much still unknown about the owls, and a concluding discussion of the warming oceans makes it obvious that the ecosystem hangs in a delicate balance. An extraordinary crash course in geography, biology, conservation, and ecology that goes far beyond its wonderful winged subject. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.