The undeniable fact of climate change is the timely topic of this book, which explains the historical, social, and scientific realities of global warming. The narrative begins with the formation of the universe and the earth though periods of climate change before humans, then discusses civilization's insatiable need for fossil fuels since the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. Heos offers straightforward explanations and directly addresses arguments commonly made by those who deny global warming. Full-color photographs from all corners of the globe depict many places already feeling the effects of rising sea levels and changing weather patterns. Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the book is the "Be the Change" section at the end of each chapter, which encourages readers to make changes in their own lifestyles to slow the rate of environmental degradation, reinforcing the notion that human actions have a direct effect on the climate. Engaging and relevant, this book urges readers to think about the implications of their actions beyond their own communities.

Gr 6-9 Dismissing climate change skeptics as politically motivated, Heos surveys observational evidence that global warming is altering our "perfect world" and that the historically recent increases in our atmosphere's carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are due to human agency. She also presents ominous future scenarios featuring larger and more frequent storms, heat waves, and famines, plus rising tides of global warming "refugees" displaced by flooding coastlines. Along with tallying governmental and other broad initiatives designed to reduce the production of said gases, the author includes "Be the Change" suggestions that readers can undertake themselves. Though this work undeniably addresses an issue of serious universal concern, it's well behind the curve in the currency of its information; figures for atmospheric carbon dioxide are dated December 2013 but come from a site that updates weekly, for instance, and the author mentions only the 2012 winners of the Environmental Youth Awards. Few if any of the dated sources cited in the endnotes will be less than two years old by the time of publication. Moreover, young activists are unlikely to find anything new or inspirational in the generalized suggestions to take quicker showers, move the household thermostat up or down one degree, buy used clothing rather than new, and so forth. VERDICT Worthy but, at best, supplementary to the young readers' edition of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth (Viking, 2007) and other more recent titles. John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York City