School Library Journal Starred Review (Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Gr 4-8 Reading this book is an extraordinary experience. It has an elegant layout featuring ornamental lettering, watermarks, and gorgeous photos; were it not for the delightfully exuberant text, it would be a stately coffee table book. But kids will giggle about the central role of scat or, as Montgomery often writes, "poo," in the research of snow leopards' habits. Children will be swept up in the buoyant account of the journey through Mongolia led by Tom McCarthy, conservation director of the Snow Leopard Trust, in search of the elusive cat known as the "ghost of the mountain." He has devoted much of his life to studying these animals and persuading their human neighbors of the importance of their survival. Montgomery's enthusiasm translates well to the page and will have readers cheering for the entourage as they attempt to spot a snow leopard. This slender book abounds with information, including stories of McCarthy's rare, powerful past encounters with the cat, as well as zoological and cultural sidebars. Bishop's trademark stunning photography fills out the book with breathtaking views of the extreme environs of Central Asia and warm portraits of the charming people who live there. Author's and photographer's notes aren't typically as engaging as the main text, but the reflections of Montgomery and Bishop on their experiences with McCarthy's crew are eloquent, integral parts of the book. A great way to learn about a spectacular animal and its habitat. Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR

ALA Booklist

For their newest entry in the Scientists in the Field series, Montgomery and Bishop chronicle a short trip into Mongolia's Altai Mountains led by Tom McCarthy, the conservation director for the Snow Leopard Trust. Though the pictures give a different impression with an admixture of archival shots and close-ups of leopards in captivity, none of the marvelously elusive animals were actually spotted on the trip, and as even the samples of scat gathered along the way remained unanalyzed at press time, readers used to the seemingly effortless wildlife encounters in nature documentaries may react to the whole outing with indifference. Still, the author's observations about steep trails, rough camps, friendly Mongolians, and distinctive local customs and food provide some animation to the narrative, and the views of McCarthy and his colleagues hard at work impart a sense of both what wildlife biologists do, and why.

Horn Book (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Sixth grader Svetlana ("Stephanie" to her parents) has super-honed senses, telepathic abilities, and a digestive resistance to any food not red in color. So she must be a vampire, right? Wrong...but her scary new science teacher is and must be stopped. There are gaps in logic and Svetlana's personality is unpleasant, but the story's Goth-chic sensibility will attract some readers.

Kirkus Reviews

It's no easy feat to write a book about one of the most charismatic yet notoriously elusive creatures on the planet without a single sighting, but Montgomery pulls it off with style. This latest in the superlative Scientists in the Field series focuses on wildlife biologist Tom McCarthy and his efforts to study and preserve the snow leopard. The author and photographer accompanied him on an expedition to Mongolia, and they put themselves right into the narrative, introducing the other members of the group and describing their relationships with local herders, the exhausting hikes, the excitement of scat discoveries ("As if he's savoring some special cheese or fine wine, Tom picks up the poop and sniffs it") and the progress made in conservation efforts. The lively narrative is interspersed with accounts of leopard encounters from McCarthy's previous expeditions as well as supplemental facts about Mongolia and its people. The ample backmatter includes a Mongolian phrase glossary, information on the Snow Leopard Trust, McCarthy's advice to budding scientists, author's and photographer's notes and an index. A bibliography of sources used is available online. (Nonfiction. 10-14)