Starred Review Just like a seed, this deceptively small book is packed with potent life. While the requisite overview of seed biology is included, Castaldo's discussion of how seeds d subsequently worldwide food sources, biodiversity, and sustainability e involved in international politics, economic history, genetic research, and many other areas makes this especially unique and fascinating from many perspectives. Her brief chapters read like well-researched, conversational magazine articles, which will likely appeal not only to students but also environmentally conscious adults. Meanwhile, substantive sidebars and plentiful, well-reproduced color photos feature seeds and plants, of course, but also a wide variety of notable people and places. Her scope is significant, spanning history and geography, and multidisciplinary, focusing not only on botany but also the complex technology used in safeguarding heritage species and plant viability. Pinpointing an important human element, she also features "seed warriors," who work in science, public policy, and activism, as well as public library seed programs, all of which add to the mix of rich and intellectually delicious nutritional information here. This stellar interdisciplinary resource may need hand-selling to get readers beyond its plain packaging, but be prepared to satisfy readers' thirst for more information about, for instance, protecting Russia's international seed vaults during WWII, finding Glass Gem corn, and fighting biopiracy. A terrific, engrossing resource.

In this wake-up call about the fragility of our plant-based food supply, Castaldo speaks clearly to the importance of plant diversity, presenting engaging scientific and historical information about agricultural science, genetics, and biodiversity along with accounts of global politics, industrialism, and activism. Numerous photographs of the plants and people involved in plant and seed preservation are included. A "Call to Action" section is appended. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

Gr 5-8 Castaldo notes that because of climate change, big farming, and habitat loss, our planet is losing biodiversity "at a depressing rate," and she proceeds to lay out the frightening hazards of monocultural agriculturefrom the Irish potato famine to the current decimation of banana and coffee speciesand the use of genetically engineered seed stock. Along with doing her best to raise reader anxiety about this issue with statistics and ominous trends, she also highlights the often-heroic efforts of scientists to create and preserve seed banks, notably the Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry in Saint Petersburg and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. Additionally, she introduces a slate of worthy "Seed Warriors," from pioneers such as Luther Burbank and Nikolai Vavilov to the contemporary likes of Dr. Sanaa Abdul Wahab El Sheikh in Iraq, chef Sibella Kraus, Indian activist Dr. Vandana Shiva, and Carl White Eagle Barnes, "Cherokee Corn Elder." The author caps her plea for action with suggested activities and with extensive lists of print and online resources, seed "libraries" in and beyond the United States, and advocacy organizations. As Castaldo cites examples of biopiracy and agroterrorism and contrasts genetic modification research with "natural" hybridization, her approach is distinctly alarmist; offer Natalie Regis's Genetically Modified Crops and Food (Britannica, 2016) to readers after a more judicious evaluation of GMOs. VERDICT An impassioned call to action, likely to leave readers both scared and inspired.— John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York City