From a young age, Marie Tharp loved watching the world. She loved solving problems. And she loved pushing the limits of what girls and women were expected to do and be. In the mid-twentieth century, women were not welcome in the sciences, but Marie was tenacious. She got a job at a university laboratory but then she faced another barrier: women were not allowed on the research ships (they were considered bad luck on boats). So instead, Marie stayed back and dove deep into the data her colleagues recorded.
She mapped point after point and slowly revealed a deep rift valley in the ocean floor. At first the scientific community refused to believe her, but her evidence was irrefutable. She proved to the world that her research was correct. The mid-ocean ridge that Marie discovered is the single largest geographic feature on the planet, and she mapped it all from her small, cramped office. This exuberant picture book biography by the author of Shark Lady is a tribute to perseverance and the power of thinking differently!
"Engaging and inventive illustrations, including one fabulous foldout that depicts her expanding map, show her gradually becoming the skilled scientist and ocean cartographer she is recognized as today.... This is a story that will doubtlessly inspire curiosity and consideration of the many forms of exploration and scientific inquiry while showing how one woman was able create new knowledge despite sexist constraints. An intriguing tale of feminism, scientific exploration, imagination, focus, and resilience." — Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 5 - 9 |
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Author | Jess Keating |
Illustrator | Katie Hickey |
ISBN | 0735265089 |
Publication Date | Jun 30, 2020 |
Publisher | Tundra Books |
Award Winners | Jane Addams Award |
Language | English |