Description

By (author) Wallace Sandra Neil; Illustrated by Carpenter Nancy

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“A luminous tribute befitting a brilliant trailblazer.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Ursula Marvin was a rock star in the field of geology at a time when it was nearly impossible for women to pursue careers in science. Discover her story in this “informative, inspiring” (Horn Book) nonfiction picture book biography of an “icon of determination” (Publishers Weekly) by Orbis Pictus award recipient Sandra Neil Wallace.

While attending college in the early 1940s, Ursula Marvin fell in love with geology, but when she asked her male professor about making the field her major, he tried to stop her, saying it would be a better use of her time to learn how to cook. Ursula studied geology anyway, eventually getting her master’s and PhD in the subject.

As a visionary and groundbreaking geologist, Ursula also had to be brave. She believed meteorites held the key to unlocking the origins of the solar system. To prove it, she travelled to Antarctica where she faced fierce winds, the coldest climate on Earth, and cracks in the ice that could have crushed her, but she knew the danger was worth the risk and scientific exploration wasn’t just for men. She proved her theory and that meteorites could be made up of pieces of planets or the moon.

Ursula Marvin charted new territory as a scientist and fought gender discrimination at every turn in her career. She broke barriers in science, helped create the field of planet geology, and discovered theories that are now foundational, reshaping our understanding of the universe.

Review quote:
Much of what scientists know about the solar system originated in the work of geologist Ursula Marvin (1921–2018), “rock star of the universe” and one of the first to study lunar rocks. By looking at their mineral content, Marvin was able to form theories about the origins of lunar rocks and meteorites. ?is informative, inspiring look at a key figure in the field of planetary science begins with Marvin’s childhood and touches on her time in college but focuses mainly on a 1970s scientific expedition to Antarctica to discover and analyze meteorites. ?e engaging and somewhat lengthy text underscores the trailblazing nature of Marvin’s work, with subtle details that demonstrate how much sexism she faced. In college, for example, she switched schools when a professor blocked her from majoring in geology; and she was the only woman on the Antarctic expedition, where she was given men’s clothing and was sometimes excluded from research outings. She ignored the overt discrimination and carried on with her work. ?e illustrations make this point visually, showing Marvin exuberantly stepping onto an aircraft with a bright pink bag or depicting her in vibrant colors amidst male colleagues dressed drably or shown in shadow. Extensive back matter includes journal excerpts, a timeline, a bibliography, and more. JULIE

Review quote:
Much of what scientists know about the solar system originated in the work of geologist Ursula Marvin (1921–2018), “rock star of the universe” and one of the first to study lunar rocks. By looking at their mineral content, Marvin was able to form theories about the origins of lunar rocks and meteorites. ?is informative, inspiring look at a key figure in the field of planetary science begins with Marvin’s childhood and touches on her time in college but focuses mainly on a 1970s scientific expedition to Antarctica to discover and analyze meteorites. ?e engaging and somewhat lengthy text underscores the trailblazing nature of Marvin’s work, with subtle details that demonstrate how much sexism she faced. In college, for example, she switched schools when a professor blocked her from majoring in geology; and she was the only woman on the Antarctic expedition, where she was given men’s