Microplastics and Me Book Review

Microplastics and Me 

By Anna Du
Published by Tumblehome Books, January 202o

Mom's Review
Eminently readable, Microplastics and Me is a first-person narrative explaining why Anna Du became passionate about ocean pollution and how she addresses the problem of microplastics. This middle-grade book (I can't categorize it as a novel, but it reads like one) explains the evolution of microplastics, the challenges of recycling, and the possibilities for ocean cleanup through the lens of Anna's science fair project. 

Anna became interested in microplastics though happenstance: she was searching for beach glass, found plastic, got annoyed and curious, and therefore educated herself about the magnitude of the problem. When it was time for her annual science fair, she decided to do something related to what she had learned: she developed an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) that can analyze samples from the ocean floor to determine levels of microplastics and guide cleanup efforts. Sound intense? It is. It is also fascinating and so smoothly narrated that I'd read several chapters when I had only sat down to preview the book. 

Readers accompany every step of Anna's journey, seeing her uncertainty, her failures, and her successes. Middle-graders can identify with Anna's struggles, both scientific and with her family (her cousin is annoying in the extreme), and find a role model in her. This tale offers encouragement for readers who may be hesitant to engage in scientific investigation or who are already are eager engineers; while Anna's work is detailed and long-lasting, she shows that real science and engineering are absolutely doable for a kid. She was 12 when she worked on this project and went all-in on her ROV; the project developed and grew naturally.

The intended audience is aged 9-12, and I would say that's about right. The scientific and engineering details make this too complex for T. As an adult, however, I found this fascinating and educational. Back matter includes various experiments that one can do at home; the simplest I can do with T. Helpful hints for youth science fair projects are included throughout. 

I recommend Microplastics and Me for middle-grade readers who are even remotely interested in the ocean, pollution, science, or engineering. This is a title that would also be timely during science fair season.

Note: A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.