CYBILS JUNIOR HIGH NONFICTION: Champion: The Comeback Tale of the American Chestnut Tree by Sally M. Walker
ABOUT THE BOOK
American chestnut trees were once found far and wide in North America's eastern forests. They towered up to one hundred feet tall, providing food and shelter for people and animals alike. For many, life without the chestnut seemed unimaginable—until disaster struck in the early 1900s.
What began as a wound in the bark of a few trees soon turned to an unstoppable killing force. An unknown blight was wiping out the American chestnut, and scientists felt powerless to prevent it.
But the story doesn't end there. Today, the American chestnut is making a comeback. Narrative nonfiction master Sally M. Walker tells a tale of loss, restoration, and the triumph of human ingenuity in this beautifully photographed middle-grade book.
REVIEW
I had no idea that trees could be so fascinating. But Sally Walker's account of the near extinction of the American chestnut tree and the numerous efforts being made to save it was informative and intriguing. She starts by giving an introduction to the tree itself and what made the tree valuable to so many people and creatures. Then she discusses the blight that attacked the trees and started killing them off rapidly. The rest of the book is spent explaining the various methods different scientists have and are using to re-establish the tree in it's former habitats. Walker does a nice job of explaining some complicated science concepts in a reader-friendly way. And she makes it clear the tremendous amount of work that has been put into saving this species of tree. The appendices at the end cover various related material such as a study of rodent nut preferences and an elementary classroom's participation in growing American chestnut trees. A great book that shows the good that science can do when it's used properly.
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