Forces of Nature: The Awesome Power of Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Tornadoes. National Geographic
Grade 4-8–A companion volume to the National Geographic film of the same title, this book presents the basics of these phenomena with a focus on the work of four scientists who study them: Richard Herd, Marie Edmonds, Ross Stein, and Joshua Wurman. Grace describes how volcanoes develop and the efforts to predict their behavior, highlighting the eruption of Soufriere Hills on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. Focusing on the seismically active region that includes the North Anatolian Fault near Istanbul, Turkey, she details attempts at earthquake prediction and what is being learned about safer buildings by studying Hagia Sophia, a structure that has survived numerous quakes. The author presents the Midwest's "Tornado Alley" as a prime example of a breeding ground for these storms, and reveals how and why they are formed. Survival tips are included, as are sidebars with factual data and statistics. Outstanding color and black-and-white photos and diagrams augment the very readable text. Lin Sutherland'sEarthquakes and Volcanoes(Reader's Digest, 2000) is similar in style, but lacks the focus on the work of specific scientists. Grace's book is an attractive presentation about a popular subject.–Jeffrey A. French, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OHCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.