Taming Plastic: Stop the Pollution (Planetary Solutions #1)

"Plastics were created to last forever... and that's the problem," reads the back of this heavy-hitting nonfiction title from environmental activist Bates. Readers learn about the history of plastic, the economy's addiction to it, and its toll on the environment in spreads featuring an assortment of stock images. Though unflinchingly direct about the escalating plastics crisis, a good half of the volume identifies alternatives and outlines creative ways in which governments, businesses, and individuals currently participate in waste-reduction movements, including Lego's investment in biodegradable materials research. Bates assures young people that their efforts count and urges them to become "emergency planetary technicians." A closing quotation by Einstein sums the volume up: "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Somber and eye-opening. Ages 9-12. (Mar.)

Gr 5-8--This entry in the "Planetary Solutions" series contains vibrant pictures that support and enhance the text. The text breaks down the serious concerns regarding plastic usage in our modern world. Bates's comprehensive writing covers topics such as the life cycle of plastic, the different types of plastic and how they are made, the history of plastic, its environmental impact, and a varied action plan to address plastic waste. Readers will learn how renewable resources could effectively combat the production of new plastics. Key terms like polymer, Teflon, and bioplastics are explained in kid-friendly language and detail. VERDICT This resource will enrich current issues or environmental sections and is recommended for middle school libraries.--Jenifer Pickens, Rippon Middle School, Woodbridge, VA