Review by Booklist Review
For their newest entry in the Scientists in the Field series, Montgomery and Bishop chronicle a short trip into Mongolia's Altai Mountains led by Tom McCarthy, the conservation director for the Snow Leopard Trust. Though the pictures give a different impression with an admixture of archival shots and close-ups of leopards in captivity, none of the marvelously elusive animals were actually spotted on the trip, and as even the samples of scat gathered along the way remained unanalyzed at press time, readers used to the seemingly effortless wildlife encounters in nature documentaries may react to the whole outing with indifference. Still, the author's observations about steep trails, rough camps, friendly Mongolians, and distinctive local customs and food provide some animation to the narrative, and the views of McCarthy and his colleagues hard at work impart a sense of both what wildlife biologists do, and why.--Peters, John Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-8-Reading this book is an extraordinary experience. It has an elegant layout featuring ornamental lettering, watermarks, and gorgeous photos; were it not for the delightfully exuberant text, it would be a stately coffee table book. But kids will giggle about the central role of scat or, as Montgomery often writes, "poo," in the research of snow leopards' habits. Children will be swept up in the buoyant account of the journey through Mongolia led by Tom McCarthy, conservation director of the Snow Leopard Trust, in search of the elusive cat known as the "ghost of the mountain." He has devoted much of his life to studying these animals and persuading their human neighbors of the importance of their survival. Montgomery's enthusiasm translates well to the page and will have readers cheering for the entourage as they attempt to spot a snow leopard. This slender book abounds with information, including stories of McCarthy's rare, powerful past encounters with the cat, as well as zoological and cultural sidebars. Bishop's trademark stunning photography fills out the book with breathtaking views of the extreme environs of Central Asia and warm portraits of the charming people who live there. Author's and photographer's notes aren't typically as engaging as the main text, but the reflections of Montgomery and Bishop on their experiences with McCarthy's crew are eloquent, integral parts of the book. A great way to learn about a spectacular animal and its habitat.-Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
(Intermediate, Middle School) Montgomery and Bishop (Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea, rev. 1/07) team up once again, this time for an expedition to remote Mongolia, tagging along with conservationist Tom McCarthy in search of the rare snow leopard. There are so few of these animals, and they are so elusive, it is difficult to count them accurately -- which makes it equally difficult to tell if conservation measures are working. In the nature-travel narrative style she has perfected, Montgomery invites readers along to learn not just about the leopards and the American and Mongolian scientists who track them but about the land and people she gets to know on her journey. She describes the lengths the team goes to in order to find traces of the leopards, detailing their camping provisions and arduous hikes, careful data collection, and the hospitality and customs of the people they encounter. There are also asides on Genghis Khan, fauna both living (camels) and long gone (the famous Mongolian dinosaur fossils), and tales of McCarthy's prior encounters with snow leopards. Montgomery is careful to show that research takes time and effort and does not always lead to a tidy conclusion. Bishop's excellent photographs feature the arid, rocky landscapes of the region, the research team in action, and the Mongolian residents met along the way. From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
It's no easy feat to write a book about one of the most charismatic yet notoriously elusive creatures on the planet without a single sighting, but Montgomery pulls it off with style. This latest in the superlative Scientists in the Field series focuses on wildlife biologist Tom McCarthy and his efforts to study and preserve the snow leopard. The author and photographer accompanied him on an expedition to Mongolia, and they put themselves right into the narrative, introducing the other members of the group and describing their relationships with local herders, the exhausting hikes, the excitement of scat discoveries ("As if he's savoring some special cheese or fine wine, Tom picks up the poop and sniffs it") and the progress made in conservation efforts. The lively narrative is interspersed with accounts of leopard encounters from McCarthy's previous expeditions as well as supplemental facts about Mongolia and its people. The ample backmatter includes a Mongolian phrase glossary, information on the Snow Leopard Trust, McCarthy's advice to budding scientists, author's and photographer's notes and an index. A bibliography of sources used is available online. (Nonfiction. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
