Inspired by true events and historical characters, Force of Nature is a fictional reimagining of Rachel Carson’s life. Born in Springdale, Penn., in 1907, Rachel and her family lived on a farm replete with the beauty of nature yet within the shadow of Pittsburgh’s steel mills’ pollution.
From a young age, Rachel’s mother nurtured the love for nature she saw in her gifted, curious child and taught her that “we must always leave nature as we find her.” This life lesson took root in Rachel and spurred her on in her pursuit of a career as a writer, a marine biologist, and a zoologist.
Carson always maintained, “Until man recognizes himself / as part of, not master of nature, / he risks destroying all / that is good and beautiful. / The more we notice and appreciate / the mysteries of the universe, / the more devoted we will be to her protection.”
Written in free verse and beautifully illustrated by renowned artist Sophie Blackall, this novel for children ages 8 to 12 introduces a person who profoundly loved God’s world and was willing to confront criticism because she was a woman pursuing a career in science in a male-dominated profession. Through Carson’s public speeches and published articles and books, including Silent Spring, she became a spokesperson confronting the use of pesticides and open-air nuclear testing, a clarion call for the public to wake up to the urgent need to care for the earth.
In an author's note, Burg writes, “I hope I have awakened readers to the beauty that surrounds us and that, like Rachel, you will become thoughtful caretakers of the earth and all her creatures. I hope you will recognize, as Rachel did, that we are part of the natural world, and that in taking care of the earth, we are taking care of ourselves and one another. Most of all, I hope you will be reminded, as I was, that each of us can make a difference.”
(Scholastic Press)
About the Author
Sonya VanderVeen Feddema is a freelance writer and a member of Covenant CRC in St. Catharines, Ontario.