ISBN 978-0618717163
The Horn Book starred review:
"The latest volume in the Scientists in the Field series introduces us to Dr. Tyrone Hayes, who researches the effects of pesticides on frog development as one possible cause of the rapid decline in amphibian populations around the world, a phenomenon not yet fully explained. Turner allows us to accompany Hayes as he travels to a pond research site in Wyoming and back to his laboratory at the University of California–Berkeley, explaining step by step the careful procedures his team follows as they investigate their research questions. Hayes comes across as both a dedicated scientist and a regular person, willing to work hard in pursuit of his scientific work yet quick to laugh and joke with his family and the graduate students he mentors. The result is one of the most compelling portraits of a scientific career the series has produced."
Booklist starred review:
"Well organized and clearly written, the text goes into detail about the process of analyzing the chemical’s affects on the frogs, but pulls back from specifics to show how the experiment fits into the larger picture. A full-page diagram called “Tyrone’s Experiment” lays out the hypothesis and procedures in a condensed, visual manner. Excellent color photos offer clear pictures of frogs and of this scientific team at work in the field and in the lab...Throughout the book, Turner portrays Hayes as both a colorful personality and a dedicated scientist...A vivid, realistic view of one scientist at work."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books starred review:
“. . . a nifty narrative that conveys science in action, offers some insight into environmental damage, and provides a vivid portrait of an energetic and charismatic (and hunky) young scientist who’s clearly inspiring students to take an interest in the field. The visually appealing layout is thick with images of people, making it easy to envision the realities of biological work, and of frogs, from hopping to undergoing dissection. . . useful as an introduction to the creation and execution of an experiment, and it will therefore be invaluable in science classes.”
School Library Journal starred review:
"Being raised in then strictly segregated Columbia, SC, couldn’t keep a smart young African-American man out of college, even prestigious Harvard University. Floundering in an unfamiliar milieu, Tyrone Hayes caught the attention of a serious science professor who recognized the potential of this struggling student and became his mentor. Turner’s lucid text and Comins’s clear color photos follow Hayes’s developing career to his present respected place as a gifted member of the scientific community. Researching the effects of atrazine-contaminated water on vulnerable amphibians, he is surrounded by the “Frog Squad,” a group of enthusiastic students pouncing on frogs in ponds or collecting careful data in the lab. Grinning from pierced ear to pierced ear (and that is a story in itself), the genial scientist nurtures his assistants, encouraging their enthusiasms while demanding serious work. Of the same sterling quality as Sy Montgomery’s engaging The Tarantula Scientist (2004) or her exciting Quest for the Tree Kangaroo (2006, both Houghton), this new addition to a stellar series opens an upbeat window to the adult application of youthful enthusiasms."
Chicago Tribune review:
"Growing up in South Carolina, Tyrone Hayes loved frogs. He hasn't stopped, not at Harvard University and Berkeley and not in his work, in the field and at the Berkeley lab, studying the environmental factors affecting frogs. His story as told here is compelling, because the text shows you Tyrone the person -- his high-school prom picture, his children and students in the field with him -- and Tyrone the scientific explorer of certain pesticides and their effects. This book shows being a scientist as a way of living your life, and that life seems accessible and attractive. And then there are the photographs of the frogs. Great text, great pictures."
Common Sense Media review:
"This is no dry book on frog life cycles. Author Pamela S. Turner skillfully weaves together many threads into a smooth, cohesive, irresistible story. On one level, it’s a mystery about the decline in frog populations and researchers’ scramble to understand it. On another level, it’s a textbook on how to undertake scientific research to tackle real-world problems. And finally, it’s an engaging, nuanced biography portraying scientist Tyrone Hayes as a child, a student, a father, a mentor, and a scientist.
Turner touches on everything from segregation and racism to achieving consensus in the scientific community to nurturing a team. There’s the big picture (how to test a hypothesis, for example) and satisfying detail (how to prepare slides of frog tissue, and why Hayes celebrates the Fifth of July). The well-organized text is complemented by vibrant photographs and a wealth of supplemental material for further exploration."
