Wildheart: The Daring Adventures of John Muir

by Julie Bertagna, William Goldsmith (Illustrator)

Overview

Told for the first time in a graphic novel, this is the exciting life story of John Muir—who sailed to America as a boy and ended up changing the world.
John Muir led an adventurous life, starting with his wild and playful boyhood in Scotland and culminating in his legendary exploits in America, where he became an inventor, an explorer, a bold champion of wilderness—and even made friends with a president! His heart was always in the outdoors and he aimed to experience all he could. Most importantly, though, John Muir told the world about the wonders of nature. His words made a difference and inspired people in many countries to start protecting planet Earth— and they still do.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781930238947
Publisher:	Yosemite Conservancy
Publication date:	03/19/2019
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	668,459
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	GN550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Julie Bertagna is an award-winning author of acclaimed books and short stories for children and young adults. Exodus has won various awards including a Friends of the Earth Eco Prize for Creativity and a Santa Monica Public Library Green Prize for Literature. Awards in her native Scotland include the Children’s Book of the Year and the Catalyst Book Prize. Julie lives in Glasgow, Scotland. William Goldsmith is a British writer and illustrator teaching illustration at the British Higher School of Art and Design. His work has appeared in a range of publications and exhibitions in the United Kingdom and overseas. His other graphic novels are The Bind and Vignettes of Ystov, published by Jonathan Cape. William currently lives in Moscow, Russian Federation.

Table of Contents

Key Characters 1. The Wild Boy of Dunbar 2. Let’s Go West! 3. Genius John in a Brave New World 4. A Terrible Darkness Made Me See 5. I Will Walk One Thousand Miles 6. The Mountains Are Calling Me! 7. Companions in Peril 8. The Wild Man Who Changed the World 9. As the Round Earth Rolls… John Muir’s Chronology and Legacy Glossary Sources Acknowledgments About the Author and Illustrator Parks Are for You

Editorial Reviews

01/07/2019

John Muir, a fascinating character in American environmental history, migrated to the U.S. from Scotland in the middle of the 19th century, where his fondness for nature sent him to explore and preserve some of America’s most majestic sites, including Yosemite National Park. Divided into episodic chapters, this graphic biography shares the broad strokes of Muir’s life in an accessible format. Bertagna (Exodus) recasts Muir as a mix of Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed, following him as he journeys across the Atlantic, settles into the frontier, and gradually begins life-changing trips that allow him “to drink in the grand show of nature.” The first-person voice adds a lively immediacy to the spare text, which is extended in Goldsmith’s panels, rendered in thick, uncluttered lines washed with watercolors that evoke the natural world that Muir loved so much. Unfortunately, the book’s omission of Native Americans perpetuates an image of a white explorer “discovering” long-inhabited lands. While the book introduces an important conservation figure and offers a moving ode to nature, it fails to present an inclusive, accurate view of U.S. history. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 02/01/2019

Gr 4–8—John Muir comes to life in this affectionate graphic format biography of the 19th-century environmentalist, inventor, and adventurer. Muir narrates, covering everything from childhood escapades to mountain climbing in Yosemite with President Theodore Roosevelt. Even as a boy, Muir was drawn to the outdoors, scampering across the Scottish countryside with his younger brother, Davie, and when he and his family moved to the United States, his love of nature grew stronger. Muir's travels as an adult throughout the country, seeing its beauty, grandeur, and, at times, danger, became fodder for writing that would inspire generations of readers. Goldsmith's charming cartoons, with black line drawings and washes of color, match the exuberant story. The author often relies on the subject's own words (a list of sources can be found at the end), and the result is a quick but deeply personal glimpse at a legendary figure. The text concludes with information on how Muir's work has spurred many to become lovers of the outdoors and protectors of the planet. VERDICT The graphic format will draw in many readers; a worthy purchase for most libraries, especially those seeking biographies.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

School Library Journal

Wall Street Journal: "Children unfamiliar with the early environmentalist who co-founded the Sierra Club, went camping with Teddy Roosevelt, and helped established national parks at Yosemite and the Grand Canyon will find much to admire in this exuberant, affectionate portrait." 

School Library Journal - STARRED Review: "John Muir comes to life in this affectionate graphic format biography of the 19th-century environmentalist, inventor, and adventurer. . . .Goldsmith's charming cartoons, with black line drawings and washes of color, match the exuberant story. . . . the result is a quick but deeply personal glimpse at a legendary figure."

San Francisco Chronicle: "This kid-friendly homage extols the passion and purpose of a green pioneer."

Horn Book Magazine: "This creatively rendered biography-in-comics-format of John Muir (1838–1914) is filled with the naturalist’s adventures. . . . Vibrant spreads in the chapter transitions and interludes capture the stunning landscapes in which Muir found his purpose. A timeline, a glossary, sources, and a 'Parks Are for You' page are included among the back matter."

Foreword Reviews - STARRED Review: "Muir’s wonder at the natural world translates perfectly. . . . The beauty of Wildheart is that it delivers its message effectively and enjoyably for both children and adults."

Publishers Weekly: "The first-person voice adds a lively immediacy to the spare text, which is extended in Goldsmith’s panels, rendered in thick, uncluttered lines washed with watercolors that evoke the natural world that Muir loved so much."

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books: "If a reader’s previous introduction to nineteenth-century naturalist and pioneering conservationist John Muir has involved only a gray-bearded man spouting tributes to nature, or President Teddy Roosevelt being shuttled around California on a much-publicized camping trip, this delightful Scottish graphic novel import will restore excitement to the biographical details and foster appreciation for this eccentric spokesperson for the Great Outdoors." Recommended.

From the Publisher