The Trailblazers biography series is for middle grade.
This book brings a fascinating figure of Jane Goodall, who became a leading expert on chimpanzee. When she began her work, it was a man’s world. It was her strong will to follow her dreams that pushed the boundaries.
Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall (born April 3, 1934) comes from a family supportive of women’s following their passions. Something that is unique of her time. She is fascinated with animals from the young age. After reading The Story of Doctor Dolittle who travels to Africa, where he has many extraordinary adventures, makes her dream of such adventures herself.
Her family doesn’t have money to pay for college. So after High School, she gets a few positions, mostly secretarial. Nothing seems exciting to her until she receives a letter from her friend inviting her to Kenya.
In 1957, her dream of African adventure comes true. She quickly realizes that in Africa, she feels at home. She gets hired by Louis Leakey, famous paleoanthropologist, as his secretary. That leads to an opportunity of studying chimps in the wild. With time, she becomes the leading expert on chimpanzee research.
With growing poaching problems and labs mistreating chimps for their research, she becomes a big advocate fighting for awareness of endangered animals.
Her work takes her from Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, where she spends her first years on the research. To setting up different projects inspiring children to volunteer and make a difference in their communities. And setting up an institute where she makes it possible for young adults to do a research.
Conservation efforts by others open her eyes to the plight around her. She was so focused on the small area of doing certain research that she wasn’t aware what was happening in the world with other animals. Thus, leading her to become an advocate for endangered animals.
The storytelling is engaging. There is one scene where Jane is attacked by a male chimpanzee. It presents a moment how dangerous her work is. This well-presented story shows that it doesn’t always begin with our dream. There are other things we need to do meanwhile in order to get where we want to be. The important message is to continue dreaming and grabbing an opportunity when it comes our way.
The story has black and white illustrations which are interesting, and also give some additional information.
Published in 2019 by Random House Book for Young Readers
TRENDING
INSPIRATION: With a strong will one can push any boundaries. Keep dreaming and grabbing opportunities.
Traits:
·
Challenge the boundaries
·
Follow your passion
·
Be adventurous
·
Finds solutions to obstacles rather than giving
in to them
·
Find a place that feels like home
·
Volunteer
·
Be resourceful
·
Dream big
·
Grab opportunities when they come your way
"He who does good to others makes the biggest gift to himself." - Seneca
“Change
happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing
something you don’t believe is right.” – Jane Goodall
“From
my perspective, I absolutely believe in a greater spiritual power, far greater
than I am, from which I have derived strength in moments of sadness or fear.
That’s what I believe, and it was very, very strong in the forest.” – Jane Goodall
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