Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist

Griffith employs a candid tone to showcase the real-life story of Jeanne Power, who made groundbreaking marine discoveries after moving from Paris to Sicily in 1818. Through reading about, studying, and cataloguing the Italian island’s wildlife, Power, a former dressmaker, becomes a self-taught naturalist, fashioning equipment for studying underwater species. Using “one of the world’s first aquariums built for scientific study,” she eventually solves the quandary of the paper nautilus’s stealing vs. shell-building tendencies. Despite facing gender-based discrimination and losing much of her research to a shipwreck, Power persists in breaking barriers. Stone contributes animation-style digital illustrations in a rich color palette. This is an informative, well-paced narrative biography featuring a lesser-known historical figure who persevered. Back matter features further information on Power’s life and legacy, contemporary marine biology and conservation efforts, and a bibliography. Ages 6–9. (review from Publishers Weekly)