Dark Matters: Nature's Reaction to Light Pollution

Gr 5–8—Combining science with storytelling, the author presents the case for less light and more darkness. Starting with her 13-year-old self, Galat communicates her early fascination with the night sky and the constellations. As time passes, her passion grows to include birds and then expands to all animals, most particularly those that thrive in darkness. As an adult biologist, she recounts memories of camping out under the stars, roasting hot dogs over a fire, and learning to drive on deserted roads. These impressions segue into factual accounts of the devastating effects of modern artificial lighting on birds, mammals, amphibians, insects, and plants. The cumulative effect can change the ecology of an area and even lead to extinctions. The pacing of the narrative is relaxed and the tone informal, but the science is thorough and grim. Much of the text is superimposed over blue pages filled with stars and is often difficult to read. Colorful photos of night skies, insects, and hatching sea turtles are tempered by images of dead birds and a roadkill raccoon. Readers may be inspired to create change, and Galat provides some very basic starting points (use outdoor lights with motion sensors, Google relevant search terms, etc.).