Nobody Particular: One Woman's Fight to Save the Bays [Hardcover]

Molly Bang (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2001 | Age Level: 11 and up

From a renowned author/illustrator; a bold, daring, non-fiction picture book that tells the true story of one woman's fight to protect her environment.

Sometimes we have to take a stand and do what's right. That's what Diane Wilson thinks. An independent shrimper in Texas, she ekes out a living in the same waters that her family has worked hard in for generations. When Diane learns that the chemical plants in Texas give out more pollution than in any other state, she decides to stop them.

One woman against a powerful industry is not much of a fair fight, but Diane educates herself, lobbies, protests, writes letters, and never gives up. Based on real events, this is an inspiring, heartfelt story of one woman's struggle to take a stand against injustice and indifference.

Award-winning author/illustrator Molly Bang has created a compelling narrative, told inventively through a series of black and white graphic panels set against a richly colored gouache background.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Think of her as Erin Brockovich on a shrimp boat. This unassuming, working-class mom, a fourth-generation East Texas shrimper--"no education, no money, no clout," she says--turned her life upside down to fight the good fight against chemical plants that were destroying her livelihood and the bays she held dear. This comic-book-style biography of unlikely activist Diane Wilson follows her radical transformation, from the first days of pulling up nothing in her nets to her hunger strike, law suits, and run-ins with the EPA.

The format might lead you to believe this is strictly kids' stuff, but Wilson and author and Caldecott Honor artist Molly Bang manage to pack a lot of information into the book's mostly black-and-white panels (maybe a little too much for some younger folks). But readers of all ages will find inspiration in this political, feminist tale of how one person--"nobody particular," says Wilson--can fight big business and win. (Ages 9 to 12) --Paul Hughes

From Publishers Weekly

Bang (Common Ground) continues in an environmental vein with this cramped account of commercial shrimper Diane Wilson's fight to protect her native Texas waters from pollution. Taking a chronological approach, she tracks Wilson's growth from ordinary citizen (or "nobody particular") to environmental activist; the tale of how Wilson plays David to corporate Goliaths is an inspiring one. Artistically, Bang attempts a new style, apparently in order to shoehorn in a vast amount of information. On most spreads, she floats densely lettered black-and-white comic-book-style panels over full-color backgrounds that depict, variously, everything from the marine ecosystems of the Gulf waters to bird's-eye views of petrochemical plants. Additional elements include newspaper clippings, photographs and sidebars. With so many items vying for attention, the visual presentation is generally cluttered. Several scenesAfor example, a lovely, limpid close-up of two whooping cranes feedingAstand out in refreshing contrast. There's much to appreciate here, but it may be for motivated readers only. Ages 11-up. (Jan.) .)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805053964
• ISBN-13: 978-0805053968
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,267,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Molly Bang is an award winning children's book illustrator and author. Her
works include 3 Caldecott Honor Books: Ten, Nine, Eight, The Grey Lady and the
Strawberry Snatcher, and When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry, which
also won a Jane Addams Honor Award and the Arbuthnot Award. The Paper Crane
won the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award in 1987; Goose won the School of Library
Journal Best Book of 1996 and another work, Common Ground: The Water, Earth,
and Air We Share, won the prestigious Giverny Book Award in 1998 for the best
children's science picture book. Her latest book, My Light, is an ALA Notable
book.

Her only work for adults is Picture This, which shows how an understanding of
the most basic principles enable a person to build powerful pictures. It is
used by art and graphic departments in colleges around the country.

Bang received her bachelor degree from Wellesley in French, and Masters in
Far Eastern Studies at the University of Arizona and at Harvard. She has also
worked as a reporter; as an educator for public health projects in Bangladesh
and in Mali, West Africa, incorporating information on maternal and child
health into stories; and as a teacher in colleges.