The Monarchs Are Missing

Blending crisp full-color photos with accessible text, Rebecca E. Hirsch explains how modern-day citizen scientists of all ages are helping researchers solve the mystery of why The Monarchs Are Missing (Millbrook, Jan. 2018; Gr 3-7). This engaging book grabs readers right from the introduction, which describes a butterfly soaring over a Pennsylvania field filled with goldenrod on a warm September afternoon. Nearby, Joe and Ellie, both 12, work together to carefully net one of these orange-and-black beauties, record its sex, and place a sticker on its wing, before returning it to the wild—and its amazing journey. Each fall, millions of monarchs migrate from across the eastern United States and Canada to Mexico, traveling up to 3,000 miles—"quite a feat for a creature that flies on paper-thin wings and weighs about as much as a raisin." Data collected in the field by these youngsters and others will be used by scientists to investigate why monarch populations have been declining over the past 20 years. In the first chapter, Hirsch discusses how scientists first tracked the mysterious eastern monarch migration (a decades-long effort entailing the development of workable butterfly tagging, tracking by volunteers, data collection—by mail, and a motor-home journey through the Mexican countryside); provides a detailed account of this insect’s life cycle and multi-generational journey; and explains how numbers are tracked by measuring winter colonies in the mountains of central Mexico. Next, the author delves into possible causes for the drop in numbers—including changing conditions in their wintering grounds, climate change, loss of milkweed and wildflowers along the migratory pathway, use of pesticides, and more. Emphasizing the ability of this species to “bounce back with big numbers,” a final chapter focuses on actions currently being taken and the ways that ordinary people can help make a difference. Compellingly written, this book provides information about its topic while more broadly addressing how scientists gather information and approach a problem, the interconnectedness of environmental concerns, and the power of individuals to both gather data and bring about change. Kids who want to jump right and help can employ the suggestions for things to do presented in the narrative, or investigate the appended websites detailing how to a plant a butterfly garden or become a citizen scientist.

“A fine choice for most public and school library collections, particularly those that promote active engagement with the natural world by citizen scientists of all ages.”—School Library Journal

“[E]ncourag[es] readers to become citizen scientists and actively help monarch conservation efforts.”—Booklist

“An excellent introduction to a familiar scientific puzzle.”—Kirkus Reviews