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Wallace, Sandra Neil

Rock Star: How Ursula Marvin Mapped Moon Rocks and Meteorites

48 pp. | Simon/Wiseman | October, 2025 | Trade ISBN 9781534493339 $19.99 | Ebook ISBN 9781534493346 $10.99
(2) K-3 Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Much of what scientists know about the solar system originated in the work of geologist Ursula Marvin (1921–2018), “rock star of the universe” and one of the first to study lunar rocks. By looking at their mineral content, Marvin was able to form theories about the origins of lunar rocks and meteorites. This informative, inspiring look at a key figure in the field of planetary science begins with Marvin’s childhood and touches on her time in college but focuses mainly on a 1970s scientific expedition to Antarctica to discover and analyze meteorites. The engaging and somewhat lengthy text underscores the trailblazing nature of Marvin’s work, with subtle details that demonstrate how much sexism she faced. In college, for example, she switched schools when a professor blocked her from majoring in geology; and she was the only woman on the Antarctic expedition, where she was given men’s clothing and was sometimes excluded from research outings. She ignored the overt ­discrimination and carried on with her work. The illustrations make this point visually, showing Marvin exuberantly stepping onto an aircraft with a bright pink bag or ­depicting her in vibrant colors amidst male colleagues dressed drably or shown in shadow. ­Extensive back matter includes journal excerpts, a timeline, a bibliography, and more.
Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2025

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