Back of Book: 

Dive into the world of Alvin the Submersible, as award winning journalist Aly Brown shares the stories of what lies beneath the waves, including lost hydrogen bombs, underwater volcanoes, storied shipwrecks, and hundreds of new species.

Humans have explored the far reaches of the globe, from the top of Mount Everest to Badwater Basin—a stretch of land 282 feet below sea level. But for most of our time on this planet, the ocean has been a huge mystery. It's only in the last 50 years that scientists have really started studying the ocean floor, with the help of one amazing creation: Alvin the submersible.

A deep-sea vessel that can sink miles below the surface with three people inside, Alvin and its crew have uncovered a treasure trove of information in the last 50 years. From tracking down lost hydrogen bombs to exploring underwater volcanoes known as black smokers to capturing footage of the Titanic's watery grave, there's so much waiting to be discovered beneath the waves!

Join award winning journalist Aly Brown as she dives into the wonders of Alvin’s world and see for yourself what lies in the last unexplored place on earth. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Middle Grade | Nonfiction | Informative 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A cute and informational middle grade book featuring the submersible Alvin and the many discoveries that it helped obtain. 

I must honestly say, there is no reason for me reading this book besides I randomly won it from the author's newsletter. Despite it being written for upper elementary students, I still found myself learning a ton. Before reading this book, I didn't even know that the submarine Alvin existed, so it should come as no surprise that I learned many things. 

Some of the things that I found the most impressive about Alvin is that he helped discover the remains of the Titanic, prove the theory of tectonic plates, found geothermal vents on the ocean floor, and even retrieved a nuclear bomb from the ocean depths! I found it fascinating to learn about the 50+ years of history that this little submarine helped create. 

This book is perfect for children due to the many photographs scattered throughout, the science experiments they can do at home, and the various asides explaining random topics about the sea floor. I probably could have done without most of them, but I can see the allure they would have for young children. 

The thing that I liked learning about the most was an octopus hatching ground that Alvin helped discover. Alvin was a big part in discovering many species deep in the ocean depths that had never been discovered previously, but I am a sucker for octopuses, so it's no surprise that I found that segment especially enjoyable. 

Overall, I feel that Brown was well read on this topic and I learned a bunch from her book. It is cool that she talked to some of these scientists in person, and I trust that her information is accurate. I enjoyed learning more about the ocean, though this book reminded me how much I fear the ocean's depths. I think it is a great intro to the subject of submarines in general, and that children and adult's with a childlike wonder and an interest in subs could enjoy this one.