Great Carrier Reef by Jessica Stremer (review)

After decades of service, the USS Oriskany, nicknamed “The Mighty O,” was decommissioned in 1975; nearly thirty years later, scientists would put the aircraft carrier to new use, under the sea instead of on its surface. As the consequences of global warming and dying reefs became clear in the early 2000s, scientists worked toward creating artificial reefs for the millions of sea creatures left at risk as their homes and hiding spots were lost to warming oceans. The Mighty O became the world’s largest artificial reef, but not without serious effort: toxic paint was stripped away, oil and fuel drained, cables cut, and layers of other harmful material removed. Finally, explosives were used strategically to make sure the ship fell evenly to the ocean’s bottom. The latest entry in the “Books for a Better Earth” series focuses on climate change’s effect on the ocean through an accessible, single account, reminding readers that human ingenuity may very well abate the results of human-driven destruction. The straightforward narrative is concise but informative, conveying details of the boat’s transformation along with blunt facts about a dying marine environment. Full spreads of gouache and acrylic illustrations emphasize the enormity of the ship as it stretches across the pages, while empty underwater scenes are soon populated by various sea life as the Mighty O sinks into its new role. Young readers are becoming increasingly aware of the climate crisis, and librarians and educators should keep an eye on this series as a resource for information that highlights possible solutions, avoiding Pollyanna optimism or fatalistic doomerism.