Reviews

All That Trash: The Story of the 1987 Garbage Barge and Our Problem with Stuff by Meghan McCarthy

constant_reader's review

4.0

I don't recall this event from the 80s. I can't believe that happened. Nice illustrations. Interesting read, especially the last 2 pages.

readingthroughtheages's review

4.0

Important book as it has an important message about our environment and making conscientious choices. Will be a wonderful read for Earth Day, or a when you're talking about recycling.
My favorite part was all the 80s references :)

abigailbat's review

3.0

I love me some Meghan McCarthy. In 1987 when a New York landfill was filling up, Lowell Harrelson came up with the bright idea to bury it and turn the methane gas given off by the rotting garbage into energy. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. What to do with a barge full of 3000 tons of garbage that NOBODY will accept?

This would make a great book for sharing around Earth Day or talking about the environment, recycling, or responsibility. Who's really responsible for all that trash? Luckily, we started recycling more after 1987, but we are still producing more waste than ever before.

Back matter includes more information about this true event, as well as facts about garbage and recycling and some ideas on how to turn trash into treasures.

ajacks's review

3.0

I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org (less)

nikkitellkamp's review

informative inspiring reflective

This book was written and illustrated by Megan McCarthy and is informative and interesting. Published in 2018 this story gives a real life example of why recycling is important. This would be a wonderful book to read to an elementary class on earth day, even though the book is geared towards 4-8 year olds! At the time the story took place it was a big deal from coast to coast however now it is almost completely forgotten. This story can motivate and educate young readers about the past and about how our wastefulness and trash can affect the world. It was well written with great illustrations. 

jillcd's review

4.0

The true story of the garbage barge of 1987. Similar to the book Here Comes the Garbage Barge. This is a great way to get kids talking about the environmental issues we face and how recycling and reusing can help the problem.

t2p's review

4.0

Author-illustrator Meghan McCarthy brings trash history to life for students in this narrative nonfiction picture book. Using cartoon-like acrylic paint illustrations, McCarthy humorously recounts the true story of the 1987 Garbage Barge that floated in the Atlantic for months and changed the way Americans thought about trash. Back matter includes more facts about the barge, as well as current information about recycling and waste. Project ideas for students to reuse refuse are also pictured. (Grades 2-5).

(Seriously, her 80s references were great. I also listened to an awesome podcast about this.)

mandarchy's review

4.0

I love the way Meghan McCarthy presents history to children. This book made me ask, where were the women in 1987? Because in one spread there were 10 portraits of people involved in the story, only one of which was female. Then at another point, I had a moment of implicit bias when I realized Mexico has a navy and it was used in defense against a U.S. entrepreneur. I'm sure if I read this aloud to my students they would question these things. What I really liked though were the math possibilities under the recycling facts in the back, and the huge bibliography. I love to show real citations to my students who are just finding out that they need to start using them.

librarydose's review

4.0

Funny! Gross!