Summer Read-to-Learn: The Girl Who Tested the Waters
All summer, I’ll be sharing books for kids of all ages on topics that will interest them or offer them something new to learn about. Most of the time, these will be nonfiction books, but sometimes we can learn from fictional stories too. I believe reading over the summer is so important, and keeping kids interested in reading by finding books that are relevant and full of topics that they are interested in is very important. Kids should be reading at least 20 minutes every day, and I hope that these books offer you ideas to keep your kids reading and learning all summer.
Look for these posts every Friday. They will always have Summer Read-to-Learn in the title and the tags. There will be books from some of my favorite publishers as well as books on all kinds of topics kids love to read and learn about. Be sure to stop by each week to see what book I’m sharing as part of my Summer Read-to-Learn series.
To see all the books in the Summer Read-to-Learn series, click HERE.
THE GIRL WHO TESTED THE WATERS
Ellen Swallow, Environmental Scientist
By: Patricia Daniele
Illustrated by: Junyi Wu
Published: February 4, 2025
Publisher: MIT Kids Press
Non-Fiction/Biography
Born in 1842, Ellen Swallow grew up an only child on a farm in Massachusetts. Because she was born with impaired lungs and was very tiny, she was encouraged to be outside in the fresh air. She thrived outside on the farm, and her parents chose to “homeschool” her to keep her away from germs. She grew up with a love of nature and animals and had a vivid curiosity for learning. She wanted to go to college, but that was unheard of for a girl during the 1860s, and her family couldn’t afford the tuition of $300/year at Vassar College, which had just opened a Women’s College.
Ellen worked hard cleaning houses and caring for the sick, eventually earning enough for her first year’s tuition. Once she got to college, she studied, read, and worked hard every minute. An applied chemistry class eventually led her to her passion, studying and analyzing anything she could, soil, water, baking powder, and more. Her skills and grades got her noticed by professors, but after college, she still couldn’t get a job as a chemist because she was a woman. She applied to MIT and in 1871, she was accepted as the first woman at MIT. Again, she faced sexism from her classmates and professors because she was a woman. Her professors eventually had to admit that her skills were top-notch and asked her to help the city of Boston find the problems with their water systems due to the increase in immigrants and the amount of sewage and garbage in the water there. They needed to stop the spread of diseases, and Ellen went all over the city collecting samples, eventually finding a way to help the city of Boston.
Ellen Swallow never gave up and became a well-respected chemist in the world of ecology and environmental sciences. If you live in a town or city with a water treatment plant (I hope your town has one!), you have Ellen Swallow to thank.
The quality of life depends on the ability of society to teach its members how to live in harmony with their environment–defined first as the family, then with the community, then with the world and its resources.”
Ellen Swallow
Ellen Swallow is another fascinating woman in history whom I’ve never heard of. Another woman who broke barriers to help solve problems, make a difference in people’s lives, and all without a lot of fanfare. She did her job, worked hard, and shared her estate with organizations and causes that she supported. A timeline of Ellen’s life and an author’s note at the end offer more information about Ellen. The author also includes sources for more information about Ellen Swallow’s life.
Patricia Daniele is an avid reader and likes to dig into and write stories about can-do people who have dared to overcome obstacles, succeeded, and inspired others. Growing up in New England, she spent summers swimming in the cold waves of the Atlantic Ocean. A mother of two grown boys, she now lives with her husband on the West Coast and enjoys swimming in the warmer Pacific Ocean waves near her home.
Junyi Wu is an illustrator from Southern California. Like Ellen Swallow, she loves gardening, exploring the outdoors, and collecting natural finds such as rocks and wildflowers.
Click HERE to purchase a copy of THE GIRL WHO TESTED THE WATERS
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
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