Spineless

Starred review from August 14, 2017
Combining humor and passion, science textbook writer Berwald investigates the strange world of the jellyfish in this captivating and informative science memoir. She reveals the ways these seemingly simple creatures are far more complex than many people imagine, examining how they communicate, how some sense light without eyes, and how some are virtually immortal. Berwald interviews leading jellyfish scientists around the world while sharing some of her own experiences with the animals, including searching for blooms in the eastern Mediterranean and tasting some at home in Austin, Tex. Her message transcends jellyfish themselves: Berwald makes clear that researching jellyfish “is not just to look at a creature unfamiliar and bizarre to most, but to study the planet and our place in it.” As oceans acidify and fisheries crash from overuse, jellyfish populations appear to be expanding: clogging cooling systems of power plants, disrupting tourism, and further damaging fish stock. Yet Berwald makes clear that the oceans are incredibly complex ecosystems and scientists aren’t fully certain what role jellyfish play, only that they are a critical component of the environment. Berwald details how focusing on jellyfish expanded her own intellectual horizons and she tells some awfully good stories along the way. Agent: Mollie Glick, Creative Artists.

August 1, 2017

When ocean scientist and science writer Berwald began researching jellyfish, she discovered two things. First, to understand jellyfish, one has to comprehend all the complexities of the ocean and its inhabitants. Second, it's important to write something that matters. As a result, this passion project of science and memoir does not center on jellyfish alone. Rather, it presents information on the ocean's ecosystem, the effects of climate change, and the economics of fishing, in order to get people thinking about the ocean and its future. Unfortunately, with so many issues covered, the book's organization may be confusing. Some unnecessary descriptions and awkward sentence structures also detract from the narrative. However, the writer's epiphany about her own life's journey in the second half of the volume provides more focus. Readers might relate to Berwald's reminiscing about lost dreams and disappointments, although some may find the tone whiny. More than a mere look at jellyfish, this title is a challenge to be more deliberate in how we live. VERDICT Though the volume's writing is uneven, the jellyfish is a hot topic that will likely see more coverage in the future. This will not be the definitive title on the subject, but it provides plenty of food for thought for those seeking to make different choices in their treatment of the environment and in their own lives.--Elissa Cooper, Helen Plum Memorial Lib., Lombard, IL

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2017
A close look at the biology and behavior of jellyfish combined with a personal history of the author, a former ocean scientist who was pulled back to the sea by these enigmatic creatures.As science writer Berwald notes, details about jellyfish--whose species number in the hundreds--are scant in comparison with what is known about other marine animals despite the fact that they have been on Earth for at least 500 million years. Because they reproduce quickly and can adapt to different environments, they're notorious for disrupting ocean ecosystems and devastating fishing economies. For beachgoers, they are often just nuisances with a painful sting. But the further the author dives into her research, the more she suspects that jellyfish behavior may provide clues about how the Earth's changing climate is affecting ocean life. In addition, jellies have sophisticated propulsion systems and collagen-based bodies that may guide bioengineers in developing new products. In this appealing combination of solid science writing, investigative journalism, and memoir, Berwald chronicles her travels around the globe interviewing leading jellyfish experts and viewing all types of jellies in aquariums and native habitats. What the author discovered is that jellyfish science is growing as it becomes more apparent that the animals are a robust source of information about the ocean's conditions as well as many other facets of the natural world. After years of research, Berwald is convinced that "to research jellyfish is not just to look at a creature unfamiliar and bizarre to most, but to study the planet and our place in it." While writing this lucid, eye-opening book, the author discovered that her place was, in part, inextricably entangled with jellyfish. In this lovely exploration of the mysterious jellyfish, Berwald both entrances and sounds a warning: pay attention to the messages sent by ocean life, and act to protect their environment, and ours.

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October 1, 2017
Jellyfish are so alien to us as spinal cord-bearing, land-based animals that we can't envision how a brainless blob of jelly can even be alive, let alone move, eat, and behave like an animal. And yet there are several thousand species of jellies in the world's waters, and their enigmatic lives fuel the fascination of science writer Berwald in her quest to understand their role in the fate of the oceans. The author first became enamored of marine biology during a field course in the Red Sea, but marriage and kids sidetracked her into writing textbooks and science articles. Stumbling across jellyfish while writing for National Geographic, she discovered an obsession that took her around the world to talk to the scientists who study jellies. She swam with jellies, watched how quickly they disintegrate in fishers' nets, ate them in Japan, and kept them in a home aquarium, and as she revels in these spineless animals, she teaches us to delight in them, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)