This book, authored by pediatrician Dr. Debra Hendrickson, is an eye-opening account of the effects of Climate Change on our children, both physically and emotionally. They are more vulnerable than adults to our planet's changing conditions due to their smaller, still developing bodies. Dr. Hendrickson outlines both the physical and mental effects caused by rising temperatures, wildfires, pollution, hurricanes and flooding, and more. She does so using a balance of current research and scientific explanation, along with anecdotal accounts of her young patients and others. This book is very readable and inspiring due to this balance of research data and personal accounts.
I learned a lot from this book. Her explanations and accounts were very helpful in bringing increased understanding. It's not just an abstract issue. It is an important issue that affects us all, in one way or another. It helped me to understand better the far reaching effects, and how we are in crisis stage. Changes must be made now to help future generations. Let's take care of our children!
This book is due out in July of 2024. I received an advanced copy to read from NetGalley.

The Air They Breathe by Dr. Debra Hendrickson covers a topic of great importance, the impact of climate change on the heath of children. This very well researched book with many references at the end of the book covers the consequences of poor air due to forest fires, extreme heat, hurricanes, and mosquito borne pathogens. Dr. Hendrickson has a very accessible writing style and tells the stories of many individual patients impacted by the perils of climate change. As someone who has lived in Houston for more than 20 years and saw the impact of Hurricane Harvey firsthand, I was very moved by her description of the consequences of catastrophic weather events on children.

I was unclear who the intended audience for this book should be. As a scientist, I felt that the vast amount of research that Dr. Hendrickson completed to write this book was diluted by an over emphasis on personal stories and under emphasis on data. This approach may be more impactful to other readers.

Dr. Hendrickson attempts to make the point that we need to reduce fossil fuel usage. I fully agree with this point. However, I felt that the point could have been a lot stronger with more emphasis on facts and figures.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.