Thank you, NetGalley, for the Advance Reader Copy of, A World Without Summer by Nicholas Day. This book showcases all the ways in which an explosive eruption of a volcano in the Philippines affected not only the islands near the explosion, but globally changed the weather, crops, and health of humans for over 2 years. The wonder of this book is that it showcases all of the adaptations that were made in Europe and the United States due to the changes caused by the ash and mineral fallout. I am still thinking about the connections to history that were made while reading this incredible title.
My one critique of the book is the periodic interruption of the author with a page of questions for the reader. I believe that a note at the beginning of the book mentioning that there are questions for readers at the end would be a better way of handling this. There could be a little note at the bottom of the chapters before the question section letting the reader know where to look for the relevant question of questions. This would allow the book to be used by teachers as a read-aloud, followed by discussion as a class. If a child were to read this on his or her own, that child would be able to flip to the question section if desired. If not for this one distraction while reading, I would have given the title 5 stars.

Nicholas Day does it again! After visiting the world of the Mona Lisa in his previous book, A World Without Summer explores the impact of the volcano Tambora in Indonesia, which erupted in 1815 and changed the climate worldwide over the next year. Fast-paced and suspenseful, this narrative nonfiction account with hook readers from page one, and will have them thinking globally about climate today while introducing them to a massive volcanic eruption that most have never heard of. I can't wait to share this book with students! Five enthusiastic stars from this librarian!

As with Nicholas Day's book The Mona Lisa Vanishes, Day does a masterful job of showing the interconnectedness of historical events and the way these events impact us today. Day's writing and choice of details to include makes the book difficult to put down, and will be read quickly cover to cover. Day engages the reader throughout the book with questions that bridge the topic and the reader's experience.. These would be great for discussion. Most people probably do not know about the eruption of Tambora or its global impact, but the connection to what they understand about climate change today will make the topic very accessible. This is a must purchase for grades 5 and up. This would make a great book to read on one's own, a great whole class read in a science class, and a lit circle choice. It definitely belongs in every school library. Extensive bibliography, citations, and index are included. As I read an advance copy on an e-reader, I did not fully experience Yas Imamura's illustrations, but will look forward to experiencing the book with the addition of her art.

A World Without Summer covers the effects of the worst volcano ever recorded, the eruption of Mount Tambora in April of 1815. Yet Day does not just cover the immediate destruction of the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia or the effects of the tons of volcanic ash on weather all over the globe. He also ties in the inspiration for Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the bicycle, and Westward Expansion in the United States. Like his The Mona Lisa Vanishes, Day is quite skilled in tying so many events together from the past while also weaving a cautionary tale for the present.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the digital ARC.

I loved The Mona Lisa Vanishes, and was so excited to see another title by Nicholas Day. Day has a way of writing and informing but in a way that just feels like a story. And since stories are how we learn and interpret our world, this is perfect! I had never heard of Mount Tambora, nor the impact it had across the world. Day takes us through events leading up to the volcano, the direct impact it had in 1815 and 1816, and even how our world continues to be impacted today. Not only is this a story of something that happened in history, but it is a warning for today. As Day points out, everyone noticed the climate change caused by a volcanic eruption (though they didn't know that was the cause) because it all happened very quickly. But now, it's easier to ignore or deny climate change as the changes are happening gradually. Yet the impact could be the same. He shares this message without preaching, but rather with facts and information. The narrative style of this nonfiction makes it accessible to the reader, and engages them at the same time. This will definitely be a title I add to my library!

I absolutely loved the voice Nicholas Day had writing The Mona Lisa Vanishes. Because of that I was very excited to read another book by him. A World Without Summer is a more serious read though the writing voice is as enjoyable. I knew nothing about Tambora's volcanic explosion or how it impacted the world for several years after. I was especially surprised by Mary Shelly being affcted by Tambora and that her writing Frankenstein occured during this time period. This is a book about the hearbreaking loss of life and nature as well as a thought provoking look into society. The author asks of us, as readers, some very important questions about society, the value of life, and what will we do with the future that is in our hands. I highly recommned this nonfiction book. It may just encourage readers to explore some of the historical connections.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book. This book quite literally started with a bang, then lava, a tsunami and a world of change. The first part of the book was quite fascinating and a piece of history that I was not aware of. It became tedious with the repetitive descriptions of the storms and famine in each part of the world that read the same. I was also curious if Mary Shelly and the Bicycle had any real connection to the events of Tambora's catastrophic eruption. I would have liked to know more about the people that survived on the island and what they went on to do. I had higher hopes for this book since I really enjoyed The Mona Lisa Vanishes.