“Something was wrong . . . My regulator had frozen open. My air supply was pouring out into the ocean.” Marine biologist Kathy Conlan’s account of a frightening moment while diving in Antarctica is an example of the candid and fascinating narrative put forward in Under the Ice . An accessible text and many photographs describe Conlan’s work studying the effects of pollution in Antarctica. Vivid details of the extreme conditions under which she worked convey both the harshness and grandeur of the region. (Ages 8-11)

Imagine suiting up and slipping into water so cold that exposed skin can freeze in seconds and equipment can suddenly seize up. These are the dangers that Kathy Conlan faces when she goes to work. Kathy is a marine biologist who has scuba-dived in oceans off the Arctic and Antarctic -- two of the most hostile environments on Earth. Under the Ice is a fascinating first-person account of a woman scientist at work. Highlights of Kathy's research on how pollution affects the fragile environments under the ice and stunning photographs of places few will ever visit make this a book readers will be eager to dive into.