Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore's Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat. Young Readers Edition. New York: Dial Books, 2009. 352 pages. $17.99 ISBN 9780803734159
Plot Summary: This edition of The Omnivore's Dilemma is geared toward kids. Pollan covers the American corn industry and how it has basically taken over all the food Americans eat. He also discusses the organic food industry in America, both the good and bad. In the third part of the book Pollan discusses the smaller, usually family run farms. Finally he discusses the steps it takes to prepare a meal completely from scratch, what is involved in animal preparation, harvesting, anything that goes on in order to have a meal. He also includes tips for better, healthier, smarter eating.
Critical Evaluation: I thought this book was very interesting. I haven't read the "adult" version of The Omnivore's Dilemma, but have been meaning to. As a vegan, I suppose I don't have an omnivore dilemma. However, I thought it was curious that the book was redone to provide an edition for kids. There is a lot of information in this book, and a lot of pictures and diagrams. I'm not sure if I really need to read the "adult" version because this book was so easy to understand and I felt like I learned so much. It would be a very in tune tween that would pick up this book, but it is definitely worth it.
Reader's Annotation: Michael Pollan uncovers the truth about the American food and farming industries and what that means for people who eat.
Author Bio: Pollan has published several books on food and the environment including The Omnivore's Dilemma, and In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. He is featured in the movie Food, Inc. that was recently in theaters. He has been a journalist since the 1970s, most notably as the Executive Editor of Harper's Magazine and his continuing contributions to New York Times Magazine. He is currently Knight Professor of Journalism at the University of California in Berkeley.
Genre: Non-fiction
Curriculum Ties: This would be a great tie-in to an economics class, or nutrition.
Booktalking Ideas: Discuss the monopoly that is our food. Give snippets of facts gleaned from the book.
Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School would be best, but maybe 5th/6th grade. 11 and up.
Challenges: Some of the pictures may be disturbing to some children and adults, especially ones of the animal living conditions. He also goes into detail about the process animals go through when they are "made into food." Some parents may view this as propaganda.
Reason for including: I thought it was interesting that the book was redone for kids and thought I'd give it a try. I'm vegan, so I don't need to be told twice the bad practices and bad nutrition behind the omnivore diet. I think activist minded tweens would get a lot out of this book.
Critical Evaluation: I thought this book was very interesting. I haven't read the "adult" version of The Omnivore's Dilemma, but have been meaning to. As a vegan, I suppose I don't have an omnivore dilemma. However, I thought it was curious that the book was redone to provide an edition for kids. There is a lot of information in this book, and a lot of pictures and diagrams. I'm not sure if I really need to read the "adult" version because this book was so easy to understand and I felt like I learned so much. It would be a very in tune tween that would pick up this book, but it is definitely worth it.
Reader's Annotation: Michael Pollan uncovers the truth about the American food and farming industries and what that means for people who eat.
Author Bio: Pollan has published several books on food and the environment including The Omnivore's Dilemma, and In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. He is featured in the movie Food, Inc. that was recently in theaters. He has been a journalist since the 1970s, most notably as the Executive Editor of Harper's Magazine and his continuing contributions to New York Times Magazine. He is currently Knight Professor of Journalism at the University of California in Berkeley.
Genre: Non-fiction
Curriculum Ties: This would be a great tie-in to an economics class, or nutrition.
Booktalking Ideas: Discuss the monopoly that is our food. Give snippets of facts gleaned from the book.
Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School would be best, but maybe 5th/6th grade. 11 and up.
Challenges: Some of the pictures may be disturbing to some children and adults, especially ones of the animal living conditions. He also goes into detail about the process animals go through when they are "made into food." Some parents may view this as propaganda.
Reason for including: I thought it was interesting that the book was redone for kids and thought I'd give it a try. I'm vegan, so I don't need to be told twice the bad practices and bad nutrition behind the omnivore diet. I think activist minded tweens would get a lot out of this book.
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