Fully illustrated with photographs, most in color, this book introduces Dian Fossey, who studied mountain gorillas in their habitat. She founded the Karisoke Research Center in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, in 1967 and spent many years observing the behavior and social patterns of gorillas, defending them from hunters and sometimes interacting with them. Many of the photos of Fossey and the gorillas are outstanding for their clarity, composition, and lighting. Although the photos of Fossey will greatly appeal to young readers, the text makes clear that Karisoke was no Eden. Matthews discusses the controversy Fossey's work engendered, the killing of gorillas by poachers, and Fossey's murder in 1985. Appendixes include a chronology, a bibliography, and a list of Web sites. Young people, particularly those intrigued by the many volumes on Jane Goodall's primate research, will find this book well worth reading.
-- Carolyn Phelan, Booklist