... splendid.

... brilliant.

Entwined with the story of saving coral is Berwald’s engrossing personal history, which includes her daughter’s battle with mental illness.

Berwald’s concern for her daughter and growing awareness of the intricacy surrounding the fight to save the reefs make for a compulsive reading experience. Solidly researched, sharply observed, and compassionately rendered, the parallel struggles in Life on the Rocks make for science writing that is illuminating on several levels..

Ocean scientist Berwald...blends memoir and science writing in this colorful look at the state of coral reefs.

Science journalist Berwald...brings a doctorate in ocean science and keen curiosity to an energetic investigation of the plight of coral reefs, threatened by warming waters, overfishing, and pollution.