ROCK STAR: HOW URSULA MARVIN MAPPED MOON ROCKS AND METEORITES, by Sandra Neil Wallace and Nancy Carpenter, Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, Oct. 14, 2025, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 4-8)
Discover the story of a pioneering geologist in Rock Star: How Ursula Marvin Mapped Moon Rocks and Meteorites, by Sandra Neil Wallace and Nancy Carpenter.
Ursula Marvin was a rock star in the field of geology at a time when it was nearly impossible for women to pursue careers in science.
While attending college in the early 1940s, Ursula Marvin fell in love with geology, but when she asked her male professor about making the field her major, he tried to stop her, saying it would be a better use of her time to learn how to cook. Ursula studied geology anyway, eventually getting her master’s and PhD in the subject.
As a visionary and groundbreaking geologist, Ursula also had to be brave. She believed meteorites held the key to unlocking the origins of the solar system. To prove it, she travelled to Antarctica where she faced fierce winds, the coldest climate on Earth, and cracks in the ice that could have crushed her, but she knew the danger was worth the risk and scientific exploration wasn’t just for men. She proved her theory and that meteorites could be made up of pieces of planets or the moon.
Ursula Marvin charted new territory as a scientist and fought gender discrimination at every turn in her career. She broke barriers in science, helped create the field of planet geology, and discovered theories that are now foundational, reshaping our understanding of the universe. —Synopsis provided by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Kids love nonfiction books. They love to learn about how things came to be and the people who made that knowledge possible. In Rock Star, young readers are introduced to geologist Ursula Marvin who not only opened doors for women scientists but changed how we look at the universe.
In Rock Star, author Sand Neil Wallace draws from Ursula’s own journals and expeditions, sharing hopes, fears and big discoveries along the way. Wallace provides readers with a broad early biography and then delves into Ursula’s achievements, including an expedition to Antarctica. There’s a lot of information, but Wallace distills it into warm, conversational text that’s inviting and accessible.
Artist Nancy Carpenter’s acrylic paint and digital illustrations capture Ursula’s energetic spirit. The images have a lovely expansive feel to them while maintaining an intimate impression.
Extensive backmatter includes an author’s note, quotes, Antarctica facts, milestones timeline, and bibliography.
Rock Star would make a wonderful addition to any classroom or home library.
About the creators:
Sandra Neil Wallace writes about people who break barriers and change the world. Her true stories for young readers have received 20 starred reviews and won several national awards including the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery, and the NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Marjory Saves the Everglades. A former ESPN reporter and the first woman to host an NHL broadcast on national TV, she continues to break barriers and create change as co-founder of The Daily Good, which supports thousands of students through global food pantries and literacy programs in New Hampshire. Visit Sandra at SandraNeilWallace.com
Nancy Carpenter is the acclaimed illustrator of Thomas Jefferson and the Mammoth Hunt, Queen Victoria’s Bathing Machine, Fannie in the Kitchen, and Loud Emily, among other books. Her works have garnered many honors, including two Christopher Awards and the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at NancyCarpenter.website.
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