Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks’ Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas tells the stories of the three primatologists and their work with chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans, respectively. Ottaviani and Wicks begin with how the Leakey’s work in the Olduvai Gorge, Kenya, and other parts of Africa helped to uncover elements of human evolution and pointed the way toward studying other primates to learn about early precursors to modern humans. Each of the women that Ottaviani and Wicks profile found their own way to primates based on childhood or later interests. Even more inspiringly, they all came to know of and appreciate each other, with Goodall paving the way for Fossey, who in turn laid the path for Galdikas. Louis Leakey was an advisor to all three and Ottaviani and Wicks manage to capture the complex portrait of how he advanced science while also crossing the line of propriety with some women students. Meanwhile, the women had to overcome structural barriers in science as well as local barriers to their work from governments and nature itself. They also had their flaws, but that makes them more approachable especially for young readers who may feel weird for their interests. Ottaviani and Wicks’ Primates is a great introduction to these three scientists for younger readers. ( )

I'm not sure if I was distracted while reading this, but I found the storyloines a bit confusing and could tell you maybe 1 - 2 things that I learned from this book. The art was clear though? ( )

Absolutely fascinating graphic novel mini biographies of leading women scientists. I had no idea that Leakey ties these three women together, nor how their work connected and built over time. Really, really well done. ( )

An accessible, and sometimes very funny, introduction to the lives and works of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas. I learned a little about the history of studying primates and much more about the women who studied them. Despite Louis Leakey's tendency to lump all female scientists together for their patience and nurturing talents, Primates makes it very clear that Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas are unique individuals with their own abilities...and that all women, as long as they have passion and perseverance, are qualified for and capable of this kind of scientific work. I would've appreciated an afterword with a bit more information on their lives---perhaps timelines---but the bibliography at least offers suggestions for further study. ( )

biography/history in graphic format (mostly pretty true). Very brief forays into the research lives of Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall and Birute Galdikas and how they intersected. Serious fans of these women will probably want more information, but maybe a kid picking this up would become interested in biology? For me, this was mostly forgettable. ( )