Footeprint
Eunice Newton Foote at the Dawn of Climate Science and Women's Rights
A fascinating novel-in-verse for young adults capturing the discoveries of Eunice Foote, a remarkable woman in science WAY ahead of her time.
A fictionalized account of the first woman to identify carbon dioxide as a cause of climate change in 1856 when most people preferred that women be seen rather than heard.
Fictionalized only to weave together some unknown pieces of Eunice’s life, this is a journey through time, triumph, trepidation, and trauma, revealing the extraordinary life and work of Eunice Newton Foote. Eunice’s most important discovery was recognizing the effect of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: a warming planet. But in a society driven by coal, kerosene, and crude oil, Eunice’s warnings went unheeded. After all, who would listen to a woman—especially a woman known to consort with suffragists?
From the Seneca Falls Convention to the halls of the US Patent Office in Washington, DC, Eunice Newton Foote blazed a trail for independence and inquiry. Today Eunice’s discoveries feel ever more prescient. She knew that reliance on fossil fuels would have a devastating effect. Today she is finally receiving the credit she deserves. Eunice Newton Foote’s extraordinary tale is told in novel-in-verse format, perfect for teenagers interested in STEM.
Written by Lindsay H. Metcalf
Charlesbridge Teen | ISBN: 978-1623546335
304 pages | ages 12 and up
Available now!
Praise
★”Lindsay Metcalf (Tomatoes on Trial) draws climate science pioneer Eunice Newton Foote out of the shadows of history in the expressive, evocative fictionalized novel-in-verse, Footeprint. Through melodic third-person poetry, Metcalf describes both the scientific and women’s rights advancements this little-known American inventor achieved by “kicking the glass ceiling/ to breathe the air above.” Metcalf based her work of fiction on historical fact, using minimal speculation and including images of various individuals noted in the book as well as reproductions of historical documents. . . .
Metcalf’s excellent research and her artistic approach to presenting the information create a mesmerizing reading experience. The author’s clever use of figurative language emphasizes the struggles Eunice endures due to gender bias–“Like the layers of her dress,/ [Eunice] must peel away misbeliefs/ one breakthrough at a time”–and her verse (often flowing into concrete poetry) displays Eunice Newton Foote as the breathtaking work of art that she is. –Jen Forbus, freelancer
Shelf Talker: A delightful novel-in-verse corrects the history books on climate science by spotlighting the incredible life of scientist and women’s rights activist Eunice Newton Foote.” —Shelf Awareness starred review
“Foote’s stirring fictionalized story, told via spare, spellbinding verse that plays with form and formatting, gives readers a glimpse into the brilliant and brave woman who has only recently gained real recognition. The book follows her life from her early unusual education through her surprisingly supportive marriage and eventual family life but never loses focus on her inventions, scientific experiments, and desire for equality between sexes. This all happens against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America, and readers are treated to a substantial history lesson alongside facts about Foote’s fascinating life. Additional ephemera includes photos, artwork (a question about a possible artistic rendering of Foote makes for a tantalizing side story), patent paperwork, and an extensive source list and bibliography will assist readers in further research. A meticulous and moving account of an important past life that reverberates remarkably into the present.” —Booklist
“Lindsay H. Metcalf’s enthralling biographical novel-in-verse highlights the scientist’s contributions and challenges as an inventor, wife, and mother in the 1800s. … The book’s approach is innovative, befitting its story of a trailblazing inventor. Historical details are highlighted, and critical thinking is encouraged, in its short poetic lines, which are packed with meaning as they ably convey Eunice’s vitality and the turbulence of her century … An engaging biographical novel-in-verse, Footeprint is about the life of climate science pioneer Eunice Newton Foote.” —Foreword Reviews
“This verse novel contains an enormous amount of factual detail on a range of subjects and figures, including climate science, major players in women’s suffrage, and the US patent process. The strikingly elegant text, however, imbues the linear narrative with a hefty amount of emotion, so that the overall story is one of a fully-fleshed out character radically moving within but not defined by the social and scientific worlds of the 1800s. . . . the poetic form, visual layout, and cohesive plot make this an exemplar of verse storytelling.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Metcalf’s research shines through in the vivid details and contextual information about racial and gender bias surrounding Foote, who was white. . . . A valuable corrective to erasure in climate science history.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Diligently researched passages highlight the accomplishments of a female scientist only recently being recognized for her discoveries.” —Publishers Weekly
“The free-verse format used by the author gives the book an accessible feel that lends light and air to the telling and infuses the science with emotion, making it a topic today’s young scientists will want to explore.” —Historical Novel Society
Extras
Could this be the first image of Eunice Newton Foote? Charlesbridge blog
Interview with Lindsay about Footeprint, “Up to Date,” KCUR
“In Conversation: Jen Bryant, Rebecca Donnelly, and Lindsay H. Metcalf on Eunice Newton Foote,” Publishers Weekly
Why I wrote Eunice’s story as a novel-in-verse, NFFest blog
