The Monarch Effect: Surviving Poison, Predators, and People

by Dana L. Church

A not-so-typical look at the mysteries of the monarch butterfly

Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future.



With their stunning black-and-orange wings, monarch butterflies are one of the most recognizable insects on the planet. But despite their delicate beauty, these creatures are warriors. The moment they hatch, they're fighting for their lives. Everything is the from the very leaf they live on to the humans and animals around them to nature itself. How does such a tiny egg survive to become a butterfly? And even after emerging from the cocoon, unimaginable danger migration.



Every year, monarchs take flight, making one of the greatest migrations in the world. However, for a long time, their destination was unknown within the scientific community. Through the research of scientists in Canada and the United States and the support and efforts of ordinary people as well as Indigenous knowledge in Mexico, that mystery was finally solved. But to do so would involve years of searching across three countries and encounters with feuding scientists, the consequences of colonialism, and life-and-death stakes.



Weaving together the untold story of survival, scientific discoveries, and the relationship between humans and butterflies, The Monarch Effect explores how one small insect can have an incredible impact on the entire planet.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Middle Grade, History, Animals

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

I am a children’s author who loves writing about animals. I am such a nerd when it comes to animals that I have a PhD in animal cognition. I spent many years in university studying bumble bee behaviour and memory. I still love to watch bumble bees. They are amazing little creatures.

Besides animals, some of my other favourite things include a good cup of tea, getting lost in a good book, French toast, and walking my big, black friendly dog, Spirit.

Reviews

[Mai H.]

Non-fiction November TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Focus

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Sabrina Poole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was geared toward middle schoolers and I think, for me, it was too young. It just wasn’t holding my attention, but it still had lots of great information. I learned a lot about how butterflies know which wind patterns to follow, the importance of the antennae and how critical the wintering spots on. This book also did a fantastic job of explaining the complexities surrounding the wintering sites and trying to protect them. It’s a multifaceted issue that involves not only the Indigenous people, but others outside the local communities. I loved the concept of two eyed seeing for making improvements for caring for the butterflies. Overall, a good book with lots of information on many aspects of monarch butterflies and their importance.

[Ellen Symons · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to learn ways to help monarch butterflies, and what organizations can guide you, read this book. I got tons of fascinating and important information about monarchs, their history, their possible futures, and their roles in the life of the world. Dana L. Church is an excellent storyteller who combines her incredible research and her passion to give us a science book and a poem all in one.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most people know what a monarch is and how many of them in the Americas migrate thousands of miles, but how did scientists figure that out. How did we learn where they go and where they winter? How did we figure out that they are poisonous to many would-be predators? What is the current state of their population, and why is just planting more milkweed not enough to save the monarch population? Learn about the people behind the research, and new tactics needed to save the western and eastern North American monarchs.

I’ve read a couple different books about monarchs, but this was the most informative about how we know what we currently know about North American monarchs. Some of the experiments that were done to figure out the migration path, wintering sites, and how poisonous they are were wild to learn about (especially know many came before the internet was much of a thing). It also explored the multifaceted issues monarchs are facing, and how just stopping illegal logging in Mexico or just planting more milkweed in the middle of the US is not going to answer all the problems. Church makes it clear to readers that 1 organism doesn’t live in a vacuum and many other organisms and ecosystems are connected, including humans. It was a very balanced and reasonable call to action for those wanting to help the monarch population. For me the most fascinating parts of the book were reading about the experiments different scientists have come up with to figure things out about monarchs, like painting their antennae to figure out if those help in navigation or putting removable stickers on their wings. One would think a several hundred page book on butterflies could get dry, but Church kept it very readable, the font is actually a bit larger than normal, and I found it a very interesting nonfiction book that kept my attention easily.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Life cycles and deaths of monarchs are talked about. Also events that wiped out huge numbers. Humans dying of old age are mentioned. Humans being under threat from armed illegal loggers is mentioned (no actual violent encounters recounted).
Ethnic diversity: Church interviewed several scientists for the book, some white Canadians or Americans, I believe one was an Asian Canadian based on the name, and there are several Mexicans, including some from a specific indigenous people group that lives around the monarch’s wintering sites in Mexico.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Due to the nature of the book some of the scientific knowledge may become dated in a few years, from current stats on monarch populations to the theories related to butterfly evolution.

[Amanda Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doesn’t everyone love Monarch Butterflies? They are one of the very first butterflies that a child can identify, and when you’ve heard the story of their continental migration, you are a fan for life. The Monarch Effect will fan your passion for these magical insects. It’s a book of science based in the stories of researchers, scientists and community members, all coming together to discover the secrets of Monarchs. In some parts it reads like a thriller as competing researchers jealously guard their information. It reads as cultural anthropology as you discover the native peoples who have observed Monarchs for centuries. It reads as a song in praise of communities coming together, of people “like you and me” who contribute to the vast body of knowledge. It is filled with detailed but accessible scientific information that will amaze and delight every reader. Given that these beautiful insects are now officially an endangered species, one has to hope that this detailed and engaging book will encourage readers young and old alike to do what they can to help the Monarchs to survive.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Dana Church takes the reader through the history, migration, and science of the monarch butterfly, as well as raising questions that have not yet been answered. She examines the knowledge gathered through science as well as the human connection world wide to the monarch butterfly. She examines the triumphs and failures of monarch conservation as well as providing the hope of concrete steps each person can take to balance the protection of the monarch with the protection of the lives of people who live along the butterfly's migratory paths. The author avoids playing the blame game for the plight of the monarch, encouraging each person to examine personal lifestyle as well as government agencies to examine both indigenous knowledge integrated with scientifically gathered information.

[PagesFromMyHome · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written, well researched non-fiction middle grade read!

So many fascinating biology facts about the monarch life cycle in the first chapter to hook in the reader. Along with biology, the book explores the history of scientists solving the mystery of monarch migration. The author gives many actionable suggestions for the reader to get involved with making an impact in their community to improve the environment and help the monarch population thrive.

Would recommend to all science loving middle grade and young adult readers, ages 12+ - the book even has a glossary to help expand scientific vocabulary!

[Charlie Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent. Has lots of facts about Monarch butterflies and how they molt and stuff. I probably would've enjoyed it a bit more if I read this in first grade. I would've been a lot more interested in the book because I didn't know that much. Still, pretty solid for a book I already knew most of it. I'm giving it a mid-ish 3 star.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is an important and reasonably well written book I felt that some of the suggestion of taking a Monarch egg and trying to raise a Monarch on one's own to not be the suggestion that people should follow. We need to do more to protect the Monarch butterfly than to interfere with it's natural life cycle.

[Karishma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been an eye opener. I think the best part is that the author tries to tell the journey of conservation of monarch butterflies from various perspectives and that makes it special. We need to have these kinds of books that show the non-scientific community the effort and pain the scientific community goes through to understand the world around us.

[Adelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was so cool! I learned so much about monarch butterflies, and I really enjoyed the easy to read format it was written in. I'm so excited to be able to use my newfound knowledge of monarch butterflies!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating information about the beautiful monarch butterfly! Brought back memories from my childhood when we were able to watch the metamorphosis of monarch caterpillars into butterflies. An intermediate book great for all ages.

[Alison McGauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A butterfly lover’s dream!

My 12-year-old adores this book and says that it’s a butterfly lover’s dream! Interesting, packed with facts, and written with voice and humor, the MONARCH EFFECT is an incredible addition to a bug lover’s library. We highly recommend this book for both kids and adults alike.

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

very accessible information for an upper middle school student; some of the historical details may be overwhelming for a younger reader

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the plight and promise of the monarch butterfly.

[Hannah Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last chapter made me cry :')

[Jones Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fact-filled with fascinating science about the monarch, including the “discovery” of their roosting grounds in Mexico by western scientists in the 1970s. Lots of research explained well.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun! We started it as a read aloud with the kids — 8 and 11 at the time, and they were very into it when she was covering ing basic science. They lost interest when she covered the history of academic bickering over who discovered what when. I ended up finishing it on my own, but I did learn a lot!