Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill

by Heather L. Montgomery, Kevin O'Malley (Illustrator)

When Heather L. Montgomery sees a rattlesnake flattened on the side of the road, her first instinct is to pick it up and dissect it--she's always wanted to see how a snake's fangs retract when they close their mouths, and it's not exactly safe to poke around in a live reptile's mouth. A wildlife researcher with a special penchant for the animals that litter the roadways, Heather isn't satisfied with dissecting just one snake. Her fascination with roadkill sets her off on a journey from her own backyard and the roadways of the American South to scientists and kids in labs and homes across the globe. From biologists who use the corpses of Tasmanian devils to investigate cures for a contagious cancer, to a scientist who discovered a whole new species of bird from a single wing left behind, to a boy rebuilding animal bodies from the bones up, to a restaurant that serves up animal remnants, Heather discovers that death is just the beginning for these creatures.
This engaging narrative nonfiction is an eye-opening and irreverent look at the dead and dying animals that we pass by without a second thought--as well as a fascinating insight to the scientific research process.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Middle Grade, Animals, Nature, Humor, Juvenile

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 16, 2018

About the author

Heather L. Montgomery writes about science and nature for kids. Her subject matter ranges from snake tongues to spider silk to snail poop. With a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Environmental Education, Heather's passion for nonfiction comes out in her writing and presentations. When she is not writing, Heather can be found climbing a tree, hiking to a waterfall or paddling a river. Learn more about her books at www.HeatherLMontgomery.com.

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interest Level: 5-8; Reading Level: 4.2

Who would have ever thought that road kill could be fun, interesting, and even life-saving? Heather Montgomery, that who! Heather's adventure with road kill started with an early morning run when she came across a snake lying dead on the side of the road. She had so many questions so she decided to take it back home so that she could dig in and find the answers. For example, how does a snake's fangs not puncture itself when it's mouth is closed? How does a snake continue to breathe when it swallows it's prey whole? Now, Heather does not recommend the average person to do what she did, she actually didn't recommend herself to do it, but she had to know the answers. Did she find them? You bet she did! It is also interesting that there are actually people who keep road kill statistics - location, dates found, and even time found. This may not seem like a big deal but this information can be used to determine how and where diseases are contracted. Another super cool thing about this book is that it looks into ways to save animals lives by building grassy bridges over roads and tunnels under roads for creatures to cross roads safely. Want to know more about this fascinating book? Grab a copy and enjoy!

I had the pleasure of hearing Heather Montgomery speak a few weeks ago and I never dreamed the topic of road kill would be so interesting!! This is such an interesting book for nonfiction lovers and anyone looking for the "gross" factor. Don't miss it!!

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[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, if you told me a week ago I'd be engrossed in a middle-grade, non-fiction book about roadkill I'd think you were crazy. This book reads like a story, interspersed with facts, observations, and experiences. It gives some easy, helpful tips about what we can do to help animals. I absolutely loved it. I look forward to seeing the final artwork, and thank the author for not including actually pictures!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read much nonfiction and I can't say I've ever dove into the topic of roadkill, but this book was interesting and funny. I have never read informational footnotes that made me laugh before. Don't skip those! The introduction immediately hooked me and let me know this was going to be a much different nonfiction reading experience. This is one kids are going to love! Science teachers, get this in your classrooms!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about every kind of roadkill you wanted to know about! And it's not gross. Well, yes it is pretty gross, but it is also fascinating. It explains why roadkill is found where it is, what scientists can find out about animals (and their parasites), and what is being done to stop so many animals from being killed on the road.

And in the acknowledgements (yes, this nerd reads acknowledgements, prefaces, author's notes, and all the rest), the author mentions that she has been inspired by the works of Mary Roach, Georgia Bragg, and Sy Montgomery--three of my favorite nonfiction authors!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed from an ARC, up to page 54.

I found the information incredibly fascinating, and kind of on its own: I don't know that I've ever encountered a book entirely on roadkill before. The primary research done by the author is incredibly engaging, if overly peppered with gross/humorous asides. The main distraction though, was the footnotes. I can only imagine how difficult it is to straddle the line between too much information and too little, while trying to both appeal and make sense to a middle grade audience. The footnotes seemed to be the solution of choice, but (as a grownup) I could have done without the purely humorous ones. As a kid reader I probably would have found them amusing.

Will have to come back and finish the rest, but in the meantime, some great information here. Especially for kids who like science, or believe-it-or-not kind of things.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!! This is SO GREAT. It's perfect for school visits, but as an adult reader I also just loved reading it. It reminds me of Mary Roach in all the best ways, funny and inquisitive and gross and bursting with science. I learned so much!

[Renee Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roadkill is not a topic I would usually choose to read about, but I received this book as an ARC so I decided to look it over. I read the whole thing cover to cover, it was really interesting. It has a nice mixture of story and fact. I recommend this book for any animal lovers.

[Joe · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's so very, very, very, very rare that I don't enjoy a nonfiction book, and Something Rotten falls prey to a lot of really bad decisions - either by the editor or the author.

First person narration is fine, even in nonfiction (In Cold Blood, anyone?), but it doesn't work with this title at all. Heather Montgomery comes across as too intense, too easily distracted, and too hyper to pull off the sophistication of first person nonfiction. Her insistence on threading "huh?!s" and "what?!s" into the narrative does nothing to help with the tone, and it's the overall tone of this book that is particularly jarring. Glib nonfiction is very tricky, and only few authors can pull it off with aplomb. In fact, I can only think of three: Sarah Albee, Georgia Bragg, and Mary Roach. Montgomery tries desperately to be glib. Instead she often comes across, at best, as corny, and, at worst, melodramatic. For example: she arrives at a bird rehabilitation center, and, too preoccupied with what she might see, decides to take a walk in the nearby woods. This would be fine if something happened in the woods. But nothing does. She's just like, "Oh, the loamy earth feels good on my feet. I guess it's time to go look at injured birds now!" And then she goes and looks at injured birds.

That points to another large issue with the book. Instead of coming across as resourceful and scientific, Montgomery just seems annoying. She zeroes in on something, like people eating roadkill, and then obsessively tracks said people down, blathering away about her own assumptions and her own scattered feelings about the topic. She writes chattily about her interactions with these people, and while she herself comes across as nothing short of enamored with them, her writing points to them as being either endlessly patient or dizzyingly weary of her non-stop questions. And good lord, do the questions come fast and furious.

A Skype conversation with an Tasmanian devil expert revealed another layer of my exasperation with this book. There's an unprofessionalism that permeates the book. Experts are referred to by their first names, not their titles. Debate the merits of that all you want, but it just felt too familiar to me - especially for a kid's book. Even more unprofessional is Montgomery's actions herself. She warns over and over how the things she does should not be replicated at home - a weak warning when, in the next paragraph, she's breathlessly reporting about how cool it is to skin a skunk. In this way she comes across as the naughty auntie who whispers under her breath to you not to listen to your boring, unhip mom, but instead cave into your id at every chance you get.

Any nonfiction book should be sourced well, but Montgomery oversources. Prior to this book, I would have thought that impossible. Not only does the book have exhaustive (and exhausting) back matter that literally took up the last 15% of the book, she has footnotes scattered throughout the entire book. And I'm not talking a footnote here and there. There are hundreds of them, and few of them illuminate anything about the text. Instead, they capitalize on the glib tone, a disarming quality when they also attempt to be instructional and informative.

I often try to read children's and young adult books through a separate lens, but for the life of me, I just can't think of a kid who I've taught in my years of education who would've gobbled this book up. It's that scattershot.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it's not every day that I'd choose to pick up a book about dead animals to read, this one is certainly worth the effort. I'm sure it will entice many a middle grade reader and even some upper elementary school readers. From its perfect title to the author's quirky sense of humor and detailed descriptions of dissecting a rattlesnake, a fox, and a skunk, and her attempts to understand why so many animals end up as roadkill, the book is a delight. While it is certainly not for the squeamish since she lovingly delights in matter-of-fact accounts of her own adventures while conducting research, it will keep any reader with an ounce of curiosity riveted. I appreciated how her own curiosity leads her to labs, a visit with a woman who makes art pieces out of dead animals, and a man who prefers to dine on the animal carcasses he finds. While some of this might seem icky--as it does to the author at first--the more she learns, the more she starts to understand these individuals and their practices. Ultimately, of course, the finger of blame for animals being injured or killed on the nation's roads is pointed at humans, and wonder of wonders, the author even included examples of adults and youngsters who are trying to make a difference by building underground paths through which various species can pass below those dangerous roads and even designing a motion sensor along the highway that would warn of an animal's presence. She includes notes, and references, and suggestions to help, and there are sketches to break up the text. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. It certainly offers a different perspective on a family road trip or a quick trip to the store for groceries. Maybe we need to slow down and keep an eye out for the wildlife that might be trying to get to their own food stores as well.

[Virginia McGee Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather Montgomery gives a warning at the beginning of Something Rotten that her book is not for squeamish souls, reckless readers, or the tenderhearted. Her subtitle, “A Fresh Look at Roadkill,” suggests a reason for her advice.

Being neither squeamish nor overly tenderhearted and thinking of the subtitle, I found her chapter titles intriguing – “On the Trail of Dead Devils,” “Please Pass the Salt,” and “Oh Deer!” to name a few.

There is much to learn in this book that is designed for middle graders, but is also intriguing for those who have passed that milestone. As it turns out, there is more to roadkill than the nasty splat on the highway since scientists collect and examine the bodies for species, migration, diseases, and many other pieces of information. As you might imagine, some of these are disgusting like why vultures pee right down their legs. One of my favorite new pieces of knowledge is, “Please don’t feed the highway.” She gives a reason not to throw that apple core out the window, although I thought I was being kind to share my snack with the birds and critters.

Heather weaves her identities as scientist, children’s author, and wit throughout the book making it a delightful read. Who would have thought this could happen with such a subject?

With great respect for Heather in all her roles, I would like to qualify her reading advice. You don’t want to miss this book. Just put your squeamish soul and your tender heart in your closet for a while, but do pay attention to the cautions she gives to your recklessness when she advises, “Don’t do this at home.”

And since I’m sure you are just dying to know why you shouldn’t throw the apple core out the window, food along the highway may look like a tasty buffet to birds and critters just before it winds up turning them into roadkill.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who would ever think that roadkill could be interesting, well - to anyone besides Granny Clampett? But the intrepid Heather L. Montgomery took the time to research, get her hands dirty (and sometimes more than her hands), and put together a fascinating look at what causes roadkill, how people are working to prevent it, how scientists are using data from it, and how some people are using the roadkill itself in various ways.

For instance, did you know that some people collect statistics on what types of roadkill are seen, how often, at what locations, even to the date and time it was seen? Then the numbers are used to help figure out what is causing the collisions between animals and vehicles. Is it low visibility? Are there food sources attracting the wildlife? Is the roadway cutting across a migration path or bisecting a habitat? Once the situation is better understood, sometime there are possible solutions put in place by helpful groups. Bridges or tunnels might give animals a safe path, fences can funnel them toward one of those paths, etc.

But our daring author also visited museums and wildlife rehabilitation centers to see how rescued animals were cared for, or how scientists study those who were not so lucky. And she even did some study on her own - including getting covered in scent from a skunk. She also contacted individuals who donate roadkill to food banks and use it to help feed the hungry. And she visited with an artist who creates taxidermy pieces with some of the unfortunate animals.

What a weird and wonderfully informative book about a topic that is sure to lure in reluctant readers with its potential gross factor, but can also appeal to those interested in STEM topics in general. Back matter includes a list of books, videos, and Internet sites to find more information; suggestions on science projects to try; and an annotated bibliography.

Highly recommended for middle grade readers and up. I read an advance copy, but it will be released on October 16 - so everyone else doesn't have long to wait.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in awhile you read a book that changes the way you think about something-often something so common that you rarely give it much thought. This book is one of them. Author Heather Montgomery's fascination with roadkill translates into a an en"gross"ing look at scientific research that depends on DOR (dead on road) and URP (unidentified road pizza) to research parasitic diseases, track species, cure cancer, and even cut down on auto accidents. She also found that roadkill is used for art and sustainable food sources. I had no idea about so many of these aspects. I can say for certain that I will never be able to look at roadkill the same way again-and that is the power of a well written book! If you think nonfiction is boring, you just aren't reading the right books! Not for the squeamish, but perfect for the curious minds out there!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill by Heather L. Montgomery and illustrated by Kevin O’Malley caught my eye on the Orbis Pictus Award recommended books list. It also caught my eye because of Kevin O’Malley’s other book “How they Croaked” where readers can investigate interesting deaths. This text is approachable for young audiences as low as grade 5 and could still be a fun read for an 8th grader, especially a reluctant reader. The text uses narratives and story telling as a way of appealing to the reader and making the scientific content more accessible and relevant. After building background through narrative the author includes the scientific information required to fully understand the content being delivered. For example, the author explains that when opossums are killed (either due to being hit by a car or otherwise), there are people who search their pouches for their babies. The author then goes into explaining marsupials and their anatomy. This is an approachable way for students to better understand natural science.

I was hoping the illustrations would be more engaging and prolific throughout the text. Illustrations appear every so often. The illustrations while artfully crafted, are not the focal point of the book. However, I think that the illustrations help support the text and content being delivered and I was thankful that the pictures were not of real dead animals as that could be too graphic for children. With this said, I think this would be a great text for as low as 5th grade. I think it would appeal to students who do not consider themselves to be squeamish and enjoy learning about guts!

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what my son needs. He loves science and has read all of the big books with tons of photographs, but now he's supposed to have "serious" books for book reports at school. This book isn't too serious (it's actually very funny--I had to borrow the book after reading the cover), but it is good science and we both enjoyed it.

[Gillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was very enlightening. It definitely grossed me out several times throughout the book, but it really opened my eyes to a whole new problem of roadkill, but also how it was helping solve more problems. I definitely want to read more books by her if there are any, and look into roadkill some more.

[Jake Donovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about people having interacting with road kill.

[Camila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Kinda boring at first but then it gets pretty interesting.

[Christine Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes this book is about roadkill and probably one of the most fantastic books I have read. This is sure to be a book that flys off the shelves in my classroom library. It is chock full of disgusting facts and science behind roadkill with many stories that include dead animals in the freezer!

[Ginger Kirchmyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this was a really interesting read. For being a non-fiction about dead animals, it was really inspiring! Ha! It teaches how dead animals, and the research done with them, is helping to cure disease, build safer road systems and recreation areas, and how scientists are able to take something that could be a nuisance and burden (roadkill) and use it for the betterment of society (through research).
This would be an AMAZING read for middle school science teachers who want to do some read aloud before class lets out ... "bell to bell" teaching. :) It would also make a great reference for research on STEM topics (like how to build a bridge or a fence (or other structure) for animals who are trapped or in locations where there is a lot of roadkill. It could be a great jumping off point for discussion on a lot of similar problems that haven't been solved yet, like safety systems we could build for children (similar to a leash or a fence around a pool) or ways to direct auto traffic that we might want to manipulate - right now we use lights and signs - is there something better? There are a lot of directions this could take us, but THIS book helps walk us through the problem solving process which is something valuable for our young people to see.

[Kami Kinard · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'll never think road kill stinks again after looking at the science behind death. So many facts about what we think of as horrible, give us new insights about death. A wonderful nonfiction book for middle grade readers who love all things gross and great!

[Raven Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to read this. It's funny and fascinating! Roadkill is being used to learn about animals. How studying them helps humans. How conservation benefits both. And soooo much more. To appreciate this book you just got to read it. You'll never look at road pizza the same again!

[Tamatha Picolla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction work was way more interesting than I thought it would be. This is NOT for those with a squeamish stomach.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright probably one of the weirdest books that is a bit out there for me to read but at this point what can I say, especially after I had read a cheeky roadkill cookbook. Unlike the latter that was being more comedic than realistic in a sense this book faces roadkill heads-on and in a slightly bizarre scientific style that is hard not to put down.

Heather Montgomery starts off with her own chance encounter with roadkill and what started her down this slightly gruesome path. From there the book branches out to explore topics that all focus around roadkill such as what its contribution is to science whether in studies, providing specimens or even starting a new science field. It also explores people who either use roadkill as a hobby or as a living that isn't scientific such as rogue taxidermist-artist as well as actual taxidermist. And also included can be found the argument for how roadkill can provide cheap meat sources for not only your own family but also zoos or others who keep very hungry big bellies.

What really amazes me with this particular book is the writing style for even though it is informative and macabre it is also very easy as well as straightforward in its presentation. Furthermore this information is strengthened with footnotes that add to the telling by either providing definitions, adding more personal experiences and/or giving more information about the subject being discussed. As a result this book can be read by any and all age groups who want to try a very unique subject.

All in all although it wouldn't be my first go-to book there is definitely some hope found in the book and a lot of good information also included. And as a result I would most definitely recommend this as a reading for those who are curious just since it will give the reader something to really think about while hopefully helping to make a difference in all our lives - animals and humans as well.

[Carol Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me FOREVER to read this book, but I've read a dozen other books while trudging through this. A couple days ago, I finally got into what she was saying and read the last 100 (of 130) pages straight through. The take-away is: DON'T FEED THE HIGHWAY. I have always thought it was just fine to throw my apple core out the car window. Not polluting. Biodegradable. Organic. The author enlightened me. My apple core might lure an animal onto the road for a little snack, where it can be killed by a passing motor vehicle. Over a million animals become roadkill every year.

The author takes us from her beginnings, finding a snake along the road and taking it home to dissect. She ends with a story about finding a dead skunk and trying to dissect that. Not such a great experience. She had to sleep on her porch that week. She takes us with her to labs that collect preserved roadkill and related data. After all, if that roadkill is an endangered animal, this is the scientist's only chance to get a close look. She takes us to the apartment of a young taxidermist who turns roadkill into art. She hunts down a guy in England who eats all roadkill and he will convince you that this is a good idea. She visits a bird sanctuary that takes in 1200 injured birds a year. There, she participates in the release of a falcon back into the wild.

I'm not a science person, but this is a young adult book and many of my students ARE science people, so I wanted to check it out. In the end, I learned some things and it was easily readable. It is purely my own fault that I took so long to get into this one.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roadkill is disgusting. Even though I can’t imagine picking up a tire-tread-marked carcass, scientists do it all the time because it contains valuable information.

Heather L. Montgomery’s obsession with roadkill began with a squashed rattlesnake. She wanted to know how rattlesnakes’ fangs retract. She decided that a dead rattlesnake was a lot safer to study than a live one. That got her thinking about what other things scientists could learn from roadkill. She discovered that researchers use roadkill to learn more about animals’ diseases, DNA, mating habits, migration, and diet.

There’s lots of gross stuff in this book for those that are fascinated with gross. In one chapter, Montgomery describes her first attempt at taxidermy in gory detail. You might want to read this chapter before lunch.

Scientists also use roadkill data to help reduce the amount of roadkill. Wildlife/vehicle collisions kill over one million animals a day in the United States. One chapter is devoted to methods that various wildlife communities are doing to make our roadways safer for animals. Montgomery’s love of science is only surpassed by her love of animals. Her sadness at learning that so many are killed each year is expressed tenderly.

This book could almost be titled: Diary of a Roadkill Warrior. This is basically Montgomery’s personal journey of discovery to satisfy her insatiable curiosity about roadkill. And we get to ride along with her and her wonderful sense of humor to some disgusting places.

Recommended for readers 12 and up.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was actually a little disappointed because it didn’t flow as well as it could have and that diminished my overall appreciation for the book.

Do I love the science content? Yes. Do I love the curiosity factor and the promotion to “follow your passions”? Yes. But for the delivery of factual information, there were far too many footnotes that were funny- instead add them to the story itself and remove some of the goofiness. They were just as fascinating- if not more- but pulled me away from a thorough read. Likewise for as much as the common topic is roadkill, it wasn’t cohesive. It either needed to be a collection of short stories or a narrative nonfiction, instead it suffers from an identity crisis.

What saves it is literally the content itself. Super fascinating. Researched. Inquisitive and awe-inspiring. Who knew about the air valve in a snake’s mouth or that vultures pee down their legs to cool themselves and sanitize! But anyway, love the content just not the delivery. Still an easy sell.

[Trisha Parsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why I chose this book: This book is on my library's Battle of the Books list.

Brief summary: Heather L. Montgomery is fascinated by roadkill, and she uses that fascination to aid in research about how to prevent roadkill. She studies roadkill to learn more about it and meets with biologists and scientists whoe are working on projects to help prevent collisions between cars and wildlife.

What I didn't like about this book: The footnotes were very overwhelming to keep up with, and sometimes the notes seemed a little unnecessary, like fodder about a story that reminded the author of the thing she was writing about in the main narrative.

What I like about this book: The author's enthusiasm for this subject is contagious, and I love that the author is able to take a somber subject and inject it with so much hope and excitement. She details a lot of projects that are making things better for wildlife and shows how humanity is eager to fix the problems that our incessant drive to expand and evolve through infrastructure create.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny and interesting look at roadkill in a style similar to Mary Roach, but this time for kids. I can't imagine too many middle-grade readers who wouldn't find Montgomery's book compelling reading. She introduces the science behind rotting and healing and looks at conservation efforts, especially those by kids. She demonstrates that one person can make a difference in this world. And she does it in a smart-alecky voice that will resonate with young readers, although occasionally it's off-putting to an older reader. But the information spans the generations. Good stuff. Super quick read. I recommend it for animal lovers, science buffs, and anyone who wants to know more about roadkill and the people who eat it. Icky and fun at the same time.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I was still doing monthly book talks at elementary school because I would definitely share this book with the students. I will share it other ways because this is such an interesting book. What a great way to see how anyone, including kids, can make a difference in the world and that it is important to be observant of what is around you all the time. I never thought how the placement of dropped (or thrown) food could impact not only 1 animals life but the entire food cycle. Ms. Montgomery wrote this book with a ton of facts and information in a way that is accessible to many different types of readers with her humor and asides and showing that even what seems like a mistake can be a learning opportunity. Love this book!!!!

[Alexa Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like Mary Roach for the younger set, although honestly, I know interested adults can get a lot out of this book too and there's not a lot of books about roadkill out there. Footnotes add humor, anecdotes and explain some of the harder vocabulary, which means adults can skip that portion as needed. Any kids who love animals or love gross stuff will eat this up. It definitely has some good science, and the references in the back expand on everything. Sure, it's a bit irreverent but roadkill is a funny subject so it's just about perfect. I really liked the portion that tied into talking about how animals cross roads or don't and what that does to their populations.