This 'myth buster' book describes one scientist's journey to understand hyenas. She discovers that hyenas are not the crazy, evil creatures portrayed in children's movies. Nic Bishop's photography captures the truth about hyenas that scientist Kay Holecamp discovers. The author of this book has won the Sibert Medal and was a National Book Award Finalist.

The Hyena Scientist is a book written with 10-12 year old's in mind. However, I'm sure most adults can get something out of it as well. In this book Montgomery and Bishop take a tour through the Hyena research station in Kenya lead by zoologist Kay Holecamp. The book reads like a travelogue with intersting bits about the spotted hyenas that this group studies, along with a nail-biting episode of floods and getting stuck in mud. There are also short biographical sections for the scientists and assistants that operate this particular research station. The main attraction of this book are the numerous (every single page!) colour photographs of spotted hyenas (fascinating creatures!) and other wildlife. This is a good inspirational and educational book for children. ( )

The species of hyena belongs to the family of the Hyaenidae. People afraid of hyenas consider hyenas as dirty, ugly and harmful but Sy Montgomery highlights some sensitive characteristics of a hyena. He narrates little babies’ screeching sounds and begging for more milk from their mothers, and other characteristic like the presence of a kill, high volume sounds, etc. Currently, the researcher can differentiate the male and female hyena through their height because males are larger than females in height which resolves the past confusion of differentiation between a male hyena and a female hyena. There are many accounts where people have confused reports of a male hyena giving birth. This topic covers a hyena’s vocalization, aggression, postures, gestures, adaptation, communication, and physiological features which are important for inquiry-based lessons in highschool. ( )

I have been waiting for this book forever! I have always been interested in hyenas, partly because they are just cool and partly from reading Tamora Pierce's Emperor Mage. This book celebrates the weirdness and awesomeness that is hyenas in a way that only Scientists in the Field can.

The main scientist featured in the book is Kay Holekamp, a zoologist from the University of Michigan, who has been studying hyenas for over 30 years. Montgomery plunges right into the story, acknowledging and discrediting the many legends and negative press around hyenas and then using some of Kay's quotes and her own observation to introduce readers to this amazing animal.

Interspersed with an account of the fascinating biology, habits, and behavior of hyenas is the story of Kay Holekamp's studies and the people who are involved. Kay's story follows her from an internship at the Saint Louis zoo, travels around the world with her husband, divorce, a doctorate, and finally taking over the hyena study in Masai Mara. She acknowledges the work done by Laurence Frank, but also is open about the issues with the way field study was done in his time and how she changed the methods used. Kay reflects on the changes she's seen, both in the landscape, the hyenas, and in her own life. She married her assistant and partner, who works in neuroscience in the states, she teaches at the university in the school year and works in the hyena study in the summer; and her new assistant is her old supervisor from the zoo!

Montgomery profiles everyone involved in the camp, from the graduate students to the staff who keep the camp running. One of the most interesting profiles is of a local, Benson Ole Pion, who started working in the camp as an assistant cook but became interested in the hyenas, eventually became an assistant researcher, and is now preparing to move his family to the states to further his education and become more involved in the hyena studies.

The animals themselves are not neglected, with chapters on their complicated behavior, hierarchy, and how they differ from other mammalian species. There are exciting accounts of targeting and testing hyenas, the aftermath of a flood in the camp, and funny accounts of taking a shower in the camp.

The book ends with a series of quick facts about spotted hyenas, bibliography and online resources, and index.

Verdict: A strong addition to the Scientists in the Field series, this is a great book to give kids interested in animals and science. It will inspire them to think about their future careers as well as foster diversity. Strongly recommended.

ISBN: 9780544635111; Published May 2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Purchased for the library

These books mix stories about scientists with information about the subject of interest. This one was unusually good, maybe because I already like hyenas. It was also frank about the fact that two of the scientists were married, but of the same gender. How times have changed on that one! ( )