The relationship between Charles Darwin and his wife, Emma, is the focal point of a remarkable work of nonfiction that also chronicles Darwin’s thinking about the theory of evolution and its eventual publication. That thinking was greatly advanced when the bachelor Darwin made his now famous journey on the H.M.S. Beagle. Returning from the trip, he began to contemplate marriage along with what he would eventually call natural selection. He listed the “Pros” and “Cons” of matrimony and decided in the affirmative—but to whom? If turning to a family with whom he was already close seemed convenient, it didn’t lessen his anxiety as he began to court his cousin Emma Wedgewood (although she was at first oblivious to the courting). And when he began to fall in love, his worries deepened. Emma was a devout Christian. What would she think about his radical idea that God was not the master designer of Nature? Author Deborah Heiligman’s vivid history is full of humor, drama, passion, and keen details of time, place, and personality. For the Darwins, love and mutual respect were paramount, bridging the chasm between their beliefs, seeing them through personal tragedy, and sheltering them from the furor over the publication of Darwin’s first book. Heiligman’s primary focus is Darwin, but she masterfully reveals both Charles and Emma and shows the developing and then steadfast relationship between them in this accomplished work that incorporates numerous passages from her subjects’ many letters. (Age 14 and older)

Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith invites readers into an exotic world, diametrically different from twenty-first-century lifestyles. Privileged by birth, both of the Darwins were expected to continue their families’ tradition of a literate rural lifestyle, sustained by servants as they read, corresponded—by letter, not instant messaging—and leisurely walked or traveled the countryside. Charles was educated to the ministry before his life-altering voyage on The Beagle. Emma, his devoutly religious cousin, expected to remain unmarried. Their decision to wed was fraught with apprehension because of Charles’s emerging theory of evolution. At its core, Charles and Emma is a love story that examines the lifestyle and religious beliefs of one of Great Britain’s greatest scientists. 2009 National Book Award finalist, 2010 Printz Honor, first YALSA Excellence in Nonfic tion Awards. lmp

Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species, his revolutionary tract on evolution and the fundamental ideas involved, in 1859. Nearly 150 years later, the theory of evolution continues to create tension between the scientific and religious communities. Challenges about teaching the theory of evolution in schools occur annually all over the country. This same debate raged within Darwin himself, and played an important part in his marriage: his wife, Emma, was quite religious, and her faith gave Charles a lot to think about as he worked on a theory that continues to spark intense debates.

Deborah Heiligman's new biography of Charles Darwin is a thought-provoking account of the man behind evolutionary theory: how his personal life affected his work and vice versa. The end result is an engaging exploration of history, science, and religion for young readers.

Charles and Emma is a 2009 National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature.