This book is an informative non-fiction book on the subject of tunnels throughout history, from prehistoric networks of underground tunnels unearthed in archaeological sites in locations such as Cornwall, Jordan, and Mexico, to high-tech, modern-day tunnels such as the Channel Tunnel and the Hadron Collider.
In terms of structure, the book deals with 20 specific tunnels, all actually existing or which have existed at some point in history, dedicating either one or double pages to each (the book is 48 pages long). The book is quite text-heavy, with each page containing a significant amount of written information regarding each of the tunnels it features. There are, however, prominent graphic elements on each page, which serve as visual aids to the text and make the information easier to digest. In fact, the background of each page is an image, with the text occupying blank or less busy parts of the image (i.e., a large patch of grey representing a mountainside), to ensure the text is still easily legible. The images themselves detail the tunnels in question, often showing them in cross-section and featuring humans using the tunnel, to illustrate how it functions in practice. These images are aesthetically satisfying, striking a balance between a clear depiction of the tunnel and its functioning and a visually engaging effect. These pictures are annotated with additional information and text boxes to label the different elements of the tunnel depicted
As already mentioned, there is a dense amount of text on each page, including some very technical language, so this book would not be suitable for younger children or children with a younger reading age. The appropriate age for this book would be around 10-14 years, while it would be best suited for children with a keen interest in practical matters, such as engineering and applied physics. There is a glossary at the back to provide definitions of the more technical terminology, so this book would likely appeal to children who like to learn about new subjects and enjoy being challenged and encountering the unknown in their reading.
The themes and subject matter of the book lend themselves very well to translation, as none of the content requires understanding a different cultural context in order to make sense; indeed, the function of the text is essentially informative (although accessible and entertaining in its treatment of its subject), and is written in a relatively objective and matter-of-fact style (although, as previously mentioned, the text succeeds in being engaging and conversational in its tone and register). There are no excessively culture-bound values that may resist translation into other languages, and nothing in the text would present any insurmountable or even particularly tricky challenge to the translator during the translation process, the most important of which would be capturing the balance between the informative yet engaging register.
One potential weak point of the book is the subject matter itself, i.e. tunnels, which is something of a niche and not necessarily appealing topic for many young readers. However, the combination of the arresting visuals, the conversational and engaging tone, and the genuinely interesting treatment of its subject (in the sense that it succeeds in making its subject feel exciting and compelling) succeed in turning a potentially dry and dreary topic into one that could genuinely appeal to readers between the ages of 10-14 with an interest in areas such as science and engineering and who enjoy learning in their reading.
In summary, this is a book that may have limited appeal, given its somewhat niche subject matter. However, readers interested in the themes that it addresses may find much to enjoy in this informative and entertaining book.
