From critically acclaimed author Barbara Dee comes a âthought-provokingâŠwonderfulâ (School Library Journal) middle grade novel about a young girl who channels her anxiety about the climate crisis into rallying her community to save a local river.
Twelve-year-old Haven Jacobs canât stop thinking about the climate crisis. In fact, her anxiety about the state of the planet is starting to interfere with her schoolwork, her friendships, even her sleep. She canât stop wondering why grownups arenât even trying to solve the earthâs problemâand if thereâs anything meaningful that she, as a seventh grader, can contribute.
When Havenâs social studies teacher urges her to find a specific, manageable way to make a difference to the planet, Haven focuses on the annual science class project at the local Belmont River, where her class will take samples of the water to analyze. Students have been doing the project for years, and her older brother tells her that his favorite part was studying and catching frogs.
But when Haven and her classmates get to the river, thereâs no sign of frogs or other wildlifeâbut there is ample evidence of pollution. The only thing thatâs changed by the river is the opening of Gemba, the new factory where Havenâs dad works. It doesnât take much investigation before Haven is convinced Gemba is behind the slow pollution of the river.
Sheâs determined to expose Gemba and force them to clean up their act. But when it becomes clear taking action might put her dadâs jobâand some friendshipsâin jeopardy, Haven must decide how far sheâs willing to go.