April 13, 2020
Left near the shore of Wisconsin’s Renn Lake as an infant, Annalise was subsequently adopted by a local family who owns vacation cottages there. Though the 12-year-old knows she can communicate with the lake (“I don’t actually hear Renn’s words. I sense them”), what Annalise does not know is that Renn Lake, whose first-person narration alternates with Annalise’s (and a few chapters by local river Tru), “propelled a surge” so that Annalise would be discovered and saved. When Zach, who is staying at one of the cabins on the lake, discovers a harmful, growing algae bloom that is making Renn very ill, Annalise realizes that she, with the help of her community and Tru, must work to save both the lake and the businesses that depend on Renn for tourism. Along the way, Annalise comes to terms with her origin story and gains a deeper understanding of her friends, her family, and herself. Intertwined with Renn’s unique narration and a meaningful human-nature connection, Hurwitz’s (Ethan Marcus Makes His Mark) book intersperses scientific facts about algae blooms and pollution with a story of activism and nature appreciation. Ages 8–12. Agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Trident Media Group.