IT CAME FROM THE CREEK

In this stand-alone companion to Me and Marvin Gardens (2017), King shares another engaging tale of children facing the potential loss of their neighborhood to environmental degradation.

Set in 1980, shortly after the Love Canal disaster, the book follows fifth grader Katy and her best friend, Joel, in their attempts to stop someone from illegally dumping toxic waste in their neighborhood. Frustrated with the grown-ups’ inability to stop influential James Piper of Piper Enterprises, the two kids, armed with cameras, set out to collect the evidence needed to bring him to justice. In a parallel thread, Katy and Joel participate in a school science project on the environmental impact of nonbiodegradable waste. Versions of Katy’s essay on what the world will be like in 100 years punctuate the book, showing her growing awareness of the global environmental crisis and her own understanding of the person she wants to become. Katy also confronts bullying and sexual harassment, initiates a kickball Battle of the Sexes, and resolves her confusion over her feelings for Joel. A local ghost and a mysterious animal provide a touch of the fantastical to this realistic, if occasionally message-heavy, story. The book is well written but lacks the space to fully flesh out all the themes it introduces. Narrator Katy is a memorable protagonist, and her introspective journey will surely resonate with readers, as will the explorations of friendship, courage, and conservation. The characters predominantly present white.

A book to inspire budding eco-warriors.