Luz Makes a Splash

Residents of the city of Petroville are suffering through the hottest and driest summer on record. Desperate for a way to cool off, Luz and her friends head out to Spring Pond to go swimming. But when they arrive, they're shocked to discover the pond has virtually disappeared! It turns out a multinational company has purchased the nearby land and is using the water from the spring to make their soda. Meanwhile, back in the city, the gardens in Friendship Park are withering and at risk of dying because of the lack of rain. And now the city has imposed water restrictions in order to conserve. Luz and her friends are just kids, but is there anything they can do to help save two of Luz's favorite places?

This graphic novel is part of the Future According to Luz series, about a girl who helps the environment one small step at a time. It's an engaging read that also presents the serious issue of water scarcity at a level and tone children can understand. Luz offers a locally oriented model of how children can make a difference, starting with general awareness of their own water usage and including hands-on ideas for projects that prevent wasting water and protect a community's water supply. This book makes a useful resource for environmental science lessons, with an emphasis on living sustainably. As a bonus, there's a step-by-step plan for creating a water-wise garden with xeriscaping at the back of the book.