Everyone is becoming more conscious of environmental issues — climate change, endangered species, and keeping our planet safe and habitable. Children and young adults, more than anyone, have these issues at the forefront of their minds. They are the future, after all. But why should educating young people about these issues have to be disheartening or boring? Nothing is better than learning something new while having a good time.
These five books feature adventure, mystery and drama, set against an environmental issue that needs a solution. Kids team up to protect animals, investigate nature, and make the world a better and safer place to live.
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Possibly the most recognizable and beloved eco-fiction mystery for young adults is the modern classic, Hoot, and its film adaptation. When a colony of endangered owls burrowed in the ground is in life-threatening danger, a group of teens must team up to save them. The people in town are desperate for a new pancake restaurant to arrive, but when the building site puts the owls in the direct line of destruction, something has to change.
Roy, the new kid in town who is already struggling to fit in, must be the one to step up. Paired with a mysterious boy who runs from the school bus without any books or shoes, and the boy’s determined step-sister, they are unstoppable. With a mix of mystery, pranks, crossing lines, and fighting for what is right, the novel tackles what it means to take care of one another and the world we live in.
The Metamorphosis of Emma Murry by Rebecca Laxton
At 13, Emma Murry seems like a typical girl her age — enjoying her summer vacation, crushing on a cute guy from Instagram, and perfecting her skateboarding skills. She also harbors a love for nature and partakes in the environmental club where they have one mission: to save the monarchs. So when her celebrity crush appears in front of her at Black Mountain with a plan to destroy the monarch butterfly garden, Emma is faced with a dilemma.
Can she and her best friend stop these plans for destruction? Or can Emma befriend the young man and convince him — and his father — to change? A death threat leads to a suspenseful investigation as the young crew must figure out who they can trust and what darker secrets have yet to be revealed, while they grow as friends, family members, and environmental protectors. Readers will love the dip into supernatural elements while they learn the importance of caring for every creature, whether big or small.
Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar
The author of Holes has another novel equally complex, compelling and mysterious. When bullying gets bad at school, Marshall and his friend Tamaya are forced to take a different route home. Familiar territory turns unfamiliar, and danger is upon them quicker than the pair could have imagined.
An environmentally friendly dream has become a nightmare when the school children learn that the mud in the woods is causing adverse effects. This discovery leads to chaos in the town, and the kids must do whatever they can to help an investigation and find a way to save the town. Exploring the dangers of unchecked science, eerie moments as a town grapples with reality, and the power of friendship, this book is great for any reader.
The Case of Windy Lake (A Mighty Muskrats Mystery) by Michael Hutchinson
On the Windy Lake First Nation, four cousins have grown up inseparable, going on adventures, exploring and playing together. But when an archaeologist goes missing, Sam, Otter, Atim and Chickadee decide it’s time to take this mystery into their own hands. Hired by a mining company to look into the land, this archaeologist is part of exactly what their older cousin is protesting against. But there’s nothing like solving a mystery and making sure everyone is brought to safety.
This first Mighty Muskrats mystery tackles themes of resource extraction, environmental protection, and indigenous rights in a Hardy Boys-style mystery, written by an author with firsthand experience in environmental protection and First Nation advocacy.
Tarra: Mission to Earth by Inna Van Der Velden
Environmental fiction takes an interstellar spin when a group of space travelers are desperate for a way to save their home planet from a mysterious and deadly plague. Luckily, Earth is similar to the planet Tarra, and all the space crew needs is to create the antidote. But that is easier said than done, when Earth is clouded by pollution, its oceans are flooded with plastic, and trees are scarce. What’s worse, the team is scattered across the globe and must make their way back together, while they figure out how to care for Earth’s environment and bring it back to a level stable enough to help their own planet.
This adventurous novel reminds readers that sometimes we have to help others before we can help ourselves. By planting trees, keeping our oceans clean, and monitoring our impact on the planet, we can keep ourselves and our neighbors safe — whether they are near or far.
