Monday, July 5, 2021

Middle Grade Monday: Rescue at Lake Wild by Terry Lynn Johnson

Image: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Rescue at Lake Wild by Terry Lynn Johnson. 208 p. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April, 2021. 9780358334859. (Review of finished copy courtesy of Blue Slip Media.)

Happy July 4 Monday TMS Readers! What are you reading right now? I'm reading an arc of Kathi Appelt's next book, Once Upon a Camel. Fans of Ms. Appelt know they are in for a treat whenever a new book of hers releases. This one is gorgeously illustrated by Eric Rohmann. 

I am also reading the arc of a debut fantasy called Beasts of Prey by Ayana Grey. And finally, I'm reading a book with my ears called, The Way Back by Gavriel Savit. This was a National Book Award finalist last fall and I really enjoyed Mr. Savit's Anna and the Swallow Man. Both books were narrated by Allan Corduner, who also was totally entrancing as Death narrating The Book Thief. 

Middle Grade Monday features Rescue at Lake Wild by Terry Lynn Johnson. This animal adventure story features twelve-year-old Madi Lewis and her best friends, Aaron and Jack and Jack's dog, Lid. Madi is a citizen scientist and aspiring animal rehabilitator just like her recently deceased grandmother. Her parents issued a cease and desist order - no more animal rescue - or her planned trip to Vermont to meed her hero, Jane Goodall is off. Her plans to make good on that promise are jeopardized when the three friends discover the bodies of two adult beavers who had been killed near their lodge. It was breeding time and Madi believes there maybe kits needing rescue in the lodge! She and her friends have studied beavers and have a reasonable understanding about where to find the kits, only it involved swimming underwater to find the opening of the lodge! And there are leeches in the water! Yikes!

Then, once the kits are in hand, the question remains, what to do with them? More importantly, how to keep her parents from finding out about them. For Jack, he's intent on finding the poacher who shot the beavers. The three friends live on a lake with unfettered access to a clubhouse, canoes and an ATV. Readers will learn a lot about wildlife rehabilitation in general and beavers in particular in engaging story. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, a terrific friendship triad that works well, and an intriguing mystery to solve. There's a wonderful author's note at the end that also includes tips about wild animal rescue.

Rescue at Lake Wild is available to borrow at our amazing public library, Closter Public Library. There is a wait list on eBCCLS for the e-book version. I've included a link below to the publisher's website for the book. There is a two minute video of the author talking about the book. Happy reading!

Web Link:
https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/rescue-at-lake-wild/9780358334859

Rescue at Wild Lake is just the book if you love animals, friendship stories and local adventure. It's a wonderful addition to any library.

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