May 5, 2026 by Kids Can Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Luz lives in Petroville with her grandmother and mother. There are rolling blackouts because of high demands on energy, but Luz is more concerned about going to the mall to look at shoes she wants to buy and getting ice cream. Her mother complains about the price of gas, and forces Luz to take the bus. A new neighbor, Robert, moves in, and he is very interested in computers, so is naturally worried about the electricity cuts. Because the cost of gas is impacting the cost of food, and her mother isn't buying the treats Luz normally likes, Luz decides to turn an abandoned lot into a park with gardens. Her friend Anika helps, and Gord, a local man who rides a bike everywhere and delivers a message of environmental doom, works with the children, and even gives Luz a lesson in composting at the end of the book. When the cost of her shoes goes up so far that she can't afford them, Luz understands that environmental problems affect everyone. Robby uses his skills to customize a pair for her, and the children use their Friendship Park to help others in their neighborhood be more environmentally conscious.
This book was originally published in 2011, and reviews were fairly harsh. The story is a bit simplistic in its approach to environmental issues, but hits a bit differently in 2026. I've been walking to work, eating local, and buying almost everything second hand for years, and if everyone had started these kinds of habits fifteen years ago, the world might be in a little better place! The illustrations are simple and engaging, and the message to young readers is clear: we all need to do better. I would definitely buy this series for an elementary school library, but want something with a bit more nuance for middle school.
May 5, 2026 by Kids Can Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
When temperatures in Petroville soar, Luz wants to get some relief, so she and Anika round up their friend, Robert, to make a trip out to her favorite pond. Since she's learned some lessons in Luz Sees the Light, the kids take a bus out, but are alarmed to see that the pond is very low. This is because Top Cola has started to drain the pond for its soft drink production. In addition to rolling power cuts, there are severe water restrictions in place, and Luz's neighbors are complainin about not being able to water their yards or wash their cars. The community garden is suffering, but no one can water their plants. When Luz sees dishwater being thrown out at the local restaurant, she works with Gord to make gray water filtration systems. Her mother helps her protest Top Cola, and there are boycotts and protests. The community garden puts rain barrels in place, but there hasn't been any rain for a month. Luckily, Top Cola agrees to restore the area around the plant, the garden is able to use the gray water, and rain eventually comes.
It's great to see a community working together to safe guard natural landscapes. This book was originally published in 2012, but with concerns about the water usage of servers for artificila intelligence, the message of water conservation resonates even more today. There is a helpful chapter at the end of the book where Gord shows Luz how to create a mini marsh. A graphic novel is a good way to introduce environmental problems to young readers. I love that the first book was all in shades of brown, and this book in blue, although young readers increasingly demand full color graphic novels. I would definitely buy this series for an elementary library but am a little surprised there are only two books. There could be a third about recycling.
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