RESCUE AT LAKE WILD, by Terry Lynn Johnson, HMH Books for Young Readers, April 27, 2021, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)
A girl and her two best friends set out to save orphaned beaver kits in Terry Lynn Johnson’s Rescue at Lake Wild.
Everyone knows that twelve-year-old Madison “Madi” Lewis is not allowed to bring home any more animals. After she’s saved hairless mice, two birds, a rabbit, and a stray tom cat that ended up destroying the front porch, Madi’s parents decide that if they find one more stray animal in the house, she won’t be allowed to meet Jane Goodall at an upcoming gala event.
But when Madi and her two best friends, Aaron and Jack, rescue beaver kits whose mother was killed, they find themselves at the center of a local conspiracy that’s putting the beavers and their habitats in danger. As Madi and her friends race to uncover the threat targeting the beavers, Madi must put her animal whisperer skills to the test in both raising the orphaned beaver kits and staying out of trouble long enough. —Synopsis provided by HMH Books for Young Readers
I’ve been a fan of Terry Lynn Johnson for a while now. She’s known for adventurous books for young readers like Ice Dogs, Sled Dog School and Dog Driven. And my 7-year-old is completely enamored with Terry’s Survivor Diaries series. She’s keeps asking when the next book will come out.
I can’t think of a better recommendation that that.
Rescue at Lake Wild has a smaller scope, focusing mostly on Madi’s home, surrounding wild areas and town. The action’s a bit more sedate, but there are still a few breathtaking moments. What’s not different, however, is Terry’s ability to set a scene and her attention to detail. As a reader, you see the kits in front of you. You can practically feel them nuzzle up to you. The sights, the sounds, the smells, they’re all there.
Madi, Aaron and Jack are a delightful trio who balance each other out. They’ve all got their quirks, and that, along with Jack’s dog, Lid, make for some great interactions, mishaps and discoveries.
Rescue at Lake Wild celebrates friendship, ingenuity and nature. It will make an excellent addition to any reader’s growing library.
Terry Lynn Johnson writes about the wild with the wisdom and passion of someone who has spent her life working to preserve and protect it — both as a backcountry canoe ranger in Quetico Provincial Park and in her current job as a conservation officer with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. She lives at the edge of a lake in northern Ontario, Canada, where she loves watching all wildlife, including beavers. Visit her online at terrylynnjohnson.com, Twitter: @TerryLynnJ, and Instagram: terry_lynn_johnson.
Free downloadable activities are available on Terry’s website. And you can watch Terry Lynn Johnson talk about the inspiration behind Rescue at Lake Wild here.
