The Leak

Author

Kate Reed Petty

Illustrator

Andrea Bell

Publication Date

March 16, 2021

Genre / Grade Band

Fiction / 4^th − 5^th

Language

English

Format

Graphic Novel

Paperback

Only 4 copies currently available

Description

In this compelling middle-grade graphic novel The Leak, Ruth, a young journalist, is determined to uncover a secret that threatens her town.

Ruth Keller is brash and precocious; she argues with her dentist, her parents, and her teachers. So, when she discovers a strange black slime in the man-made lake of her suburban neighborhood, she decides to investigate.

Fortified by the encouragement of those around her, Ruth seeks the truth at all costs, even if it means taking on the rich local country club owner, who she believes is responsible for the pollution. Between the teasing of former friends, and a sudden viral spotlight, Ruth discovers how difficult it is for a journalist to take a stand for what's right in the face of critique and controversy.

From writer Kate Reed Petty and illustrator Andrea Bell, comes a story about corruption, pollution, and freedom of the press, and the young journalist at the center of it all.

Publication date

March 16, 2021

Genre

Fiction

ISBN-13

9781250217967

Lexile Measure

350

Publisher

First Second

BISAC categories

Library of Congress categories

Mystery and detective stories
Graphic novels
Investigative reporting
Cartoons and comics
Comics (Graphic works)
Reporters and reporting
Pollution
Middle school students
Corruption
Detective and mystery comics

ALA/Booklist

Starred Review

Bell's rounded figures, sun-dappled scenes, and warm palette of colors are in striking contrast to the rather serious stakes of the story, and that approachable look will help give this an even wider audience. ...this is a surprisingly deep dive into investigative journalism that will appeal to fans of classic middle-school drama.

None

A refreshing addition to the contemporary graphic novel landscape for middle-graders and middle-schoolers

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7--Aspiring journalist Ruth Keller, 12, finds the next big scoop for her newsletter when she and her crush discover black sludge in the lake. She unearths a possible cover-up and suspects the involvement of the Twin Oaks Country Club. With help from her science teacher Ms. Freeman and her brother's girlfriend, Sara, a New York Times intern, Ruth relies on her wits to unmask the culprits behind the water pollution. Ruth's narration keys the audience in to important aspects of journalism and lends the book an intimate tone. Set in fall 2015, the graphic novel spotlights coverage of the water crisis in Flint, MI, reminding readers of the real-life power of the press. Subplots involving middle school mean girls and minor family drama keep the tale accessible for a middle grade audience. Within panels with rounded edges, cartoonish illustrations rely on a neutral palette. Ruth, her family, and Sara are dark-skinned, but their ethnicity is not explicitly defined. VERDICT An absorbing work that emphasizes that even the youngest voices can have a resounding impact.--Pearl Derlaga, York County P.L., VA

Kirkus

An engaging, empowering tale of journalistic activism and ecological awareness.

Kate Reed Petty

Kate Reed Petty lives in Baltimore. Her fiction has appeared in Electric Literature, American Short Fiction, and more, and her short films have appeared in Narrative magazine and at the Maryland Film Festival. She is also the author of the novel True Story, published by Viking in 2020.

Andrea Bell is an illustrator and comic artist living in Chicago through the best and worst seasons. In 2013 she earned her BFA in Illustration from Columbia College Chicago and has since self-published Fair Voyage and Still Waiting. Today Andrea works as a freelance illustrator and in her free time enjoys rock climbing, curating playlists, video games, and a warm meme on a cold day.

ALSC Notable Children's Book

Selection 2022

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