Hello from Renn Lake by Michele Weber Hurwitz

Michele Weber Hurwitz is one of my favorite authors and a favorite of the kids in my small town in Wisconsin as well. I recently had to replace her first book, The summer I saved the world... in 65 days because we had literally read it to pieces and I know Calli be gold will be next! The school used her Ethan Marcus titles for book clubs this year and she gained many more fans. Hurwitz writes quiet, thoughtful stories about finding your true niche, helping others, and just being a better person. They're not flashy, but they're satisfying.

There will be plenty of moments for locals to enjoy in this story. It's dedicated to Lake Geneva, where I live, and I recognized several names in her acknowledgments of local experts. Her latest story strikes close to home, focusing on two main characters; Annalise, who was abandoned as a baby and adopted, and Renn, the lake itself, both of whom are struggling in different ways.

Annalise was abandoned as a baby and adopted by a local couple. She has her family, her annoying but beloved ten-year-old sister Jess, her best friend Maya, and most of all, Renn. The lake has guided, protected, and spoken to her since she was a baby, and it's always been her safe place to go when things are tough or she just needs someone to listen. Unlike her sister, Annalise doesn't dream of leaving her family's lakeside vacation cabins, the town, and her beloved lake, even though she still struggles with her feelings every time she passes the gift shop where she was found as a baby.

But there's something wrong with Renn. It doesn't know what - the river that feeds into it, Tru, has always been noisy, abrupt, angry at humans since they started polluting it, but suddenly Tru is no longer speaking to Renn... and Renn has lots its voice. An algae bloom has silenced the lake and, despite her personal struggles, her family's financial straits, and her sister's worrying behavior, Annalise is determined to give her friend back its voice and save her beloved lake.

Hurwitz skillfully blends the environmental message, scientific information about algae blooms, and a tender understanding of preteen girls and the life of small towns. There's humor, especially in the babysitting woes of Maya, new friendships formed with the out of town visitor who has his own struggles, some thoughtful discussions of romance (age-appropriate), and above all the warmth and growing pains of a genuine Hurwitz character - the average kid with a caring family and a determination to make a difference in their own small way.

Verdict: This is a lovely story even if you're not in the Midwest, but if you are it's definitely a must-purchase for your library. If you're in Wisconsin, I recommend extra copies since your schools (and libraries) will want to read it in book clubs. I plan to buy multiple copies once it comes out in paperback and can't wait to recommend it to my teachers in the fall.

ISBN: 9781984896322; Published May 2020 by Wendy Lamb Books; ARC provided by publisher; Purchased for the library