Hello from Renn Lake

March 15, 2020
A 12-year-old girl has a special connection to the lake that saved her life when she was an infant. As a baby, Annalise mysteriously appeared one day in a bassinet placed secretly behind Alden's store. Nearby Renn Lake noticed and helpfully surged up to attract the attention of Mrs. Alden, who found the abandoned child. Eventually Annalise was adopted by a younger childless couple who also owned and operated summer cabins on that same Wisconsin lake. By the age of 3, Annalise begins to hear and understand Renn in a way that no one else does. As a result, when toxic algae threaten the future of the lake and the livelihoods of all who depend on it, Annalise and her friend Zach spring into action with an ingenious plant-based solution. Meanwhile, Annalise eventually learns more about her personal history and integrates her "found day" narrative into her life. The story is told in both Annalise's and Renn's voices, in alternating chapters, until midway through, when Renn's ill health leads to silence. Eventually Renn's cousin Tru, the river that feeds the lake, takes up where Renn leaves off; the inclusion of both bodies of water as narrators adds fuller dimension to the story and emphasizes the importance of the environment to our lives. Human characters present as white. An author's note provides further information on lake ecosystems and algal blooms. An earnest and disarming tale of human and environmental caring. (Fiction. 8-12)

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April 13, 2020
Left near the shore of Wisconsin’s Renn Lake as an infant, Annalise was subsequently adopted by a local family who owns vacation cottages there. Though the 12-year-old knows she can communicate with the lake (“I don’t actually hear Renn’s words. I sense them”), what Annalise does not know is that Renn Lake, whose first-person narration alternates with Annalise’s (and a few chapters by local river Tru), “propelled a surge” so that Annalise would be discovered and saved. When Zach, who is staying at one of the cabins on the lake, discovers a harmful, growing algae bloom that is making Renn very ill, Annalise realizes that she, with the help of her community and Tru, must work to save both the lake and the businesses that depend on Renn for tourism. Along the way, Annalise comes to terms with her origin story and gains a deeper understanding of her friends, her family, and herself. Intertwined with Renn’s unique narration and a meaningful human-nature connection, Hurwitz’s (Ethan Marcus Makes His Mark) book intersperses scientific facts about algae blooms and pollution with a story of activism and nature appreciation. Ages 8–12. Agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Trident Media Group.

May 1, 2020

Gr 4-8-Two very different voices tell the story of Renn Lake. The first is the lake itself, discussing its origins and hinting at some of the current stories. The second is a girl named Annalise. Annalise is 12 and was found as an infant abandoned in a bassinet by the lake. Her adoptive parents own and operate a small resort on the shores of Lake Renn. Annalise feels that she can communicate with the lake, and the lake feels it is connected to Annalise. There is a wide cast of characters, including Annalise's loving and supportive parents; a best friend who is learning about Jewish heritage and babysitting two rambunctious little boys for the summer; a new boy struggling with a break-up with his boyfriend; and a dramatic little sister. There's also a big problem; there is an algae bloom in the lake that is toxic to humans (so no swimming or boating) and potentially fatal to the lake's ecosystem. The story also addresses the financial hardship on the community at large caused by the lack of tourists. Annalise is the one most concerned about the lake because it has stopped communicating with her. Annalise and her friends devise a problem-solving strategy that is inexpensive but effective, surprising the local authorities who have suggested the algae problem will just have to resolve itself. This is a story that tries to tackle a lot of different issues. Kids who have experience with lakes and other water environments are more likely to enjoy this story, as are kids who have an interest in ecology and ecological problem-solving. VERDICT This is a pleasant story touching on a variety of social issues, including adoption, gender identity, religious identity, families, and water ecology. A solid addition to middle grade collections.-Debbie Tanner, S D Spady Montessori Elementary, FL

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