The Light in the Lake

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Thanks to the Kid Lit Exchange network and Little Brown for the review copy of this book by Sarah R. Baughman. All opinions are my own. This book will be released on September 3, 2019.

Twelve-year-old Addie loves science and her teacher wants her to apply for a Young Scientist position for the summer. If she is accepted, she will spend all summer on Maple Lake helping scientists collect and analyze data. This sounds like a dream come true for Addie, but she hasn’t been to Maple Lake since her twin brother, Amos, drowned in it a few months ago. She is ready to go back, but how will she be able to convince her parents to let her return?
Then Addie finds a journal her brother was keeping that contains clues and evidence of a mysterious creature living in Maple Lake. Addie didn’t believe Amos when he told her about his theory of the creature’s existence shortly before he died. His clues hardly seemed scientific or factual to Addie, but now she is determined to prove him right.

This is an amazing debut novel that beautifully weaves together both science and magic with a focus on the scientific method and environmentalism. Addie is a well-developed character that struggles with grief and learning who she is without her twin brother. This book would be ideal for grades 4 – 6. Affiliate link below.