Books about Teens and the Environment

The Ancient One ~T.A. Barron
While helping her Great Aunt Melanie try to protect an Oregon redwood forest from loggers, Kate goes back five centuries through a time tunnel and faces the evil creature Gashra, who is bent on destroying the same forest.

California Blue ~David Klass
When John Rodgers discovers a new sub-species of butterfly which may necessitate closing the mill where his dying father works, they find themselves on opposite sides of the environmental conflict.

Changes in Latitudes ~Will Hobbs
A family trip to Mexico changes Travis' cocky attitudes as he becomes exposed to his brother's consuming interest in saving endangered species, to his parents' problems, and to his own selfishness.

The Exchange Student ~Kate Gilmore
When her mother arranges to host one of the young people coming to Earth from Chela, Daria is both pleased and intrigued by the keen interest shown by the Chelan in her work breeding endangered species.

Green Thumb ~Rob Thomas
While spending the summer in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil doing botanical research, Grady discovers a secret language used by the trees to communicate with each other and falls afoul of the dictatorial Dr. Carter, whose motives seem questionable.

Gypsyworld ~Julian F. Thompson
Kidnapped and taken to utopian Gypsyworld by its king and queen, a group of teenagers is tested to see how they cope in a place where the earth and its gifts are not abused.

Kite ~Melvin Burgess
Although the landowner for whom his father works as a gamekeeper hates all birds of prey, Taylor and his friend raise an endangered red kite in secret.

The Maze ~Will Hobbs
Rick, a foster child, escapes from a juvenile detention facility near Las Vegas and travels to Canyonlands National Park in Utah where he meets a bird biologist working on a project to reintroduce condors to the wild.

On Different Shores ~Jen McVeity
While participating in the rescue of a beached whale, Australian teenager Tess finally confronts her fear of swimming and begins to resolve her difficult relationship with her father.

Summer Hawk ~Deborah Savage
When her rescue of a baby hawk takes Taylor to a raptor rehabilitation center in rural Pennsylvania, their offer of a summer public relations job seems a step toward her dream of becoming a journalist.

Whalesong ~Robert Siegel
An ecological fable of Hruna, the humpback whale.

Compiled by L. Baldwin, Librarian
Brick & Upper Shores
March 2001