Eco-Disasters

In 1963, Les Skramstad came home after a hard day's work at the local mill and mine in Libby, Montana. His wife kissed him at the door and his kids playfully grabbed his legs. They didn't mind that he was covered in powdery brown dust. Little did Les and his family know that the dust was deadly. Deadly Mine: Libby, Montana traces the tragic story of a small mining town that eventually became poisoned by a deadly mineral called asbestos. Fascinating photos of the actual events, maps, and fact boxes enrich the compelling text. The personal and heart-breaking story will grip and inspire young readers.

Miami has a serious problem--water! Sometimes, on sunny days, water bubbles up from storm drains. Residents find their homes flooded. On some days, they see cars floating like boats and even fish swimming in pools of water in the streets. What is going on? And can anything be done to save the city from being completely flooded with water? Rising Seas: Miami, Floridatraces the tragic story of the causes of global warming, how this affects Miami--a city built on porous limestone--and how engineers are using pumps and other technologies to save the city from disaster. Fascinating photos of the actual events, maps, and fact boxes enrich the compelling text. The personal and heart-breaking story will grip and inspire young readers.

On April 26, 1986, while workers were conducting a test at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, disaster struck. One of the reactors exploded, erupting into a blazing inferno. The reactor's sealing cap was blown off and a lethal shower of radioactive material was launched into the night sky. Nuclear Accident: Chernobyl Power Plant, Ukraine traces the catastrophic nuclear disaster that contaminated a massive area of Europe with deadly radiation. Fascinating photos of the actual events, maps, and fact boxes enrich the compelling text. The personal and heart-breaking story will grip and inspire young readers.

On April 21, 1956, a five-year-old girl was examined at a hospital in Minamata, Japan. Doctors were puzzled by her symptoms which included difficulty walking and speaking and severe convulsions. Days later, her sister came down with the same symptoms. Soon after, more people were found with the same illness. What was causing this devastating disease? Toxic Water: Minamata, Japan traces the tragic story of toxic wastewater from a factory that poisoned an entire Japanese town. Fascinating photos of the actual events, maps, and fact boxes enrich the compelling text. The personal and heart-breaking story will grip and inspire young readers.

In December 1952, a thick layer of black smog blanketed London. The filthy air blinded people on the streets and brought traffic to a screeching halt. Worst of all, the pollution was deadly. It sickened 100,000 people and took the lives of 4,000. Killer Smog: London, England traces the devastating story of air pollution that took thousands of lives and brought London to a standstill. Fascinating photos of the actual events, maps, and fact boxes enrich the compelling text. The personal and heart-breaking story will grip and inspire young readers.

One night in December 1984, the residents of Bhopal, India, woke up suddenly, gasping for breath. Aziza Sultan's room was filled with a white cloud: "I heard people shouting, 'Run! Run!' Then I started coughing. It seemed as if I was breathing in fire. My eyes were burning." What was causing this unbelievable horror? Poisoned Air: Bhopal, Indiatraces the tragic story of a city in India that became exposed to a deadly gas called methyl isocyanate, or MIC. Fascinating photos of the actual events, maps, and fact boxes enrich the compelling text. The personal and heart-breaking story will grip and inspire young readers.

On April 14, 1935 in Boise City, Oklahoma, the sky turned black as a massive, swirling cloud of dust engulfed the city. "It got so dark that you couldn't see your hand before your face," remembered one farmer. Blinded drivers drove their cars off the side of the road. Terrified cows spun in circles. People covered their faces, gasping for breath. This was one of many dark days during the Dust Bowl. Sick Soil: The Dust Bowltraces the tragic story of the devastating dust storms that swept across the Midwest in the 1930s as a result of over-farming and drought. Fascinating photos of the actual events, maps, and fact boxes enrich the compelling text. The personal and heart-breaking story will grip and inspire young readers.

On April 20, 2010, workers were drilling for oil on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico when a fire caused a huge explosion. Eleven workers tragically lost their lives. Unfortunately, that wasn't the only disaster. The explosion caused a huge oil leak in the Gulf that took months to stop. The consequences of the leak continue to affect the area to this day. Oil Spill: Deepwater Horizontraces the tragic story of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, the resulting oil leak, and the effects of the poisonous oil on ocean animals and coastal communities. Fascinating photos of the actual events, maps, and fact boxes enrich the compelling text. The personal and heart-breaking story will grip and inspire young readers.