Tamaya Dhilwaddi and Marshall Walsh are two students at Woodridge Academy who take a shortcut through a restricted forest to avoid a school bully named Chad. Deep in the woods, they encounter a strange, shimmering orange sludge that is actually a byproduct of a biological experiment gone wrong. This "fuzzy mud" contains man-made microorganisms designed as a renewable fuel source, but the cells reproduce exponentially and cause painful rashes upon physical contact. When Tamaya throws the mud at Chad to protect Marshall, she inadvertently triggers a massive ecological disaster and a public health crisis that threatens their entire town.
Middle-grade readers interested in ecological thrillers and science fiction will find this story a realistic look at the unintended consequences of high-stakes technology. The narrative focuses on the ethics of genetic engineering and the immediate impact of human error on the environment. Readers finish the book with a clear understanding of the tension between scientific advancement and safety protocols, as well as a perspective on how small, personal choices during a crisis can influence community-wide outcomes.
Practical and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2015
- Language
- EN
