When the World Runs Dry: Earth’s Water in Crisis

In this comprehensive nonfiction volume by Castaldo, an introduction and 11 chapters inform widely about water-related issues, including infrastructure and supply complications; industrial, agricultural, fracking, and pharmaceuticals and accidental pollution; and sea level rise, with final chapters offering potential solutions and opportunities to make a difference. The author successfully contextualizes the water crisis as something that affects everyone, with tacit acknowledgement of Indigenous peoples and their communities, as well as those in Flint, Mich., and citizens in Chennai, India; Cape Town, South Africa; and Kenya who suffer from water toxicity or scarcity. The narrative balances wide-ranging information with accessible prose: “What went wrong in Flint? Like so many cities, Flint had an aging water infrastructure.... Residents were not notified until after the lead was in their bodies.” Black-and-white photos, plentiful subheads, quotations, and inset boxes add context and visual interest to this invaluable tome that underscores an imperative crisis. Back matter includes resources, a glossary, source notes, and an index. Ages 10–up. (Jan.)