SPOOKY LAKES: Does That Get Your Attention?

ABRAMS BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
 2024

SPOOKY LAKES: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes That Dot Our Planet is written and illustrated by Geo Rutherford.  If that title doesn't grab your attention, I don't know what would. Add to that attraction the fact that this is a fully illustrated, deeply researched nonfiction work that opens on a table top like an invitation to plan a trip! 

The creator's dedication reveals that she was named GEO by her science-loving mom, and from there I was hooked even further. The table of contents offers a helpful introduction, then individually names the twenty-five global lakes of various sizes and qualities that can be read in orders or searched by name. 

Backmatter begins with an author note that reveals something quite remarkable. She generates  a TikTok series called SPOOKY LAKES, and each October since 2020 she has produced a program on a different spooky lake for each of the 31 days of the month. I can attest that writing even a fictional scary story for each of 31 days would be daunting, but it seems this scary-lake obsessed woman has managed to do the deep-dive research and polished production process on various "scary lakes" each year. She goes on to thank loyal audiences for leading two this book, and discussed the spruces of her information and its reliability. (I'll just say that when writing about unexplained phenomena, skepticism is always a frame of reference.) Double spreads that follow provide excellent glossary content and an extensive bibliography, websites, and a helpful index. 

The various scary lake spreads in this 96 page beauty include informational text to identify the locations, mysteries, and accounts, as well as insets that reveal more about the geologic structures when needed, describe secondary details about history, warning signs, and surprising related facts and events, as well as examples of the evidence of what is happening in each lake/location. Some lakes burn with fire, some release toxic gases, and not all are made of water (a pitch lake and a brine lake are among examples of these). This professor, writer, artist, media star lives on the edge of spooky lake and challenges readers to read, if they dare. 

Summer travel might just allow you to be in an area worth exploring in a side trip.  Again, if you dare. 

Will you?