Landslide

Nathan has an inexplicable ability to see things before others do, referring to this ability to as his "I-sight." It has allowed him to notice that the landfill where his father works, located directly across the street from their home in rural Maine, contains a large pile of garbage that is slowly moving. It's clear to Nathan that a landslide is inevitable. Meanwhile, citizens are protesting the possible expansion of said garbage facility. Among the protesters, Nathan finds a new friend, Wilder Bacon, who takes everything very seriously but provides readers with much-needed relief from the informationally dense text. The narrative also gets a lift from Nathan's extended family members, his neighbors, and his school friends, and Culley's decision to use short chapters helps ensure the plot keeps moving. Landslide will appeal to fans of environmental fiction, especially those who liked Carl Hiaasen's Hoot (2002) and Flush (2005), as well as readers interested in themes of activism.

A Maine boy with an unusual gift watches the landfill across the street--and fears it's about to bury his father. Ten-year-old Nathan has a skill he calls "I-sight"--the ability to detect subtle movements that others miss--and it's showing him something alarming: The Homefront Municipal Waste Management landfill is moving in ways that suggest an imminent collapse. His dad drives the compactor at the summit, and Nathan already worries about his father's health after years of lung damage from working at the Fortier's Cement factory. As environmental protestors gather, Nathan's new friend Wilder Bacon, a boy with alopecia areata, joins forces with him to document the hill's movement. Culley grounds the story in solid environmental education, explaining rural landfills' acceptance of out-of-state waste and the cumulative dangers of exposure to environmental waste and landfill gases. The plot builds steadily, and Nathan's voice remains absorbing throughout, capturing a kid's determination to protect his family while grappling with complex community politics. The environmental message is clear but never heavy-handed, and Wilder's feelings about his condition add authentic representation. An author's note reveals the story is based on an actual Maine landfill collapse in 1989 and states that such disasters occur worldwide. Most characters present white. An earnest, well-researched environmental tale that educates as it engages.(Fiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.