This is a very informative collection of ideas, cases, problems and solutions regarding one of the most concerning issues in the modern world, which is a water crisis. The author thoroughly shows the importance and impact of our activities to the future of water supply and demand. She documents worrying cases from all over the world as specific examples of what is really happening on the matter. Stories and facts inspire curiosity; readers won’t get bored even with the technicalities.

Passionate advocates of the environment should have a copy of this book, as it not only tackles problems, but offers solutions and ways to help different organizations. It is a good read for all ages. The information is well explained and up to date. The author brilliantly delivers her message without guilt-tripping readers, instead presenting facts meant to educate and encourage them.

Overall, it is a well-organized book that cleverly outlines the water crisis we face now and in the future. It will strike the heart of readers, on how serious this issue can be if neglected. After reading this, you might think twice about taking for granted the next clean water you drink or use.

Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for the #gifted copy of the book.

This book is gears towards young readers - ages 9-12. Everyone should have access to clean water! We all need it to survive. This was a great informative book about what would happen if we ran out of water! There were lots of real life examples in this book. This book should be in every school!

Have you ever wondered about the water around you? It’s everywhere, but not always safe. We learn about infrastructure problems within our cities. Stories about what happened in Flint, MI with lead in the water because they didn’t plan on what would happen with the old pipes and the water coming from a different place. Chapter two tells us about industrial pollution from chemicals in factories and coal mining. Nancy Castaldo gives us stories from around the world, but also within the United States where there is either water shortage due to climate change or mismanagement. At the end of the book, we get a chapter about how you can make a difference. It starts with conservation, saving water where you can. Recommending a rain barrel to collect rain water for watering gardens and other non-consumption uses. And we hear about young people today who are finding ways to help in their communities and beyond.

When the World Runs Dry summarizes water issues in today's world. The book highlights court cases in the United States where civilians had to fight to protect their water purity. Clean drinking water is a fundamental human right though it has not always been given.

Our planet's resources are finite, including arguably the most important one: the water. Explained in engaging snapshots and covering several different environmental topics related to water and its use, misuse, and conservation, this book is a must-read for our younger audiences. (And us adults, too!)

Concepts: ★★★★★
Readability: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★★

When the World Runs Dry: Earth's Water in Crisis is the kind of nonfiction read that I hope gets taught in schools. Because I, a fully grown adult with basic knowledge of our water troubles, learned way too much information for the first time.

I feel like we all should be well versed in the global situation of water. We need it to survive, it keeps everything alive, and yet... some of us remain ignorant of its journey and struggles in the current state of our Earth.

Tailored to younger readers, this slim book had a TON of information processed in easy-to-digest bites. A little bit on the Flint water crisis and its implications in Michigan, USA. A little bit on the history and harms of fracking. A little bit on harmful red algae. A little bit on dry wells. A little bit on a lot of things, told in an accessible and informative way.

I certainly learned a lot, and I appreciated the author for her time spent on dosing it down to the entry point level for a lot of very complicated topics.

We only have so much water, y'all...

A powerful read to absorb on this Earth Day. I recommend for all!

Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

When the World Runs Dry is an extremely timely, informative, and important text. Ideal for students in a wide range of grades from upper elementary to high school. This text brings attention to many water issues in the United States and internationally. From the presence of lead in the water to contamination from agriculture and pharmaceuticals, access to clean drinking water is in danger worldwide for humans and animals. It's hard to teach something students can't see like lead and chemical contamination, but the study of red tide in fresh water and ocean presents a clear picture of how human actions pollute fresh groundwater and ocean, destroying countless plants and animals along the way. Timely study for the upcoming Earth Day focus.

Today, March 22, is World Water Day, so it's the perfect day to share a new nonfiction book for middle-grade readers. (Thanks to #partner @algonquinyr for this ARC!)

Here's the synopsis:

"What would you do if you turned on the faucet one day and nothing happened? What if you learned the water in your home was harmful to drink? Water is essential for life on this planet, but not every community has the safe, clean water it needs. In When the World Runs Dry, award-winning science writer Nancy Castaldo takes readers from Flint, Michigan, and Newark, New Jersey, to Iran and Cape Town, South Africa, to explore the various ways in which water around the world is in danger, why we must act now, and why you’re never too young to make a difference.

"Topics include: Lead and water infrastructure problems, pollution, fracking contamination, harmful algal blooms, water supply issues, rising sea levels, and potential solutions."

While I haven't quite finished this one, it is an engaging deep dive into important issues written in an informative, engaging way for young people. There are stories focused on the people affected by, for instance, the Flint, MI, water crisis, as well as realistic ways to identify problems and to help solve them. This is an important, timely read that I'll be sharing with my children and my students.

When the World Runs Dry is geared for younger readers but is really a book for everyone. It's also a very important book that is much needed in the times we live in. We all can make a difference if we start now.

Thank you Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Over the past few years I've tried to be water conscious. Turning off the running water while I brush my teeth. Taking a shower instead of a bath. Anything to conserve water. Nancy Castaldo goes into detail on how the water crisis matters and how it is effecting all of us. This book has great information and delivers it in a very understandable way.

Over the past few years, I’ve made an effort to learn about the environment and sustainability. But I’ve never known much about the water crisis. This book taught me an enormous amount in less than 200 pages.

When the World Runs Dry is young adult nonfiction, written in an approachable style that explains what the water crisis is, how it happened, and why it matters.

Each chapter includes case studies of communities impacted by the water crisis, like a town only 30 miles from me hurt by contaminated groundwater. It was especially moving to read about a community so close to home.

I loved the examples of young people stepping up to make a difference. The book ends with these amazing stories plus specific actions you can take and organizations to support.

I recommend to this to YA and adult readers alike! It’s a great book to educate yourself on an urgent issue.

The author has witten a compelling and ultimately hopeful quest for water advocacy in this fascinating and heartbreaking non-fiction book. I felt that the information was presented with a healthy dose of urgency, while encouraging young readers to find their voice and join as advocates. This is written for middle grade readers, which is the perfect age to engage children in caring about the world around them, volunteerism, and campaigning. As an adult, I felt spurred to action through the reminders that we can do things as simple as testing our water, adding a filter, and writing to our elected representatives.

This is an important book that teachers, librarians, and parents would do well to have in their library collections. It shares current events and gives voice to underrepresented communities. The author advocates for BIPOC communities, as well as rural communities, but she cautions that water scarcity or contamination could happen no matter where we live.

Water is one of our most basic necessities, and as this book cautions, we can not take it for granted. I highly recommend this book for all ages.