Children’s graphic novel by Kate Reed Petty and illustrated by Andrea Bell. First Second: New York, 2021.
It all started with a disconcerting visit to the dentist. Even though 12-year-old Ruth Keller had been taking good care of her teeth, she had a cavity and a few other concerning areas that could also go that route. Despite her protests, her dentist and Mom both blamed Ruth. At the same time, Ruth dreams of becoming an investigative journalist and has her own online newsletter so she always enjoys the challenge of uncovering the truth behind unusual events. When she discovers some strange black slime on the shore of a local lake, her digging into the story takes her to the local country club, a factory, and the possible connections to her teeth problems. Along the way she learns firsthand about the “rules of journalism,” including objectivity, accuracy, transparency, honesty, and always keeping your eye out for a good story. Ruth explores questions about who you can trust, standing firm for what’s right in the face of critiques, and who gets to define what is true. Reed Petty’s deft storytelling, combined with Bell’s bold graphics, provides an engaging tale about youth empowerment and critical information and science literacy.