Down to Earth

Henry comes from a long line of dowsers. Henry doesn’t know if he has the gift, but his father said he will know. He and his little sister, Birdie, live with their parents outside of town, and Henry is homeschooled. His best friend, James, spends a lot of time at their house. Henry loves rocks, so he is especially thrilled when he sees a meteor crash into a field by their house. But strange things happen. All the wells in town dry up, and a flood comes through the land washing their house away. Some in town seem to hold Henry and his family to blame for the water drying up, and someone attacks their home one night, badly injuring James. But Henry has an idea of how to help.

Betty Culley has written a rich, complex middle-grade story with lots of fun science embedded in the book. Every chapter starts with a quote from a scientific book or article that connects to Henry and the story. The writing is simply beautiful, the characters are all engaging and well-rounded, and the story is most compelling. This fascinating book will satisfy readers well beyond a middle-grade audience.