"This stunning new picture book tells the story of dam removal from the Elwha River in Washington state. While nonfiction, this book reads as a story, telling the history of the river. Until 1790, the Elwha River nourished the land. The river is a life force for all flora and fauna. The Lower Elwha Kllalam Tribe, also known as The Strong People, depends on the river and provides not only food but is the creation site of their people. In 1790, white settlers came to the area and took over the land. Looking to create towns, they built dams on the Elwha to provide people with electricity, but not the Strong People. This created huge problems, especially for the salmon, which stopped coming.

The Strong People fought for years to have the dams removed and finally won. Scientists worked together to ensure the dam removal would help the environment in the best way possible. No one knew if the river would return fully to nourish the land. Then, five months after dam removal, the first salmon returned. This book is an absolute must for any classroom or library, especially those in the Pacific Northwest. Riddled with rich information, teachers can use this resource in specific content areas. The book contains embedded vocabulary and definitions in the artwork. The language is elevated yet readable.

The artwork, The artwork, done by a Métis illustrator, is gorgeous and enhances the writing perfectly. The book also contains diagrams woven into pages that explain the science of the river and the culture of The Strong People. Every detail in the book is attentive to the storytelling, including the inside cover map art, comparing the river in 1950 and 2020. This book is an absolute gem and should not be missed."--Children's Literature.