The First Rule of Climate Club

Gr 5 Up–Mary Kate Murphy and her classmates in the eighth grade climate science pilot program at Fisher Middle School, with the guidance of their teacher Mr. Lu, set out to create a composting program. When their attempt to apply for a town grant to pay for the program goes awry because of the mayor’s racism, Mary Kate and her classmates, family, and friends must find another way to raise funds. Meanwhile, Mary Kate’s best friend Lucy is really sick, and Mary Kate works hard to find out what’s wrong while juggling activism, her efforts to get teacher Ms. Lane elected mayor, and her frustrations with the current mayor’s lies and prejudices. But with the help of school faculty, the ingenuity of her classmates, and her sister’s advice, Mary Kate just might find a way to accomplish her goals. Told through short chapters, podcast scripts, flyers, letters, and lists, this book shares with readers the power of determination and unity.