Salton Sea Resort
Death in the Desert
From the Series Abandoned: Towns Without People
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Salton Sea resort area was a vacationer’s paradise. People looking to go boating, swimming, and fishing flocked to California’s largest lake. Homes, hotels, and shops sprang up as more and more people moved to the region. However, something was lurking in the lake’s calm waters. Soon, swimmers began to pass by globs of green algae and breathe in a rotten-egg stench. Beachgoers had to step over piles of decaying fish on the shore. Today, very few people remain in the towns that surround the lake. What had happened to the once beautiful Salton Sea? Salton Sea Resort: Death in the Desert tells the amazing but true story of a once thriving resort community that has been almost completely abandoned. The fascinating story includes descriptions of how an accidental flood formed the lake, how runoff from nearby farms polluted the water and destroyed wildlife, and what people are doing today to clean up the area. Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the exciting story of boomtown to bust. Written in narrative format, this book is sure to keep readers hungry for more thrilling real-life tales.
| Interest Level | Grade 2 - Grade 7 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 3 |
| Category | Hi-Lo, Nonfiction |
| Subject | Social Studies |
| Copyright | 2015 |
| Publisher | Bearport Publishing |
| Imprint | Bearport Books |
| Language | English |
| Publication Date | 2015-01-01 |
| Reading Counts! Level | 6.2 |
| Reading Counts! Quiz | Q66969 |
| Reading Counts! Points | 3.0 |
| BISACS | JNF025000 |
|---|---|
| Dewey | 979.4'99 |
| Graphics | Full-color illustrations, Full-color photographs, Historical photographs |
| Lexile | 900 |
| Guided Reading Level | Q |
| ATOS Reading Level | 5.2 |
| Accelerated Reader® Quiz | 172005 |
| Accelerated Reader® Points | 0.5 |
Reviews
School Library Connection Review for Abandoned! Towns Without People
Each title begins with a brief introduction posing how once busy locations became abandoned; each book likewise ends with a comparison of then and now. Split into colorful two-page spreads, this series will appeal to readers who enjoy unsolved mysteries or learning about unusual episodes in history. Some of the stylistic illustrations, layout choices, and conclusions are intended to lend a spooky element to the series, with mixed results. Bibliography. Glossary. Index. Recommended
SLC Review - Abandoned! Towns Without People
Each title begins with a brief introduction posing how once busy locations became abandoned; each book likewise ends with a comparison of then and now. Split into colorful two-page spreads, this series will appeal to readers who enjoy unsolved mysteries or learning about unusual episodes in history. Some of the stylistic illustrations, layout choices, and conclusions are intended to lend a spooky element to the series, with mixed results.
The Horn Book Guide Review for Abandoned! Towns Without People
Despite a rather sensationalized title, this series is genuinely fascinating. Each book traces the history of a now-deserted town, explaining its population boom, possible reasons for decline, and what each abandoned place is like today. With interesting historical and contemporary photos and well-placed
sidebars, these are solid places to begin research on some of America’s stranger places.
Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.
