Black Beach: A Community, an Oil Spill, and the Origin of Earth Day

Twenty million people across the country made their voices heard on the first Earth Day.

Some came out to celebrate the environment, while others protested and demanded change.

A movement was born.

In 1969, Sam is happily drawing in class when news of an oil spill changes her community forever. Santa Barbara's once beautiful beach is now coated in thick, goopy oil that is threatening wildlife and ruining the ecosystem. Sam feels powerless, even as her parents and neighbors do everything they can to clean up the mess Union Oil caused with their spill. As her environmental awareness grows, she learns that she's not alone in caring for the planet. The impact of the oil spill has seeped into living rooms and classrooms across the nation. In response, a movement to protect and celebrate the planet is born-Earth Day.

This true story told through the eyes of a fictional character will inspire any reader to stand up for Mother Nature.