Ato (Black) lives in West Africa and is making a long-coveted trip to Nnoma, an island established as an environmental sanctuary. Allowing visitors again after a long hiatus, Nnoma invites groups of kids for week-long stays during which they compete in environmentally themed challenges, with those on the top three teams given the honor of being named Asofa, earth protectors, at week’s end. The island’s Guardians, who run the activities, are adults who were among the first Asofa. Ato desperately wants to be named Asofa. But he also hopes to use his time on the island to find a message that his dad, who died when Ato was young and who was involved in the creation of Nnoma, supposedly left there for Ato. Friction between the two girls on Ato’s team, and between Ato and a boy on another team, is already hindering his progress toward these goals when Ato discovers the future of Nnoma is in jeopardy: One or more of the Guardians is conspiring with developers to mine the island’s resources. Thwarting these nefarious plans becomes the most important mission of all in this mystery-adventure from a Ghanaian author. The young characters’ knowledge and enthusiasm for protecting the environment is inspiring, while friendship dynamics and tensions ground them as refreshingly relatable. (Ages 8-11)

The companion to Crossing the Stream is a moving story of friendship and a timely reminder of our duty to nature.

Ato and his friends Dzifa and Leslie have been selected to visit Nnoma, the bird sanctuary that Ato’s father helped build before he died. Ato is convinced that his father hid something valuable on the island, meant only for him. When the trio arrives at Nnoma with other children from across West Africa, they are split into teams and given missions to help broaden their knowledge of nature. The winners will become Asafo—ambassadors of Nnoma and defenders of the Earth. But then the adults running Nnoma start behaving erratically and Ato suspects foul play. When the trio uncovers a sinister plot to exploit the sanctuary, Ato and his friends must work together to protect it—and his father’s legacy.

Kirkus praised Crossing the Stream as “a powerful coming-of-age story of self-discovery” in their starred review. Now, Flying Up the Mountain calls upon each of us to do our part in safeguarding our planet.