Sooper Yooper: Environmental Defender

Our planet is in peril. That's the belief behind Sooper Yooper, the story of one man's efforts to defend the environment against the negative forces that threaten our natural resources. Billy Cooper is not your typical crime fighter. The fact that he displays no apparent superpowers is intentional. The book's authors felt it was important to underscore their contention that the average person-not someone endowed with X-ray vision or superhuman strength-can make a difference and help safeguard the planet. Much of the story takes place in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the northernmost U.S. portion of the Great Lakes, the largest surface freshwater system on the earth, representing about 21 percent of the world's supply. It is an area that demands protection. With freshwater becoming increasingly important in the twenty-first century, mankind will have to fight battles against the villainous issues of toxic and nutrient pollution, invasive species, and habitat degradation. Billy Cooper and millions of others like him must remain vigilant or the consequences will be dire.