Elyssa Campbell's debut novel Poison Town tells the story of a 14-year-old who becomes an environmental activist - in a company town built around a smelter. She faces a mystery – what is poisoning the town when there has been a successful clean-up.

Addie's town is built around a lead and zinc smelter. The company has done an extensive cleanup of its operations, but the air and water still seem dangerous. Addie decides to find out if the smelter is still poisoning local residents. To do that, she needs help.

This novel allows young readers to confront climate anxieties while finding inspiration in how Addie takes action that is believable and realistic. Addie is overlooked and treated as a child who wouldn't understand. Big mistake. She uses adult naivety to her advantage and confronts what most people in her town are too fearful to address. (From Lorimer)

Elyssa Campell is a writer and substitute teacher who grew up in a town with a smelter and now lives near Vancouver. Poison Town is her debut novel.