School Library Journal (Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2013)

Gr 2-4 It's the hottest summer in years, and water and power are in short supply. Local gardens are dying, and Top Cola is draining the local swimming hole, using the water to make its sugary soft drinks, so Luz once again becomes an environmental activist for her community. She and her friends are an engaging, likable group, and are not sanctimoniously dedicated to their cause: they grumble about turning off the air-conditioning and boycotting their favorite Top Cola drinks. Davila smoothly integrates facts about water conservation with the story line, aided by appealing cartoon illustrations. Drawn with bold lines and in a simple palette of black and light blue, they reflect the do-it-yourself ethos of Luz's activism. Because this graphic novel is divided into short chapters, it will serve as a bridge book or an advanced easy reader for children new to longer chapter books. This is an entertaining and empowering read, and should inspire many children to find out how they can make a difference in their communities. Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

In the midst of a drought, Luz, her family, and neighbors undertake two projects: saving a pond from destruction by a factory and creating a water conservation system for their community garden. The book is heavy on the environmental messages, but the graphic-novel format--with its amiable array of characters shown in blue, black, and white--is lively.

ALA Booklist

Watch out, water wasters! Luz and her friends are back to save the day and the earth. In this delightful sequel to Luz Sees the Light (2011), Luz, Rob, and Anika return to help save their local pond from pollution and the neighborhood garden from drying up. The second title in the Future According to Luz series is a great introduction to green living. In addition to cursory directions on how to recycle "greywater" using a natural water filtration system, Davila includes directions on how to create a water-wise garden. This fun, community-building story would be a great addition to environmental science curricula and might even spark a science fair project or two.

Kirkus Reviews

A heat wave and a drought spark more multi-fronted eco-activism in this sequel to Luz Sees the Light (2011). Blasting sun, weeks without rain, scheduled brownouts and water rationing have taken their toll on Petroville and the dying community gardens in Friendship Park. As if that's not bad enough, wilted young Luz discovers to her shock that with the new Top Cola plant sucking up groundwater, the once-brimming Spring Pond outside of town has become only a mudhole. Everyone springs into action. Luz's friends join her mother, her aged abuela and other adult allies to mount a protest campaign against Top Cola's water use. Meanwhile, Luz helps neighbors set up rain barrels, hoses and a bathtub "mini-marsh" to filter graywater from local businesses for the gardens. At last a massive cloudburst and Top Cola's promise to restore the pond bring sweet relief. It's plainly purposeful, as seen in dialogue ("Let's look for other cases of water rights abuses around the world"; "Carbon footprint!") and a concluding minifeature in which Luz helps a neighbor xeriscape a turf lawn. It's not just a lesson, though. The episode is fleshed out not only with character interaction and comedic side play, but in Dávila's simply drawn, monochrome blue panels, in which figures pose and expostulate with theatrical energy. Like its predecessor, more a refreshingly animated exercise in building community and awareness than a specific procedural guide for going green. (Graphic novel. 8-10)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

There-s a heat wave in Petroville, and this one-s the worst that Luz or any of her friends can remember. Couple that with a terrible drought and a national soda company draining the local watering hole to make soft drinks, and Petroville has a crisis on its hands. Fortunately, the town-s resident angry hippie, Gord, has a plan, and Luz and the rest are up for the task. This follow-up to Luz Sees the Light is a sweet story about the ways that small actions can have a big impact on our world. Davila-s story has a strong environmental message, but the lessons go beyond simple water conservation. Davila-s illustrations carry this idea home with a simple style that is colorful and full of action. She has populated Luz-s hometown with a diverse set of characters, each finding ways to work together to save their town. Ages 8-up. (Aug.)