FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY + AUTHOR INTERVIEW | It Came from the Creek by Amy Sarig King (A.S. King)
Something is poisoning Lorane Creek. Someone knows who's responsible. And two middle schoolers are determined to uncover the truth!
Today's First Chapter Friday read aloud features It Came from the Creek by award-winning author Amy Sarig King (A.S. King), a compelling middle grade mystery about bullying, environmental pollution, friendship, and standing up for what's right.
PLUS! Stick around after the first chapter for a special author interview with Amy Sarig King, where we go behind the scenes of the book and explore the inspiration behind the story!
If your students love mystery books, realistic fiction, environmental adventures, stories about friendship, or books where kids take on big problems, this one deserves a spot on their reading lists!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Something strange is happening at Lorane Creek. The water smells terrible. It's turning strange colors. And people are getting sick.
Best friends Katy and Joel know something isn't right, so they decide to investigate. Armed with curiosity and a determination to uncover the truth, they begin documenting the mysterious changes happening at the creek. What they discover is more disturbing than they imagined.
A man has been dumping harmful substances into the water. And even after he's told to stop, he keeps doing it. Sound familiar? Katy and Joel are dealing with bullies at school, too. And they're beginning to realize that whether someone is polluting a creek or picking on another kid, bullies often have something in common: They believe they can get away with breaking the rules.
Now Katy, Joel, and their community must find the courage to stand up, speak out, and protect the things that matter. But can two kids really make a difference against someone who refuses to listen?
BONUS AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH AMY SARIG KING!
After the First Chapter Friday reading, join me for a conversation with Amy Sarig King, author of It Came from the Creek and Attack of the Black Rectangles. Hear directly from the author about her writing process, the ideas behind the book, and how stories can help readers think about the world around them.
Author interviews are a fantastic way to help middle school readers make connections between books, writers, and the creative writing process!
Rather read the interview? Check out the blog post transcript version here: https://amandazieba.com/blog/it-came-from-the-creek-by-amy-sarig-king-first-chapter-friday-author-interview
📚 MIDDLE SCHOOL ELA TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS: This engaging middle grade novel offers opportunities to explore character development, theme, conflict, mystery, making predictions, drawing inferences, identifying text evidence, and analyzing how authors communicate important messages through fiction.
It's also a strong choice for classroom discussions about bullying prevention, friendship, courage, advocacy, community responsibility, and finding your voice.
🌱 SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TEACHERS: It Came from the Creek creates a natural connection to water pollution, water quality, environmental conservation, ecosystems, human impact on the environment, and environmental justice.
Consider pairing the story with an informational text about water contamination, a local watershed investigation, or a discussion about how communities can work together to protect natural resources.
💛 WHY THIS STORY MATTERS: Bullying doesn't always happen in school hallways. Sometimes it happens when people with power believe they can ignore rules, harm others, or avoid consequences. It Came from the Creek reminds readers that young people have voices worth hearing—and that speaking up can be the first step toward making real change.
Learn more about Amy Sarig King and her books here: https://link.amazon/B097YRTwa
And get your copy of It Came from the Creek here: https://link.amazon/B097YRTwa
📺 MORE FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY!
First Chapter Friday Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpVe6VlpCwJZCLWm7CR4yX93l3xN2conB
📝 FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY CLASSROOM RESOURCES
FULL First Chapter Friday Worksheet Bundle:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Chapter-Friday-Read-Aloud-Videos-Engaging-Middle-School-Reading-Resource-8469855
⭐ Find even more middle school ELA resources, book recommendations, and student engagement ideas inside Word Nerd Collaborative: www.wordnerdcollaborative.com
Music Credit: Amanda Zieba and Suno Pro (2026)
#ItCameFromTheCreek #AmySarigKing #ASKing #FirstChapterFriday #AuthorInterview #MiddleGradeBooks #MiddleSchoolELA #SchoolLibrarians #ClassroomReadAloud #BullyingPrevention #EnvironmentalEducation #WaterPollution #ReadingEngagement #MiddleGradeMystery #BooksForMiddleSchoolers
Something is poisoning Lorane Creek. Someone knows who's responsible. And two middle schoolers are determined to uncover the truth!
Today's First Chapter Friday read aloud features It Came from the Creek by award-winning author Amy Sarig King (A.S. King), a compelling middle grade mystery about bullying, environmental pollution, friendship, and standing up for what's right.
PLUS! Stick around after the first chapter for a special author interview with Amy Sarig King, where we go behind the scenes of the book and explore the inspiration behind the story!
If your students love mystery books, realistic fiction, environmental adventures, stories about friendship, or books where kids take on big problems, this one deserves a spot on their reading lists!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Something strange is happening at Lorane Creek. The water smells terrible. It's turning strange colors. And people are getting sick.
Best friends Katy and Joel know something isn't right, so they decide to investigate. Armed with curiosity and a determination to uncover the truth, they begin documenting the mysterious changes happening at the creek. What they discover is more disturbing than they imagined.
A man has been dumping harmful substances into the water. And even after he's told to stop, he keeps doing it. Sound familiar? Katy and Joel are dealing with bullies at school, too. And they're beginning to realize that whether someone is polluting a creek or picking on another kid, bullies often have something in common: They believe they can get away with breaking the rules.
Now Katy, Joel, and their community must find the courage to stand up, speak out, and protect the things that matter. But can two kids really make a difference against someone who refuses to listen?
BONUS AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH AMY SARIG KING!
After the First Chapter Friday reading, join me for a conversation with Amy Sarig King, author of It Came from the Creek and Attack of the Black Rectangles. Hear directly from the author about her writing process, the ideas behind the book, and how stories can help readers think about the world around them.
Author interviews are a fantastic way to help middle school readers make connections between books, writers, and the creative writing process!
Rather read the interview? Check out the blog post transcript version here: https://amandazieba.com/blog/it-came-from-the-creek-by-amy-sarig-king-first-chapter-friday-author-interview
📚 MIDDLE SCHOOL ELA TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS: This engaging middle grade novel offers opportunities to explore character development, theme, conflict, mystery, making predictions, drawing inferences, identifying text evidence, and analyzing how authors communicate important messages through fiction.
It's also a strong choice for classroom discussions about bullying prevention, friendship, courage, advocacy, community responsibility, and finding your voice.
🌱 SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TEACHERS: It Came from the Creek creates a natural connection to water pollution, water quality, environmental conservation, ecosystems, human impact on the environment, and environmental justice.
Consider pairing the story with an informational text about water contamination, a local watershed investigation, or a discussion about how communities can work together to protect natural resources.
💛 WHY THIS STORY MATTERS: Bullying doesn't always happen in school hallways. Sometimes it happens when people with power believe they can ignore rules, harm others, or avoid consequences. It Came from the Creek reminds readers that young people have voices worth hearing—and that speaking up can be the first step toward making real change.
Learn more about Amy Sarig King and her books here: https://link.amazon/B097YRTwa
And get your copy of It Came from the Creek here: https://link.amazon/B097YRTwa
📺 MORE FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY!
First Chapter Friday Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpVe6VlpCwJZCLWm7CR4yX93l3xN2conB
📝 FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY CLASSROOM RESOURCES
FULL First Chapter Friday Worksheet Bundle:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Chapter-Friday-Read-Aloud-Videos-Engaging-Middle-School-Reading-Resource-8469855
⭐ Find even more middle school ELA resources, book recommendations, and student engagement ideas inside Word Nerd Collaborative: www.wordnerdcollaborative.com
Music Credit: Amanda Zieba and Suno Pro (2026)
#ItCameFromTheCreek #AmySarigKing #ASKing #FirstChapterFriday #AuthorInterview #MiddleGradeBooks #MiddleSchoolELA #SchoolLibrarians #ClassroomReadAloud #BullyingPrevention #EnvironmentalEducation #WaterPollution #ReadingEngagement #MiddleGradeMystery #BooksForMiddleSchoolers