The Creature of Black Water Lake

World of Adventure #13

by Gary Paulsen

Thirteen-year-old Ryan Swanner and his mom just moved to the mountain resort of Black Water Lake. The locals say that beneath the lake's seemingly calm surface, a giant, ancient creature lives. But Ryan's new friend Rita tells him that's just hogwash. She's not afraid to go fishing out on the lake, even though, oddly, the lake seems to be nearly empty of fish. One day Ryan sees a small animal fall from a tree into the lake--and never surface again. Something is in the lake. And it's alive....

Genres: Fiction

80 pages, Paperback

First published June 9, 1997

About the author

Gary James Paulsen was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction, best known for coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. He was the author of more than 200 books and wrote more than 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for teenagers. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1997 for his lifetime contribution in writing for teens.

Reviews

[Noelle Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

“And all of a sudden this thing, like a giant snake, swam through the water. It had a flipper on the end of its tail and its head was huge, with big yellow eyes on either side.”

Title: The Creature of Black Water Lake
Author: Gary Paulsen
Genre: Middle Grade: Fantasy/ Mystery/ Adventure

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ryan and his mother just moved and he quickly is pulled into the middle of an adventure where there is a mythical sea monster living in Black Water Lake.

This is part of a chapter book series that Gary Paulsen put out. They are short adventures, great for any early reader looking for a little adventure.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun adventure story. I liked the switching viewpoints between the kids and the monster.

[Mason Bills · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Creature of Black Water Lake
The Creature of Black Water Lake is an adventure pack book. Ryan moves to a new house with his mom because she got a new job. Ryan meets a new friend there and she said there is monster in the lake. Some people say there is one but some say there isn't. Ryan and Rita starts to make a boat to go fishing. One they get done they go out and they see ripples so they go back. There is a person who used to study oceanography then he got a new job where he lives. Ryan talks to Larry about so Larry got equipment and I let you find out the rest.
Ryan is a person that doesn't give up. He tries and tries to get better at he what he does. And I'm kinda like him in sports. I practice hard to get better at sports. And also Ryan likes adventures so it would be a little risky to go on adventures with him. Who knows where he would go. But there is one adventure I wouldn't go on with him. The boat ride. There could be a live monster in there and eat you alive.
Gary Paulson is a talented writer. In my opinion because some might think he is terrible. I've some of his books before I thought all of them were interesting. The ones that I read were the adventures one. People that would like this book is people that like short and adventure books.
I liked the book because it had adventure and action at the same time. It was kinda of a mystery at the same time. Just a main if Ryan didn't move to that place. The reason I didn't like it because it was short. I like books a little longer but not too long.
I would rate this book a 5/5 because it had adventure and mystery. I also liked how it had the monster and they hunted for the monster. They gathered clues and videotaped people who thought the monster was real.

[Elijah S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book. I know it's meant for younger audiences, but I thought it was decent.