The Boy with a Bear Tattoo

Sylvia, a neurodiverse seventeen-year-old naturalist, has recently aged out of the foster care system. After she stumbles into the middle of an environmental disaster, she takes it upon herself to find the culprit and, in doing so, comes face-to-face with first love. 

Seventeen-year-old Sylvia has never felt the pangs of attraction and can't understand why everyone, even the animals around her, is busy coupling. Ever the scientist, Sylvia sets out to study the evolution of mating. 

But her research is interrupted when the EPA inadvertently releases fluorescent orange mining tailings into her beloved river. Hundreds of trout corpses bubble up, birds fly away, and bears flee. No one takes responsibility for the spill.

Yet, Sylvia has bigger problems. Since Mom has a substance abuse disorder and can't work, Sylvia has to drop out of school to support her family. When Mom overdoses Sylvia is left homeless. The EPA offices become a place for her to hide until she can find housing. 

Meanwhile, no one is held accountable for the EPA spill. Sylvia quickly realizes that the EPA’s account – that a valve leaked – can not be true. The only two people who were present when the mine discharged were James McGee and Ben Alvarez. James, the primary assessor for the EPA, is a trusted member of the community. Ben is a muscular college intern with earnest eyes who swiftly becomes Sylvia’s first true friend. As Ben trains Sylvia, the two of them discover their joint love of nature, dogs, quick wit, and pizza. Whenever Ben is near, Sylvia gets tunnel vision, and she worries that she is going into a rut. 

Ever the scientist, Sylvia tries to fight with her hormones using logic, math, and data. But a skunk ruins Sylvia’s plan to stay in her head. Once it sprays, she and Ben have to plunge into the river, and logic doesn’t win. Who is the environmental terrorist, and can Sylvia stop the person before they strike again?