The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story

Gr 4-7–The morning of November 20, 1980 started like any other day on Lake Peigneur—a freshwater lake two miles across, 10 feet deep, and “shaped like a Louisiana butter bean.” But that day proved to be anything but ordinary when a massive whirlpool opened in the lake, pulling in billions of gallons of water along with an oil derrick, barges, trees, and structures along the shoreline. This graphic novel recounts the harrowing stories of the people who witnessed the lake’s shocking disappearance. The narrative shifts perspectives among the witnesses who nearly lost their lives in the disaster, creating tension and highlighting the chaos and confusion of that extraordinary morning. Readers will be in suspense over what happened to the lake until the book’s conclusion when causes of the disaster are revealed. While the story of Lake Peigneur is true, there are some fictional elements, such as composite characters, an abbreviated time line, and narration by Lake Peigneur itself. However, facts are carefully distinguished from fiction in the book’s back matter and are drawn from quality sources, including interviews with survivors and the use of primary documents. Digital illustrations with muted, retro-feel colors support the narrative and provide details that enhance an understanding of what happened at Lake Peigneur, including maps and diagrams.