How does clean water simply come out of the tap? What are those things up on cell phone towers? If the internet is in the cloud, why do we need big server farms? This fascinating graphic novel primer details how the systems that deliver water, electricity, and the Internet work, including how each came to be, and what they might look like in the future. Notable for exploring its complex subject matter with remarkable clarity, the explanations unfold in a skillful narrative and line drawings rendered in a limited, cool palette that help it feel light and accessible. Encompassing history, science, technology, and ecology, a recurring theme across the three subjects is the impact of humans manipulating nature. For example, California’s Central Valley water network was an engineering feat, but also created economic tensions related to subsidies and corporate farming. Issues related to resource use, abuse, ownership, and climate change are woven throughout. This unintimidating volume is ideal for readers who are curious about how the world works, as well as those interested in environmental issues. (Age 12 and older)