About This Book
The Mystery of the Vanishing Power is Book Eight in the Small Hands, Big Changes series—an engaging, STEM‑rich story about energy use, hidden waste, and how small habits can make a big difference. When Avery notices the library lights flickering and the building growing unusually warm, she learns that the school’s energy bill has risen so sharply that field trips and new library books may soon be cut. Determined to help, she and the Ecology Club launch an investigation to uncover where all the extra electricity is going.
Using kilowatt meters, the students discover a series of “energy clues”: computers left running overnight, classroom lights blazing in empty rooms, an air conditioner cooling the outdoors through an open window, and dozens of “energy vampire” chargers quietly sipping power even when nothing is plugged in. Their biggest discovery is Old Hummer—the roaring vending machine near the gym—drawing nearly 500 watts nonstop.
With real data in hand, the club proposes simple, zero‑cost solutions: turning off unused lights, closing windows before running AC, unplugging chargers, adding reminder notes, and using power strips to stop standby drain. They launch a school‑wide Power‑Down Challenge, encouraging each class to adopt one easy habit and track progress on daily scorecards. As participation grows, the school’s energy‑use dashboard begins to dip—first by 2%, then by even more.
By the end of the month, the school has reduced energy use by twelve percent without disrupting instruction or lowering grades. The savings restore funds for field trips and new books, and students begin treating energy conservation as a natural part of daily life. Avery realizes that protecting power—like protecting water, air, and wildlife—starts with noticing the small things and choosing to act.
A hopeful, practical story perfect for children’s collections, STEM programs, environmental science units, energy‑efficiency lessons, and family reading time, The Power That Went Missing shows how even small hands can make big changes—and how one switch, one habit, can matter more than you think.
