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

by Allan Wolf, José Pimienta (illustrator)

"A riveting page-turner that will have readers eager to learn more about the topic." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The strange, true tale of a Louisiana lake that vanished—taking with it every fish below and every boat and barge above—told in a gripping and accessible graphic format.

Home to catfish and crawdads, shrimp and spoonbills, even a gator or two, Lake Peigneur—pronounced “your pain,” only backward—bustles also with human life. Each day, the bean-shaped freshwater lake and its shores hum with folks going about their work: a devoted gardener’s apprentice and his dogs, fishermen, oilmen drilling at Well P-20, and the fifty-one miners employed by the Diamond Crystal Salt Mines. For most, November 20, 1980, began as “just another day on the lake.” But as the lake itself reflects, humans had, over time, left behind a honeycomb of salt highways deep beneath its surface, and water and salt mix all too well. Bracing, suspenseful, and packed with dramatic illustrations and dense end matter, this story of a catastrophic accident—narrated with the homespun voice of a “tall” tale, but true nonetheless—will amaze science and history buffs alike.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Survival, Comics, Childrens

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2025

About the author

A versatile writer, Allan Wolf's picture books, poetry collections, young adult novels, and nonfiction celebrate his love of research, history, science, and poetry. He is a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist, two-time winner of the North Carolina Young Adult Book Award, and recipient of New York’s Bank Street College Claudia Lewis Award for Poetry. Booklist placed Allan’s The Watch That Ends the Night, on its list of the 50 Best YA Books of All Time.

Wolf believes in the healing powers of poetry recitation and has committed to memory nearly a thousand poems.

His newest titles include: a historical novel, (Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom); a picture book (The Blanket Where Violet Sits); a poetry collection (The Gift of the Broken Teacup); and a graphic novel (The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur).

Reviews

[Kary H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to booktalk this to students -- a fascinating account of an unbelievable story.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense, informative, and inclusive

[BooksNCrannies · Rating 4 out of 5]

November 20, 1980, Lake Peingeur, Louisiana — the unexpected is about to happen...

✏️ Review ✏️

What a suspenseful story! I was completely drawn into this thoroughly gripping graphic novel! The Vanishing of Lake Peingeur recounts the events of an obscure historical disaster with an urgent and intense delivery that is maintained right to the very end. Once the action began, I couldn't put this book down. Great delivery!

Further enriching this story's narrative is the unique POV (quite unusual) and the dynamic illustrations. The Vanishing of Lake Peingeur is an exciting graphic novel that will have readers quickly flipping the pages to find out how this tense storyline concludes. And the bonus of reading this story: learning about a virtually unknown yet incredibly unusual and crazy disaster. What an incredible ride. Definitely recommended!

📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

📊 A Quick Overview 📊

👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The plot — it's lays out a good intro but quickly becomes gripping and suspenseful.
• The illustrations — they're nicely detailed and capture the movement and action of the storyline.
• The unique POV that is used to tell the story.
• The educational value of the story — informs readers about an obscure yet incredible disaster.
• The author's notes — provides further historical details and clarifies a few historical inconsistencies in the story utilized for the sake of pacing.

👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• (Can't think of anything in particular.)

📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓

— Would I recommend this book? Absolutely!*

— To whom? To those who enjoy gripping and suspenseful graphic novels about intriguing historical events and survival scenarios.

*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)

📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 4/5)
~Fundamentals {Graphic Novel Version}: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4/5
— 🎨 Illustrations: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 3.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 3/5

~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)

— 🤬 Language: 1/5

• One vain use of God's name.

— ⚔️ Violence: 1/5

• Prolonged sequences of mildly intense peril.

— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5

📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

📣 Random Comments 📣

• (None)

📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

💬 Favorite Quotes 💬

• (None)

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent middle grade non-fiction graphic novel. I've never heard of this disaster and was on the edge of my seat the whole story.

[Carleton Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

NEVER heard of this. Wow. Amazing read.

[Jessica_loves_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting graphic novel told from the POV of the lake. A true story about what happened when a lake reacts after a salt mining incident. The story was a bit technical and complex, but the format helped. In the end, the fact that this story was true and that you’ve never heard of it is fascinating.

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had absolutely no idea that this happened. But it was super fascinating. And the fact that it was told by the lake, even cooler.

[AllyP Reads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book about nature sticking it to man's hubris. I hated the repetition of "could have been scared but there just wasn't time". Also the tug boat guy constantly saying "Daddy" when addressing his dad the captain. He's standing two feet away from you; he's not going to be confused you're talking to someone else and neither is the reader.

I did feel bad for Charlie.

[Dolores · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-pounding account of a perfect storm of catastrophic events. The day a lake disappeared into a giant sinkhole taking barges, boats, and derrick down into the swirling mass--and the heroism of the many people who raced against time to save all the lives at stake.

[Meggie Ramm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be retelling this story to everyone I know for the foreseeable future. I’m used to nonfiction graphic novels feeling static or slow, but this book felt like neither. It was a literal page turner, with misdirects that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Wolf & Pimenta both did a phenomenal job, turning the three hour draining of a lake into a thrilling tale of rescue and heroism. And yes, I had to spend the hour after reading this down a wikipedia rabbit hole to learn more about this event. Good for folks who like Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales or the I Survived graphic novel series. Also (and most importantly), the dog(s) live!

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Allan Wolf and illustrator Jose Pimenta have taken a crazy true story and brought it fully to life with this graphic nonfiction thriller. The cover itself is a wonderful introduction to the story with an oil rig, barges, and trees swirling around in water as if going down a bathtub drain. I can see many students being excited to pick this book up based on cover appeal alone. Once they learn that the entire book is a graphic novel, they’ll be hooked! The book unfolds over the course of one dramatic day, when a lake in Louisiana drains away into a nearby salt mine. Wolf tells the story from multiple perspectives, but the primary first “person” perspective is that of the lake itself, which is an excellent choice. Readers will also see the action from the perspective of salt miners, oil rig workers, tugboat operators, as well as other individuals on the water and on land. Lives are at risk, particularly the miners who are 1,300 feet below the surface of the earth. Luckily, many individuals rose to the challenge and performed heroic feats to save everyone. That’s right: ZERO fatalities.

Colorful, detailed illustrations help the reader understand the disaster, including visuals from a bird’s eye view and visuals that show the cross-section of the underground salt mine. Truly unbelievable geological events occurred on that day including the sinkhole, a 150 foot “waterfall” of mud, and a water/salt/mud geyser that exploded 400 feet into the air and could be heard for miles. Facial expressions convey the terror and immediacy of the situation, especially for the miners who had to wait to be rescued. Characters are Black, brown, and white. 

Excellent back matter rounds out this incredible book including a five page extensive author’s note that reveals his process, challenges, and even more fascinating information and a selected bibliography. The author’s explanation of the value of first person interviews and the need for further research is appreciated, as is his analysis of the parties to blame. Readers will be inspired to go learn more about this disaster, which may take them down a rabbit hole (sinkhole?) about the dangers of resource extraction, our country’s addiction to petrochemicals, Cancer Alley, and more. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Mandy Lehti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allan Wolf’s The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur brought vividly to life through José Pimienta’s dynamic illustrations turns one of Louisiana’s strangest real life disasters into a captivating visual and narrative experience. The result is a rare blend of factual storytelling and emotional resonance, capturing both the awe and terror of nature’s power when met with human error.

Wolf’s storytelling voice, rich with the cadence of Southern folklore, transforms the 1980 drilling disaster into a cautionary tale that reads as myth yet remains strikingly real. The day the lake “swallowed itself” becomes not just a geological event, but a meditation on human ambition, hubris, and resilience.

Pimienta’s illustrations amplify the tension and wonder of the story layering technical accuracy with expressive detail. Each page immerses the reader in a world of contrasts: beauty and destruction, industry and nature, survival and loss. The pairing of Wolf’s lyrical narration with Pimienta’s art achieves something rare in nonfiction graphic storytelling a balance of education, empathy, and awe.

The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur stands as a model of how history can be reimagined through art. It invites readers of all ages to bear witness to an almost forgotten event while reflecting on humanity’s enduring relationship with the natural world.

[Xanthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pairs nicely with Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right . Riveting and informative both, I read this all in one sitting while my family watched football. Environmental disaster in Louisiana, yay. I felt a high amount of horror and also disbelief that I'd never heard of this particular event before, but it seems that we're really great at forgetting things that really should be cautionary tales. This book told its story in a way that's really accessible for kids, explaining the backgrounds of the salt mine, the oil drilling platform, the botanical garden, etc., and then sticking with all the players as they watched in fear and disbelief as a lake was sucked away in front of the eyes and beneath their boats. The author resists extrapolating out to preach about corporate greed (beyond stating the incredibly obvious) but lets the events and causes speak for themselves.

[Mary Hanna Wilson | Celebrate a Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life around Lake Peigneur in Louisiana moves at an easy, everyday pace, shared by fishermen, miners, oil workers, and plenty of wildlife. November 20, 1980, started out as just another normal day, with no hint of what was coming. Beneath the calm surface, though, years of salt mining had left a fragile maze underground, and one mistake set off a chain reaction no one could stop. Told in a lively, almost tall-tale voice, this true story blends science, history, and suspense in a way that’s both fascinating and unforgettable.

I am always on the lookout for non-fiction graphic novels, and I was thrilled to find this one. This story kept me on the edge of my seat. It is hard to believe that it is really true. The graphic format was a great choice because it allowed for plenty of story details without overwhelming the reader.

After reading, I began doing more online research, and for me, that is always the sign of a great non-fiction read!

[Allison Haehnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A graphic novel filled with facts, emotions, and fantastical occurrences when a southern Louisiana lake fell victim to human intervention. An entire 1,200 acre lake disappeared into the earth as a result of an unfortunate conflict between oil drilling and salt excavation. Shockingly no human life was lost despite the earth’s ingestion of a 130 foot tall oil derrick, eleven barges, a tugboat, a fishing skiff, 150-year old trees, and much more. Very little composition of characters or events leads to a tense retelling of the drama as dozens watched the lake quickly disappear, slowly refill over days, and then find a new balance. Perfect for middle grade and junior high students who love learning about the unbelievable.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel tells the true story, with a few compressions, of the vanishing of a shallow lake in Louisiana in 1980. Put a salt mine and an oil rig on a collision course with perhaps some faulty maps, and what happens? Read this fascinating account to discover. As the miners remind us consistently, water dissolves salt. The vanishing of Lake Peigneur demonstrates the large-scale unintended consequences of a simple mistake. Although the novel begins a bit slowly, the action builds as the narrator, the lake itself, alternates between the above- and below-ground dramas happening simultaneously. I would also recommend reading a fiction novel by the same author: Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom, which is based on the same event.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the writing sluggish and cliched. Multiple characters, repeatedly, tell each other "Today is like any other day." Nobody talks like this. Any time something would happen on page, we would get heavy text narrating what is happening. It just felt overly long, the characters didn't feel like real people, and information was shared in the most textbook way possible. I DNFed around page 65, skimmed a fair amount, but even the skimming was making me sleepy, so I just flipped to the back to see what happened.

The art depicting the people is good, but I wish the art depicting nature, especially the water, could have been more exciting and interesting. I never felt like the lake was its own character from the artwork.

[Michelle Tuite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading 2025
Book 248: The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story by Allan Wolf

A nonfiction middle grade graphic novel I bought and was delivered on pub day October 7. I saw this book recommended for me after posting a review on Goodreads.

Synopsis: The strange, true tale of a Louisiana lake that vanished—taking with it every fish below and every boat and barge above—told in a gripping and accessible graphic format.

Review: Wow! So interesting how one problem set off a chain reaction resulting in a lake being swallowed up with everything in it. Thankfully no one was killed in the craziness. 4⭐️.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic Non Fiction
Wolf takes readers through the disaster that happened on November 20, 1980. Told from the lake's perspective to provide an omniscient narrator. Readers observe oil derrick, salt mine and other people on the lake and shoreline as the day began. We move through the daily routines until suddenly something changes. Readers see the catastrophic events in sequence as the oil drill pierced the salt mine and flooded the lower layers and natural consequences that happened after that. Well written to introduce middle grade readers to this event. Wolf provides further informative text at the end.

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast paced, page turning, graphic format depiction of a little known true story: the 1980 vanishing of Lake Peigneur. It reminded me a lot of Challenger, the adult book about the space shuttle disaster. There were everyday heroes and villainous corporations, with high stakes, shocking facts, and heart-pounding suspense, but in this case a much happier ending. The book did a great job of making the story accessible and compelling for young readers. The illustrations were clear and accessible, the story was written with both humor and heart, and the nonfiction supplements at the end were extensive and thorough.

[Sesana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A graphic novel retelling of a man-made disaster. Drilling for oil too close to a salt mine results in a sinkhole that entirely swallows a ten foot deep lake, temporarily reverses the flow of a canal, swallows a dozen barges and acres of land, and, somehow, doesn't kill a single human. Today, Lake Peigneur still exists, much larger and much deeper. Wolf's retelling is suspenseful and full of first person accounts from survivors. This is an edge-of-your-seat read, and the excellent art helps give a sense what the survivors may have witnessed the day of.

[Jennifer Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different type of graphic novel based on a true story about a lake that transforms due to oil drillers hitting a salt mine. Allan Wolf does a fantastic job of showing multiple viewpoints. It's well-paced cutting back and forth between the different characters in their own perilous journeys. I also appreciated the factual details at the end that answered a lot of questions I had about what really happened and how it happened. It really shows the complexity and care that went into the research. I have not read a graphic novel like this one and can't wait to share it with students.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This true story reads like a thriller: a peaceful lake, fishermen going for catfish, spoonbills on the shore, salt miners below and oil drillers above, none knowing the disaster that awaited them. Told from multiple POV, the disaster starts with an unusual POP. Will they all escape the vortex swallowing the water, the oil drill, the barges, the shoreline and more? I liked the art depicting the idyllic natural environment, and I liked the thrilling plot that kept me turning the pages. What I missed were actual photographs, even in the otherwise excellent backmatter.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe the best narrative nonfiction of the year! Thrilling, cinematic, and based on a TRUE STORY! And the author has a bit to say in the back matter about our dependence on oil to power the US, too. This book will be a winner for reluctant readers, lovers of true stories (the sensate kids!), and lovers of history too. A calculation error combined with our insatiable desire for profit from natural resources created an epic man made disaster that simultaneously showcases how critical good sense, strong nerves and excellent training are to saving lives.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting true story, told partially in the voice of the lake itself. On a November day in 1980 a Louisiana lake suddenly became a whirlpool and drained into subterranean caverns, taking with it an oil derrick, 11 barges, countless trees, buildings, and much of the lake's shoreline. This is a survival story of a man-made disaster, with first hand accounts from those who were there.

Some readers who gravitate to graphic novels may be surprised or disappointed that this story is not humorous or light-hearted. However, it presents a factual story in an accessible format.

[Rachel Feeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed, factual, and suspenseful for an all ages audience. The events at Lake Peigneur underscore the mysterious and dangerous power of nature, the importance of understanding the environment, and the heroism of ordinary men faced with extraordinary events.

**Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to review with YA Books Central. See YABC for more reviews!**

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a beautifully illustrated account of a catastrophic event. Relayed in a graphic novel format, it outlines the incident in a gripping and detailed manner. I am confident even young readers who aren't typically readers will enjoy this title. I found the account fascinating. This book is a great honor to those who endured this disaster.

[Katie Starling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. It is a very nice hardcover copy. The story is well written. The authors notes section at the back adds to it. The drawings are attractive. I just happened to have moved to Louisiana this year (where the story occurred). It was interesting to read about this bit of history.

[Jennybeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind-boggling. The storytelling is very transparently set up to keep you on the edge of your seat, and boy does it work -- measured pace but loads of tension. I kind of hate that the dogs were included, for so many reasons, not least the epilogue, but I appreciate that the tale is very much not human-centered.

[D.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting with the pov being from the lake itself. I had never heard of this story.

While the line "[insert here] could have been scared, but there just wasn't time" was from one of the survivors, it was spammed too much here that it got repetitive.

i'm very glad no one seemed to have gotten hurt, but it almost felt too good to be true. Even the dog lived.