An Angry Earth

by Michael Poeltl

It starts with a rumbling under foot. Then the ocean reaches for the sky and the land is lost to the sea. The water recedes and the soil becomes as dust. And all at once you realize the choices you’ve made are the reasons you have arrived at this end.
An environmentally charged and fully illustrated telling of what will happen if we do not curb our current abuses.

Tell it like it is. Save the world. Save yourself. Read the book. Cool for kids and parents.

Genres: Childrens

26 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2016

About the author

Do you listen for the things that stir in the dark? Do you dream of time unspooled, of minds that touch across distance, of lives once lived and still remembered? Then you are kin to my kind. Somewhere in my backlist, a story waits—one that knows your name.

Why read my books? If you're like me and read across multiple genres but appreciate a story that draws you into the narrative, the characters, and the emotions, then take a look at my library, find the genre that best suits your mood, and pick it up on Amazon or Kobo for a song. Then, should you want more, my back library will serve you well.

By the end of 2025, I’ll have published 16 books, spanning various genres, including two trilogies, a series, and numerous standalone titles. It has been my absolute joy to revel in those childhood freedoms where you can do anything and be anyone (with the proper training and discipline). It has also been fun getting to know my audience when readers approach me (or I them), and we have meaningful conversations about books in general. I'm a big reader, too, and I'd love to hear what others are reading to help me fill out my 'to be read' pile. So don't be a stranger!

The Haunting of Grosvenor House, 2025: Loosely based on a true story. It is the haunting exploration of loss, connection, and the thin line between the living and the dead—where silence may be the most dangerous sound of all.

Cleo McCarthy Time Travel and Other Impossible Things, 2023: The first time Cleo feared for her life was when she was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s at 23.
The second time is when she discovered she could travel back in time at 24.

Cleo Reviews:
FIVE STARS "I don’t want to spoil anything but trust me. It will give you laughs and will make you think and feel. I am going to buy my paperback copy because having it on my Kindle is not enough." Shirtny from Goodreads
FIVE STARS: "This story did not disappoint, introducing an approach to time travel I'd not seen before, an approach the principal character strives to learn about and understand as the story progresses." Tom from Goodreads
FIVE STARS: "The pacing of the novel is skillfully executed, with a balance between heart-pounding moments and introspective reflection. The gradual revelation of the fragmented message and the subsequent race against time add a layer of suspense that keeps readers eagerly turning pages." Rose from Goodreads

Killing Karma Reviews:
FIVE STARS "Loved it! Was immersed from the very beginning and couldn’t wait to see how it would play out." Rita from Goodreads
FIVE STARS "From the opening paragraph to the last sentence, I was captivated; at times, I found myself holding my breath…" David from Goodreads
FOUR STARS "A highly gripping tale that builds a believable world full of unexpected twists and turns." Madame from Goodreads
FOUR STARS "Such an interesting and fresh take on serial killers... absolutely loved the way the author intertwined the whole concept of past lives into the main plot. Every detail really added more to the story." Chanelle from Goodreads

The Blind Affect launched on June 22nd, 2021 to some great advanced reviews:
FIVE STARS “... a sometimes disturbing but always profound look at three characters whose lives take haunting courses... 'The Blind Affect' will leave you with a lot to think about.”
FOUR STARS “[Poeltl] doesn’t tell us, he shows us the lives of these characters. He shows readers what trauma looks like and what is healing. It’s a timely story...”

Other book reviews:
"A well-built fantasy world with likable characters." - A.I. Insurrection - The General's War - Goodreads
"The characters are 3-dimensional and realistic, with believable flaws, motivations and goals, doubts and beliefs.." - A.I. Insurrection - The General's War - Goodreads
"A great read for anyone who enjoys extensively built worlds." - A.I. Insurrection - The General's War - Goodreads
"The immense interest provided by the world, technology,

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

To paraphrase a line used by a UK political party in the recent election "If not now, then when ?"

This book's a great introduction for children to the mess we are making of our world, it speaks to them in a sensible "adult" way with some brilliant pictures, about the effects of pollution and wastage of natural resources, and what the final outcome could be if we do not change our ways

Which brings me back to the question the "Greens" posed in December last year, if we don't do something very soon, then the outcome in this book will be very real. Post-Apocalyptic Earth will be a reality.

[Rebecca Crunden]

A world like ours is alive. We share it with the plants, animals, fish and insects. We share it. Every living thing is important to sustaining life as we know it ...

I'd liken this story to The Wump World, which is one of my all time favourite books, and the one that made me an environmentalist before I could even spell the word. Impressing upon everyone the fragility of our world and the damage that's being wrought by thoughtless greed is so, so important.

Bonus points for the use of the library in the story. Everyone should be encouraged to go and dig through their tomes to find information. The drawings, too, were very well done.

Definitely recommend.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story and pictures show an Angry Earth fighting back against everyone. The illustations are really well done. No one appears to know what is happening, why it is happening or how to solve the problem. While it is wonderful that the library survives, it does not have any helpful information. A young boy records information for the future but that information is also destroyed.

The summary explains how everything is interconnected and IMHO, the most important page in the book. While the last paragraph explains that each of us MUST do our part to make things better, I feel it comes across as very negative with little hope that ANY change can help.

[Michael Poeltl · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Angry Earth offers a terrifying end to a world whose overseers abused its resources to live more comfortably until the Earth had nothing left to give. Each concurrent devastating natural disaster is recorded by a single child left to bear witness.

Conceived one evening when my eyes were too tired to continue reading any more of my daughter's books, I turned out the light and answered the call: "One more Daddy, please." I like to instil environmental awareness into my daughter. I think all children need to hear the good, the bad and the ugly where sustainability is concerned. So this story slipped out, and once she was asleep, I marched off to bed and wrote down what I'd said. Then I used my visual art degree and illustrated it. I'm happy I did.

I hope you can appreciate its message.

Thanks,

Mike

[Maranda Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit that at first I was a bit skeptical of this concept. Could a children's picture book about the apocalypse and abuse of the planet possibly work without being too scary for kids or without being too preachy? But I must say that the author overall did a good job with this book. The illustrations are great, and the text, while serious and at times brutally honest, does make important points about taking care of the earth and the dangers we face if we don't in terms that kids can understand and relate to. While I wouldn't recommend this story necessarily for extremely small children, it is a great resource to use with kids who are old enough to understand the concept of cause and effect. Would make a great Earth Day read for schools as well.

[Paula Berinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book dealing with a terrifying subject. Gorgeously written and illustrated.

I noticed that another reviewer commented that the book is too negative. I disagree. It takes being able to envision consequences to motivate a person to act. Those who cannot do so will do nothing. Only by looking ahead can we avert disaster.

[Lynn the Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enchanting nightmare! I guess we'll just have to wait to see how prolific Poeltl is when we look back on his warnings, brilliantly illustrated. I bought the paperback to have this one in my collection of dark children's books. Hey, there's something for everyone. LOL It's fun to flip through and inspire me to pick up pen and ink again.