“Kettle lakes are natural wells refreshed from deep groundwater filtered through grit-free sand, all formed more than 10,000 years ago when glaciers retreated and isolated slabs of ice melted . . . The author’s enthusiasm shines through as he uses personal experience, literary references and the history of American popular culture—'going up to the lake' for the summer generally meant a kettle lake—to illustrate this lively chronicle of a hitherto obscure environmental feature. A rich, exhaustive account of one of America’s threatened ecological jewels.”—Kirkus Reviews