"When she was young, biologist Ana Pêgo didn't play in a backyard but on a beach. As she grew older, Ana realized that a new species was becoming more and more common in the sand. She decided to collect the species and give it a name: Plasticus maritimus. She dedicated her life to studying plastic in the oceans and raising awareness of the danger it poses to the health of the planet. Inspired by Ana's experiences, and backed by extensive research, this book explains how plastics are ever more present in our oceans, lakes and streams--more than 9 million tons a year! She explains how plastic is made, offers a field guide to help young people identify the Plasticus maritimus species, and takes a critical look at our current "solutions" to plastic contamination. A call for deep changes in our habits, this book encourages young people (and adults) to become part of the solution. Invasive, deeply destructive, and almost indestructible, Plasticus maritimus is a species that should go extinct!"--from Back cover.