This document contains excerpts from "Dark Water" by Laura McNeal, detailing the narrative of fifteen-year-old Pearl DeWitt as she navigates life on her uncle's Southern California avocado ranch after her parents' divorce. The text explores Pearl's burgeoning relationship with Amiel, an undocumented migrant worker, and the challenges they face, including wildfires that trap them near his makeshift home. It also touches on family dynamics, particularly the strained relationship with Pearl's father, her mother's struggles, and themes of identity, social class, and the resilience of nature following devastation. The author information indicates McNeal's background as a writer of young adult fiction, often collaborating with her husband.