How is your summer going? Mine has been good and relaxing. I am trying to make a dent in my summer reading pile but have not gotten very far. It has grown since I last shared it. And I have two more that are coming out in August!
I did take some time while I was away to read an adult book, Fate of the Sisters: A Novel of Good and Evil by my friend, Debra Ann Ristau. It was amazing and I just ordered her second one!! I also am trying to read Math-ish by Jo Boaler before I go back to school. I'm hoping to get some good ideas on some changes to make this year in my classroom! But I am working on my review pile. Today I have a middle grade one for you. It is Loon Cove Summer by Donna Galanti. It is recommended for ages 8 to 18.
About the Book:
Thirteen-year-old Sarah Richardson is determined that her life will finally get unstuck this summer. She just knows it. Her to-do list? Brave the lake again. Save the loons. Stop missing Mom. Her one bright spot: volunteering at the local wild bird rehabilitation center.
The summer looks even brighter when Sarah meets Theo, the boy staying at her family’s Maine lakeside campground who cares about protecting the loons just like she does. But when Sarah’s family may have to move, she adds a new to-do item: save their home. And when she suspects Dad is dating Theo’s aunt, the naturalist helping research environmental dangers to the loons, Sarah is caught in a new world of grief.
With the looming reality of losing her dad, her home, and the loons, Sarah must make a big statement to take control of her life. Capturing inspiration from her late mother’s Appalachian Trail hiking journal, she boldly plans a solo wild adventure. But as her challenges mount, she wonders if her courage will earn her the voice she seeks—or if she’s made a reckless choice that just might claim her life.
The summer looks even brighter when Sarah meets Theo, the boy staying at her family’s Maine lakeside campground who cares about protecting the loons just like she does. But when Sarah’s family may have to move, she adds a new to-do item: save their home. And when she suspects Dad is dating Theo’s aunt, the naturalist helping research environmental dangers to the loons, Sarah is caught in a new world of grief.
With the looming reality of losing her dad, her home, and the loons, Sarah must make a big statement to take control of her life. Capturing inspiration from her late mother’s Appalachian Trail hiking journal, she boldly plans a solo wild adventure. But as her challenges mount, she wonders if her courage will earn her the voice she seeks—or if she’s made a reckless choice that just might claim her life.
From Me:
Wow!! This book is full of emotions. I will admit to having tears through some of the chapters especially the ones on her wild adventure. Sarah lost her mom six months ago. Things with her dad have been strange since. He has a job three hours away from the family campground to make the ends meet so she and her uncle are running the campground during the week. She loves birds and especially the loons. Her mother and she would go on the lake and watch the loons. Sarah hasn't braved the lake without her mom yet. She is worried about the loons as their numbers are decreasing on the lake. She has been emailing the University of Maine to send an expert out to help. Oh, and her best friend is going away for the summer. She is not looking forward to much this summer until she meets Theo. He is a bit mysterious, and his Aunt Maggie ends up being the loon the expert Sarah had been asking for. The summer has taken an upward turn until Sarah realizes Maggie and her father are getting close. She worries they are dating. She struggles with this especially since her mother has not been gone that long yet.
The book has several different types of loss in it and characters who are overcoming it. It has Sarah whose mother died of cancer. Theo's house burnt down which is part of why he is spending the summer with his aunt. There is also another teenager who is staying at the campground who lost a leg and is having a hard time with it. Each makes paths to recovery in the book in their own way and also find ways to help one another. There are some strong messages here. They each make their own mistakes as well but end up stronger in the end. Each also has to learn to be with others while dealing with their loss. It is interesting to see how they interact and their various behaviors. There is also a little extra relationship sparks between Sarah and Theo.
Aside from the loss and relationships as well as the everyday things for teenagers this book focuses on birds and our relationship to them. Sarah volunteers at a local wild bird rehabilitation center and wants to figure out how to save the loons. Much of the story focuses on the loons and what can be done. There are definitely some ideas on things humans including the readers can help with. It brings a little STEM into the book as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It draws you in and keeps you wanting to read more. There are many of the typical teenager reactions as well as the crazy thoughts of a girl going through the loss and recovery of her mother. It is a perfect summer read whether for a summer reading assignment or for pleasure. There is plenty that can be discussed in it and plenty to just enjoy. It has inspiring moments and shares some real-life topics. The characters are well developed and remind me of people I may actually met or know. The narrator is Sarah, and the reader gets her point of view on everything including her deepest thoughts. It is a great book, and I hope you will check it out. If you need other types of books to read this summer be sure to check out one of the other books in my read pile!
