July/August 2013
— At a dreaded family cottage, a teenage astronomy enthusiast meets an eccentric boy in mismatched clothes on a rock under the blue moon, finding unexpected connection.
— A young musician struggles with a trombone, from its mysterious case through spit-clogged frustration to the moment when instrument and player finally connect.
— A girl arrives at summer camp hopeful but becomes the target of exclusion, watching the group turn on different girls throughout the month.
— Castle of Shadows, by Ellen Renner; Houghton Mifflin Books for Children: New York, 2012; $15.99 Charlie is the princess of Quale. Yes, she lives in a castle, with gardens and...
— A boy spends his summer earning money for a BMX bike, falling just short until his best friend arrives with the final dollar he needs.
— A girl in a hammock captures the sounds of summer — breeze, splashing, insects, lawnmower — then sprints toward an ice cream truck's tinkling music.
— After her father loses his job, a girl moves from a suburban house to a rural farm, resisting the change until a friendship with neighbor Willa helps her find home...
— A young magician overcomes performance anxiety when his uncle appreciates his card trick despite a mistake, teaching him that perfection isn't necessary for connection.
— A young person addresses someone who left without explanation, cycling through questions, pleas, and the haunting memory of their whispered apology.
— A younger sister accompanies her family to drop her older sister off at college, grappling with change while finding comfort in a shared photograph from their childhood.