The Mending Summer

Gr 3-7--Georgia's daddy has always been the person she looked up to most, the person who could make any bad day better, and the person she felt safest with. But Daddy is slowly being replaced by someone different, the Shadow Man, who comes home late (if at all), talks a little too loud, walks a little too wobbly, and smells a little too sour. So when her mama drives her to her great-aunt Marigold's country house, where she'll be spending the summer, Georgia knows exactly why. But Aunt Marigold's place is full of surprises, and so are the woods that surround it. When Georgia discovers a very special lake and makes a new friend, she discovers that magic is real and wishes can come true, but sometimes you have to work hard to make those wishes happen. Standish has created a timeless tale of discovery, growth, and relationships. Her portrayal of a child learning what it means to have an alcoholic family member is both heartrending and resonant, illustrating that parents can't always live up to young people's expectations. Georgia's struggle with her own emotions is brilliantly conveyed; the highlight of the book is Georgia's growth in her understanding of her own feelings and those of the people around her. Most characters are cued as white. VERDICT A powerful story about an important topic. Recommended for all libraries serving middle grade readers.--Mariah Smitala, Hedberg P.L., Janesville, WI

One July morning, white 12-year-old Georgia is informed that she will be spending the summer on her mysterious great-aunt Marigold's farm. Her overburdened mother is studying hard for a biology degree, and her beloved father is becoming the Shadow Man--Georgia's nickname for him when she can " the drink on his breath"--with alarming frequency. At first, only child Georgia is intensely lonely in rural North Carolina with her taciturn aunt, who has secrets of her own. But soon Georgia finds a pristine lake and a hazel-eyed neighbor girl named Angela on its banks. While skipping stones from an island in the lake, the fast friends discover the lake grants wishes, and the duo subsequently enjoy a summer blizzard and other impossible adventures. But the lake isn't infallible, and Georgia realizes that her family needs more than magic to mend her broken heart. Standish (How to Disappear Completely) skillfully portrays the uncertainty and powerlessness of Georgia's home situation; the magic at the heart of this understated tale offers its protagonist escape and healing, as well as the understanding that wishing is insufficient to change difficult circumstances. Ages 8-12. Agents: Sarah Davies and Polly Nolan, Greenhouse Literary. (May)