Half Moon Summer

Reach for this book when your preteen is navigating a season of quiet change, struggling with family secrets, or trying to find their footing in a new social environment. It is a beautiful resource for children who feel the pressure of high expectations or those who are learning that friendship is about showing up even when things get messy. The story follows two neighbors, Drew and Mia, during a transformative Utah summer. Through alternating perspectives, it explores the physical challenge of training for a half-marathon alongside the emotional weight of financial instability and family illness. Parents will appreciate the gentle way it handles heavy topics like a parent's health crisis and the complexities of middle-school honesty, offering a hopeful roadmap for resilience and empathy.