Summer and July

Reach for this book when your preteen is standing on the threshold of middle school, feeling the bittersweet ache of growing up and the shifting landscape of childhood friendships. It is a perfect choice for the child who feels caught between the playfulness of the past and the complicated social expectations of the future. The story follows July and Summer, two girls spending a transformative summer together at the beach. Through their evolving bond, the book explores themes of self-confidence, the nuances of loyalty, and the quiet courage it takes to remain true to oneself as peer dynamics become more complex. Parents will appreciate the gentle, realistic tone that validates the internal life of a ten-to-twelve-year-old without rushing them into maturity. It is a thoughtful exploration of that final, hazy summer of true childhood freedom.