Summer at Forsaken Lake

Reach for this book when your child is navigating the shifting sands of family dynamics or feels like their parents are keeping secrets from the past. It is an ideal pick for a tween who loves a slow-burn mystery and the feeling of a classic, unplugged summer vacation. Twelve-year-old Nicholas and his sisters are sent to stay with an eccentric great-uncle at Forsaken Lake, where they stumble upon a twenty-five-year-old mystery that drove Nicholas's father away. The story beautifully balances themes of sibling loyalty, the sting of parental divorce, and the power of uncovering the truth. It is a gentle but gripping read for ages 9 to 13 that normalizes the complexities of family history while celebrating the independence of youth.