The Firefly Summer

A parent would reach for this book when their child is navigating a change in family dynamics, processing the loss of a parent, or feeling like an outsider within their own extended family. Ryanna has spent years feeling a quiet void after her mother's death, but a surprise summer at a ramshackle camp in the Poconos introduces her to a chaotic, loving tribe of cousins and grandparents she never knew existed. The story beautifully balances the heavy lifting of grief with the joy of summer discovery. It is an ideal choice for middle-grade readers who are beginning to realize that their parents had entire lives and secrets before they were born. The mystery elements keep the pages turning while the emotional core focuses on the healing power of belonging and the idea that it is never too late to claim your place in a family.