THE MENDING SUMMER

Twelve-year-old Georgia’s once idyllic family life in North Carolina is unraveling.

As her beloved father is transformed and distanced from her by his increasingly erratic and frightening behavior, things become so tense at home that Georgia’s mother sends her to stay with her great-aunt Marigold. There, Georgia explores the rural landscape and makes a new friend, Angela, an otherworldly girl her age with whom she discovers the forest and its hidden magic, including a lake that seems to have special powers. Aunt Marigold’s home, Angela’s friendship, and the magical lake sustain Georgia as she discovers the true cause of her father’s problems and a family history of addiction. However, as the lake’s magic and Georgia’s hope fade, she must come to terms with adult complexity, the limits of magic, and what it means to be broken and mended. The imagery of rural Southern life is richly rendered, with beautiful, textured descriptions throughout and seamless and evenhanded portrayals of even the scary aspects of alcoholism. The well-drawn characters of Marigold and Georgia also contribute to a compelling read. The book concludes with a thoughtful, sensitive, and clear discussion about addiction. However, some of the forest-magic passages may strain even middle-grade believability, distracting from the poignantly crafted family story. Main characters seem to be White by default.

Readers will be drawn into this story of friendship, magic, and the heartbreak—and healing—of addiction.