Summer Of Brave

juvenile fiction

     "And this is the story of us.  Vivi is the firecracker.  Knox is the joker.  And I am the good girl.  Which is another way of saying I'm not very interesting."

     Lilla, protagonist of Amy Noelle Parks' Summer Of Brave, is accommodating, a real people pleaser.  She goes out of her way to give her nearest and dearest what she thinks they need, even when she's very uncomfortable with how it turns out.

     But that might change.  Lilla and best friends, Vivi and Knox, have just finished seventh grade.  Vivi tells her chums that she wants them to become brave.  In Lilla's case that means stopping with the white lies and silences and being more honest with those around her.  

     There's Lilla's divorced parents.  They live in apartments in the same building.  Going between her two homes is getting old fast, even as she reassures everyone it's fine.  They're also, looking ahead toward high school, pulling her in different directions.  Her feminist entomologist mother wants her to choose a STEM program while her father is pulling for a humanities track.

     There are also things she's keeping from her besties to keep from hurting their feelings or causing conflict.   

     Then something happens that Lilla can't keep silent about.  She's a junior counselor for a museum camp.  When a college student supervisor sexually harasses her the woman who runs the camp writes it off as boys being boys.

     This engaging coming of age narrative is a juvenile gem--especially for kids who struggle to assert themselves or are afraid to try.

On a purrrsonal note, I had a really fun day.  Lisa Morin and I got the Black Bear Exchange ready for people who come over the summer to get food.  We sorted and put away food from Clean Sweep.  The food room is nice and full.  We put away a bunch of clothes.  And we made sure the place looked clean and welcoming.  We managed to get back to Veazie before the rain returned.  (Jules)

Right before the rain started.  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to Lisa, the other half of our dynamic duo.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway