Matson, Morgan. Firefly Summer, The. Simon & Schuster, 05/2023. 400pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-5344-9335-3. GRADES 4–7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
When Ryanna visits a summer camp once run by her grandparents, the seventh grader meets a group of previously unknown relatives and learns more about her mother, who died when she was a toddler. Family drama and a mysterious treasure map add layers to an engaging tale full of summertime fun, including canoeing, cook-outs, and games. Ryanna is a determined and sympathetic character, although some secondary characters are less fully developed. She and her grandparents present as white. Her newly found extended family includes relatives who are Black and South Asian, along with a set of loving gay uncles. With the door left open for a sequel, this book will be enjoyed by readers of series such as Silver Sisters (Howland, Harper Collins, 2015) and The Penderwicks (Birdsell, Knopf, 2009).
Jenny Andrus—Independent