Release: March 1st, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Source: Netgalley
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N
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Twelve-year-old Lilla Baxter-Willoughby doesn’t lie. She’s just a little bit…selective. To keep her parents happy, Lilla hides how much she hates moving back and forth between their houses, and she stomps down her doubts about that elite high school they’re pushing her toward.
To keep peace with her best friend Vivi, Lilla doesn’t share that she got the junior camp counselor job that Vivi wanted. And even though—no, especially because—he seems into it, Lilla does not tell the boy she grew up with about all the little sparks that flared up inside her the day she noticed his Suddenly Adorable Freckles. So when Vivi dares Lilla to start telling the truth as part of their Summer of Brave, Lilla hesitates. Because if she says out loud what she really wants, her whole life might crash down around her. And she doesn’t need that. Except maybe she does.
About the Author:
Amy Noelle Parks is a former elementary teacher and currently an associate professor of elementary education at Michigan State University, where she helps future teachers recover from the trauma inflicted on them by years of school mathematics.
At night, she writes stories about smart girls falling for feminist boys in quirky midwestern settings and likes using One Direction lyrics as the inspiration for entire novels. Social media still scares her, but she’s working on it.
She is the author of The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss. Amy lives in Michigan with her husband and daughters.
Summer of Brave Review:
“Summer of Brave” is a beautiful middle-grade novel that deals with quite a few issues while growing up.
Firstly, the author wrote the characters very nicely. Lilla is a complex character, and I thought she went through a lot in the story. She goes through many emotions, like adjusting to her parents and making her friends happy over Magnet School. Moreover, she does not agree with some of the things they do, but she keeps quiet to please them. I feel this is something that would resonate with adults. I enjoyed how she matured in the story, where she learns to be vocal yet still respective of people’s feelings.
Similarly, supporting characters like Knox and Vivi are also engaging in the plot. Initially, I felt that Vivi was a bit bossy towards her friends. But, I liked how she boosts Lilla’s confidence, like when she forces her to talk to Mrs. Wilder. It was interesting to see how the author tested their friendship (like the counselor job) as they start maturing. I also enjoyed the sudden feelings Lilla has towards Knox and how she handles it. Knox and Lilla share an excellent company, and I loved how they supported each other when he told her about his father’s new relationship.
One of the highlights was the storyline revolving around Matt’s harassment. I thought the author depicted the issue in a graceful manner. Moreover, some small but memorable moments stood out for me. For instance, when Lilla and Prisha talk about being a girl and how they need to behave in a particular manner in society. Or when Lilla overhears her parents dating and gets upset. Overall, the author balanced all the topics seamlessly and made “Summer of Brave” fun to read.
