River of Spirits The Underwild#1 by Shana Targosz

River of Spirits The Underwild#1 by Shana Targosz
Publisher:  Aladdin
Format:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   432 pages
Published:  March 25th, 2025
Source:  Purchased

Opening Lines: "The river is the color of death."

Senka and Charon reside at the boundary between the realm of the Living and the realm of the Dead.  Charon, the Ferryer of the Underworld, carries souls to their afterlife, while Senka is his ward and assistant.  Though eager to become an official Ferryer, Senka is still learning Charon's strict rules and hopes to prove herself worthy to be put in charge of ferrying souls on her own. 

One day, during Charon's absence, a living girl named Poppy enters the Underworld.  Poppy pleads for help to find her recently departed brother, Joey's ghost.  Senka does everything in her power to dissuade Poppy, while trying to remain true to Charon's rules.  However, Poppy's story has peaked her interest and compels her to break with her beliefs and offer to help.  As their voyage begins, tragedy hits when Poppy falls into the river and is swept downstream.  Fearing for Poppy's safety, Senka makes a daring decision and dives into the river to save her.   

The two find themselves trapped within the Underwild and must ban together to survive the myriad of dangers that lurk within.   As their journey unfolds, Senka grows increasingly worried about the toll that the realm of the dead is taking on Poppy, realizing the longer Poppy remains, the less likely she will be able to return to the realm of the living.

As Senka and Poppy venture deeper into the Underwild, they encounter angry demigods, hungry wraiths and chimera's.  Senka also discovers shocking secrets that Charon has kept hidden from her.  With time running out, Senka must summon every ounce of strength and determination to save Poppy.  But when Senka learns that her own existence is at risk, can she truly protect Poppy, or will they both succumb to the dangers of the Underwild?

The River of Spirits is one of those books that piqued my interest right away.  The cover was the first thing that caught my eye with Senka on a boat, the lovely purple shade and the sparkling gold butterflies.  Next was the purple feathers sprayed along the edges, I love how they complement the purple cover.  Then I started to read the inside flap and oh my!  As soon as I saw the word Charon and started to think about the ferryman of the dead and the River of Styx, yep, I knew this would be a book for me.  Greek mythology reimagining, yes please.   

Senka is defiantly the highlight of reading the River of Spirits.  Her desire to adhere to Charon's rules while struggling with whether or not to help Poppy, makes her a compelling character.   Her act of self-sacrifice by jumping into the river took great courage and put her into uncharted waters.  Senka had never disobeyed Charon before.   She'd lived a happy peaceful life with Charon, yet something had always felt off.  I was immersed in learning her backstory and discovering how she came to be his ward.  

Senka's world is so well imagined and immersive.   I loved all the wonderful rich details, interesting creatures and the compelling plot.  It has everything under worldly that I would expect in a middle grade fantasy.    If you've ever read a Rick Riordan book or enjoy Greek mythologies, River of Spirits has a similar feel.  There's snarky comments and a reimaging of how the god's act, almost humanizing them.   I really want to re-read this so that I can further explore the characters I'm less familiar with like the Goddess Melinoe.  

The other vibe I got while reading was The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver.  It too involved a girl going into the underground in search of her brother's soul.  In Poppy's case, she lost her brother after he passed away from an illness, while Liza feels her brother's soul was taken by spiderlike creatures.  Yet, both girls have this great determination, love and hope guiding them on their quest.  Poppy is really struggling over Joey's death; she can't fathom going on without him.  Then to see Senka develop an empathy for Poppy's story.  It's easy to get caught up in the emotions, loss and grief.  River of Spirits is a wonderful debut and is perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson series and Greek mythologies.  I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Favorite lines:  "Sometimes nightmares are parts of ourselves we try to run from, but they are parts of us, nonetheless...

To understand them, we must face them and learn what makes us fear them." 

It's MMGM with a review of I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery

I am Rebel by Ross Montgomery
Publisher:  Walker Books Ltd
Format:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   240 pages
Publishing:  May 27th, 2025
Source:  Banholzer PR

Opening Lines:  "The day begins exactly as it should."

Rebel wakes up at the first signs of dawn, while his human, Tom is still trying to shake off the cobwebs before breakfast.  Rebel's been with Tom since he was a pup and has never left the farm.  He loves everything about their life together and wouldn't change a single thing. Outside the farms fence, the king's guardsmen patrol the roads collecting taxes and imprisoning offenders.   Usually, they don't bother Tom and his family.  

Then one day, two guardsmen enter the families home demanding a double payment of their taxes, if they don't pay they wont receive a permit to travel on the king's roads, cutting off their path to take their sheep to market to sell, thus putting Tom's family at risk to starve.  Tom knows that there is no way that his family has the means to pay the king's men, but angering the guardsmen only seems to make things worse.  Once there were the Reds that fought against the Imperial rules, but they've all but been killed off or have disappeared. 

Tom tires to convince his parents to refuse to pay the increased taxes, thinking that they can't arrest everyone or bleed them dry, but his parents have a very different point of view.  They've lived through the previous rebellion and are only trying to keep Tom safe, but Tom isn't willing to back down.  So, in the middle of the night he runs away with a stranger, Rider, who he meets along the farm fence.  Rider tells Tom that a new revolt against the king has started and this time they'll remove him from High Castle so everyone will have a stable future.  Rider claims that they've organized a thousand men and hope to recruit more, Tom's drawings will become posters on display in every village and tell people how to resist and join in the fight.  But in order to come with Rider, Tom must first agree to leave Rebel behind.  The last thing that Tom gives his beloved Rebel before sneaking away is his red neckerchief.   Rebel is a good dog and tries to adhere to Tom's command to stay, but with Tom now headed toward a war where he might die, Rebel can't leave him unprotected and alone so he too runs away to find him.  

From the author of The Midnight Guardians and The Chime Seekers comes his latest book I Am Rebel, the story of the strong devotion between a human and a dog.  Rebel just wants to be considered a good dog.  As I said before, he's more than happy to be on the farm helping tend to the sheep.  He loves all the smells and sights of farm life.  I smiled as I was reading the descriptions of Rebel coming down for breakfast and catching a whiff of Tom's dads clothing.  The mix of "sheep's wool, sour milk and mud."  I spent a couple of years in college near Monfort's, a meat packing plant in Northern Colorado and let me tell you that's not the smells I think of when I think of cattle.  There was one day of the week that was always especially ripe all across campus.   

The story is an adventure filled with setbacks, triumphs and an interesting mix of side characters.  There's Jaxon a big dog who is proud of being a stray, master less, free to roam wherever he wants, Seamus a pig whom Rebel and Jaxon save from becoming sausages and gather valuable information about routes that go through the mountains.  Rollo a pub dog who has questionable allegiances to Rebel's cause, Pearl a hard working donkey and even Felix a dormouse searching for his wife.  The two primary characters would be Jaxon and Rebel who head through the wilderness, crossing a huge river to follow Tom's lingering scent to bring him home.

I love how Rebel's exploration of the wilderness opens him up to how expansive the world outside of his little farm is, how he realizes things like the air and water are fresher and cleaner.  But this new world also comes with new dangers that he's never experienced.  How to find safe food, make your first kill and even how to stay protected when they find wolves in the area.  I love how Jaxon and Rebel learn from each other.  Jaxon has had a world of experiences in the wild and is willing to teach Rebel, while Jaxon learns that companionship or having a human comes with benefits too. Jaxon at first feels really gruff and set in his ways and it really is a beautiful thing to see him open up to new possibilities.  The resolution of the story is very satisfying and filled with tear inducing moments again highlighting that love between human and dog.  

Favorite line:  "Small nothings can move mountains if you let them."    

  

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

It's Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday with a review of The Tontine Caper by Dianne K. Salerni , illustrations by Matt Schu

The Tontine Caper by Dianne K. Salerni, illustrations by Matt Schu
Publisher:  Holiday House

Format:  Hardcover ARC
Number of pages:   208 pages
Published:  April 22nd, 2025
Source:  Publisher

Opening Lines: "It was the wrong time of year to expect guests at the Precipice Inn."

It's November 1901, in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, at the Precipice Inn.  Typically, rooms weren't fully booked this time of the year, yet Gunter Hogg, the innkeeper, was buzzing with excitement as all five rooms were soon to be occupied by the guests of Arnold Hawes, a lawyer.  Eleven-year-old Nicodemus Lombardi has been working at the inn since the sudden death of his grandfather, Nonno five years ago.  Gunther insisted that Nonno owed rent for their stay prior to his passing, and forced Nico into a life of indentured servitude to pay off the debt.

The first guest to arrive was Mr. Beauregard Ames, accompanied by his granddaughter Beatrice.  Due to his impressive height of six and a half feet, he had to switch rooms with the Von Trapp brothers, Edgar and Raymond and their grandmother Diana.  Lastly, the Deetlebaum's arrived, consisting of Mabel, her daughter-in-law Carleen, and her  granddaughter Lottie.        

Meanwhile, Nico busied himself carrying the guest's suitcases to their rooms, but his curiosity got the better of him when he caught site of a letter addressed to Mrs. Deetlebaum, with the intriguing word "finalist."  It wasn't long before Nico learned the purpose behind the gathering:  Mr. Hawes who had not yet arrived, had summoned the guests to the inn to discuss the dissolution of a long-standing tontine.  Years ago, they had invested in shares of the Carbon County coal mine, forming the tontine.  The agreement originally dictated that the accumulated wealth would go to the last surviving member.  However, a provision allowed for the final three members to vote on dissolving the tontine early, splitting the fortune equally among them.  

Unfortunately the guests reached an impasse over dissolving the tontine agreement, leading tensions to simmer, and greed to cloud their judgment. Thoughts of betrayal and conspiring to eliminate rivals even became a tempting prospect.  The quiet inn soon became a place of suspicion and deceit, where it was best to question everyone's motives and hidden agendas.

The Tontine Caper has been described as Clue meets Knives Out, and it really is a lovely blend of mystery and suspense, with a quirky cast, and the perfect setting for intrigue.  I love old manors they always make me think of dark halls, hiding spots, and multiple rooms to search.  The heirs were entertaining with their scheming and sneaking around at night, and their underhanded tactics to try and gain the fortune for themselves.  The dynamics between Nico and the innkeeper added an emotional layer to the story, and the painting added a nice element of mystery too.  The black and white illustrations by Matt Schu depict the various characters from the story, I just wish there were more of them.  Included at the back of the book is a quiz to determine which character you resemble, and an author's note explaining that the inspiration for the book was an episode of The Wild Wild West that included a tontine.  Read this if you enjoy mysteries, old houses, books like Winterhouse or you enjoyed the authors Carrefore Curse.    

 I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

Blog Tour With Review and Guest Post by Donna Galanti author of Loon Cove Summer, Unicorn Island and Joshua and The Lightning Road series

I'm really excited today to be a part of the blog tour for Donna Galanti's latest book, Loon Cove Summer.    Be sure to check out all the other tour stops at the bottom of the post and Donna's link to her tip sheet for the book.  There's also a giveaway and my review.  

Loon Cove Summer by Donna Galanti
Publisher:  Wild Trade Press
Format:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   286 pages
Publishing:  May 6th, 2025
Source:  Author in exchange for an honest review
Reading level: middle-grade, 8 - 12 years

Book Tip Sheet to Download 

Where book is available:  Amazon, Barnes and Noble,  Bookshop, On Goodreads  

Donna’s website

Keywords:
friendship, grief and loss, environmental causes, family, Appalachian Trail, lakes, camping, nature, adventure, coming-of-age, bird conservation

Audience:

·   Nature and science lovers

·   Outdoor adventure seekers

·   Readers of survival stories

·   Fans of environmental causes

·   Youth in bereavement

Opening Line: "My first Monday of summer vacation was a total fail."

 Here is the summary of Loon Cove Summer:

Thirteen-year-old Sarah Richardson is determined that her life will finally get unstuck this summer. She just knows it. Her to-do list? Brave the lake again. Save the loons. Stop missing Mom. Her one bright spot: volunteering at the local wild bird rehabilitation center.

 

The summer looks even brighter when Sarah meets Theo, the boy staying at her family’s Maine lakeside campground who cares about protecting the loons just like she does. But when Sarah’s family may have to move, she adds a new to-do item: save their home. And when she suspects Dad is dating Theo’s aunt, the naturalist helping research environmental dangers to the loons, Sarah is caught in a new world of grief.

 

With the looming reality of losing her dad, her home, and the loons, Sarah must make a big statement to take control of her life. Capturing inspiration from her late mother’s Appalachian Trail hiking journal, she boldly plans a solo wild adventure. But as her challenges mount, she wonders if her courage will earn her the voice she seeks—or if she’s made a reckless choice that just might claim her life.

Guest Post:  The Twisty Journey of Getting a Book Published by Donna Galanti

I love writing fantasy, as made evident by all my other books. With writing fantasy, there’s a freedom to create any world you want—a world without boundaries. I hadn’t planned to write a contemporary, yet my newest novel, Loon Cove Summer, called to be written in the real-world. It’s a love letter to a magical part of my childhood where I lived, in a New England lakeside campground. For me, it wasn’t a challenging transition from fantasy to writing this contemporary story as it flowed out of me from personal experience.

The book began as a young adult for teens as I explored a romantic element in it, but the story soon morphed into middle grade for younger audiences. I struggled with a teen voice and realized it wasn’t working for me because I love to embrace the wonder of being a tween. Being a tween is a time in our lives when we straddle two worlds, one foot grounded in the magic of childhood and one foot stepping into young adulthood. This time as a youth is about having many new adventures for the first time. These ‘first’ experiences are threaded throughout Loon Cove Summer and reflected in Sarah, the main character.

Most authors I know have several creative projects in the works. I’m no different. I still have my first (practice!) novel sitting in a shoe box that will never be published. I also have seven completed books that all need various stages of revising, three novels to finish drafting, and five novels in a series outlined with the first book begun.

When one project feels stalled, I move to another. I started Loon Cove Summer way back in 2013. After many years of stalling on it, cheating on it with writing other books, working on it with my former agent and several editors, and rewriting it, I finished the story in 2024. Finally, 12 years later it’s being released on May 6th!

There’s a dedication required to getting a book to print—draft it, rewrite it, revise it (multiple times), then figure out the path to publication (which includes more rejection than acceptance). At times, it seems like an impossible mountain to climb!

Loon Cove Summer was no different … here’s a 17-part snapshot of the journey:

1. Began writing it in 2013.

2. Finished a polished draft in 2019.

3. Let my current agent go (amicably) to acquire a new literary agent for it.

4. Had a Big 5 publisher interested. Made edits with them. Added in more emphasis on the loons and conservation, per their request.

5. Got turned-down from this Big 5 publisher as they had a similar title recently released.

6. Changed the book title and went on submission again to publishers via my new agent.

7. Rewrote again and re-submitted to Big 5 publisher above as the editor wanted to give it one more try. Nope.

8. Got rejected by other publishers on submission because it’s “too quiet”, “needs more conservation in it”, “we don’t do middle-grade books that have a crush in it” (seriously).

9. Changed the title again and went on another round of submissions to publishers via my agent.

10. In the meantime, I got a 2-book deal for my paranormal suspense Element Trilogy for adults, wrote it, and had it release with a publisher.

11. In the meantime, I was hired to write a 3-book series, Unicorn Island, for another publisher and wrote all 3 books and had them all release.

12. Had an imprint with a Big 5 publisher super excited about Loon Cove Summer! “This is the best thing I’ve read in so long! I couldn’t put it down. I laughed, I cried!”

13. Revised the first 5 chapters with the editor of this imprint.

14. Get the revised version to an acquisitions meeting. Rejected by Sales and Marketing as my book sales (20,000) of my most current book was not enough to take a risk on this

next book of mine. :(

15. Had differences with my second agent and let her go. Queried new agents. Several requested the manuscript of Loon Cove Summer. Ultimately, they all echoed the same

reasons above for choosing not to take it on.

16. August 2024. Decide no more agents. No editors. No more gatekeepers. No more squelching my creativity and passion as a storyteller. I’m 55 years old and taking control of my own publishing destiny. I don’t want to be remembered for dozens of books written just sitting in a shoebox! So … I created Wild Trail Press and produced Loon Cove Summer on my own, the first title of 15 books to publish (and counting).

17. The End (or really, just the beginning!)

 

My Review: 

I really enjoyed Loon Cove Summer's focus on nature and Sarah's desire to bring a loon expert to her lake and research why the loon's were disappearing.  The story shows what the determination and perseverance of one person can do.

Having the story centered at a campground was also a real highlight for me as it's one of my favorite pastimes over the summer.  There's something about being outside in the woods, near a lake that is comforting, and bringing Donna's book along for a re-read would be perfect.

Sarah makes for a lovely main character, she's so full of emotions the nervousness and excitement of meeting Maggie, the new to her, warm cozy feelings she feels with Theo.  Even her jealousy when her dad begins to show an interest in Maggie.  The kind of big feelings that a reader can easily relate to.  Sarah is so sweet and sparks this instant connection with Theo and Maggie, a connection that she isn't ready to share with her dad. 

There's the difficult topics of the death of a mother and possible moving away from a place that you love, but it is written from a place of great sensitivity.   I love how Sarah is given time to process her feelings about her mom's death and to come to terms with all the changes happening around her.  How she is able to use her mom's trail journal not only to read about her mom's experiences but also to write back to her to express her own thoughts.    

This is a beautiful, feel good, heart warming story that I enjoyed reading immensely.  The idea of being "custodians" for the loons really resonated with me.  It makes me want to read more adventure stories and books about environmental activism and reminded me a lot of Terry Lynn Johnson's books, like Rescue at Lake Wild.  The after thoughts from Donna were much appreciated and I especially loved how she explained why she chose to write a contemporary book and talked about her shared lived experience. I highly recommend Loon Cove Summer to readers interested in animal activism, or any animal/nature enthusiast.  

**A huge thank you to Donna Galanti for visiting my blog today, and providing me with a review copy of her book.  ***          

Praise for Loon Cove Summer:

“A warm-hearted novel that balances profound loss with humor and hope.”
– Kate Allen, author of The Line Tender

“As sparkling, refreshing, and mysterious as a Maine lake in summertime.”
– Cathy Carr, author of 365 Days to Alaska

“An original and fun read from start to finish … unreservedly recommended.”
– Midwest Book Review

“A page-turning read set in the wilds of Maine.”
– Paul Greci, author of Surviving Bear Island

“The cast of unforgettable characters and tender relationships stays with you.”
– Jessica Rinker, author of The Dare Sisters  

$50 Barnes & Noble Gift Card Giveaway: Runs 5/6/25 – 5/13/25

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Donna: 

 Donna Galanti is the author of two middle-grade book series, Unicorn Island and Joshua and the Lightning Road, and the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy for adults. She has lived in fun locations including England, her family-owned campground in New Hampshire, and in Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer. Donna is an avid outdoor adventurer and nature lover. She volunteers for the Old-Growth Forest Network and the National Audubon Society. When Donna’s not wandering the woods seeking magic and wonder, you can usually find her biking or kayaking. For more information on her books, school visits, and events, visit her at: www.donnagalanti.com.

 

 

It's MMGM with a review of Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan

Spelling It Out by Margaret Finnegan
Publisher:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Format:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   208 pages
Publishing:  May 15th, 2025
Source:  Blue Slip Media

Find Margaret Finnegan:

            Instagram:

Margaret Finnegan: @finneganbegin

Atheneum/S&S: @simonKIDS

Blue Slip Media: @blue_slip_media 

                 Facebook:

Margaret Finnegan: @Margaret Finnegan

Atheneum/S&S: @SimonKIDS

Blue Slip Media: @blue-slip-media 

                   Bluesky:

Margaret Finnegan: @finneganbegin

Atheneum/S&S: N/A

Blue Slip Media: @blueslipmedia.bsky.social

Opening Lines: "Picture it: 1985.  There I am: Ben Bellini.  Sixth grade, but probably looking closer to fifth. (why? because my parents threw me into kindergarten when I was four and a half years old, and I was a shrimp to boot.)" 

Ben really enjoys competitive spelling, it gives him a jolt to stand on stage and visualize each word before spelling it out.  He doesn't even mind that he has to answer quickly; it prevents him from getting tongue-tied when there's a time restraint.   However, competitive spelling is not something that Ben feels comfortable sharing with his friends because he worries about getting teased, laughed at or called a nerd.  Especially after placing twelfth at the Southern California Regional Spelling Bee.  Ben feels it's one of the hardest things that he's ever done, but his friends still wouldn't understand.

Ben is all but ready to abandon spelling competitions until his grandmother proposes he spend the summer at her place in San Francisco, where he can be coached by the former national spelling bee winner, Roger Nott.  Initially, Ben's parents aren't up for the idea but with some persuasion they eventually agree to let him go.

Upon Ben's arrival in California things get off to a rocky start when his grandmother is not at the gate to meet him.  After a short while, Nan finally arrives, and they return to her house. As he gets settled, Ben begins to notice some changes around Nan's house. It is a little unkempt, and a few things are broken. However, Ben pushes these troubling thoughts aside and plans for his first meeting with Nott's.  Once again, Nan is nowhere be found when it's time for Ben to leave.  He takes it upon himself to find the bus route to Nott's bookstore but arrives late for his appointment and is convinced that he has ruined his chance with Nott.

Disgruntled with his bad luck, Ben wanders into a nearby library where he meets Asha who proceeds to tell him jokingly that she's going to beat him in the next spelling bee.  He takes this to mean he doesn't have a chance, but Asha says that doesn't mean he should give up.

Nott finally agrees to train Ben, and they begin by learning about prefixes, suffixes and the origins of words.  Ben also continues to meet up with Asha at the library where they practice reciting flash cards.  Ben finally feels like he has met someone who understands him.  However, strange things take place at Nan's and Ben and Asha have a minor falling out.  Nan has forgotten the deal that she made with Nott's and her once scattered thoughts are becoming more memory lapses, frightening Ben.  In order to better help his grandmother, Ben ultimately makes the difficult decision to ask his mother for help.

Spelling it Out is set in 1985 and includes enough references to movies and music to evoke the 80's vibe that I so enjoy. Ben is a wonderful main character; he's grappling with his identity and the kind of person he wants to become. He finds being a competitive speller to be isolating, as it's something that no one else seems to understand or is interested in. He questions the idea of what it means to be a "real man" and is self-conscious about others' perceptions.  Not being perceived as a nerd is important to him.  Asha helps him understand that he can fit into more than one category and the importance of pursuing one's passions.  Ben, in turn, helps Asha understand that she should not let someone's racist views prevent her from playing basketball, an activity she loves doing.

Finnegan wonderfully fleshes out each of her characters and I love all the little details that make each one of them stand out, from Mrs. Sunabe's translucent pink glasses to the specific details about the design of Nan's house.  Nott's character on the other hand really began to frustrate me to no end.  How he felt so belittling and bullying.  Was he trying to get Ben to persevere?  Did Nott even realize that he was making things worse? He really made my blood boil, until Ben happily stated that "my power is mine to give."  I so rallied with him in that moment.  A lovely story that emphasizes believing in yourself, following your passion and asking for help and support when you need it.  Spelling it Out is very timely as this year is the 100th anniversary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee   Margaret Finnegan has also created a series of activities to help celebrate Spelling and her books release.  I hope you'll check them out.  

Finally, I really enjoyed the inclusion of the Memory Palace technique, something that I used before in working with individuals who sustained a brain injury.  If you're not familiar with it, it's a way of connecting something that you want to remember to a pre-existing memory.  We used to say it's like walking through the rooms of your house where each room holds an item that you want to recall.  If the room to item pair is strong, it helps the person recall the information. I'm glad I was reminded of this technique again.  

**A huge thank you to Blue Slip Media for the E- ARC in exchange for an honest review**

I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

Kat's Greek Summer by Mima Tipper

Kat's Greek Summer by Mima Tipper
Publisher:  SparkPress
Format:  Paperback ARC
Number of pages:   248 pages
Publishing:  May 13th, 2025
Source:  Books Forward

Opening Lines:  "Love the running. Love it."

Kat Baker repeats the mantra "love the running" to herself to psych herself up or to push through any discomfort she might be feeling.  She wants to be the fastest runner, and follows all the running sites while trying to visualize meeting her goals.  Kat is determined to join the cross-country team next year, convinced that she will finally feel a sense of belonging.  She'll be in the "know" about boys,  high-school, and can finally meet her crush, Mike.  

Kat's younger brother, James, then breaks the devastating news that they will be spending the summer in Paralia, Greece.  Her mom feels it's the perfect time for them to connect with their Greek roots.  Kat attempts to find the silver lining, reasoning that at least she can come back with a tan and plenty of stories about her vacation.  However, she worries that two weeks without training could jeopardize her chances of making the team.

Upon arriving in Paralia, home to her grandmother's charming rustic village, Kat is immediately overwhelmed by the intense heat.  She's further disappointed to learn that each day includes a three-hour mandatory quiet siesta period where she's to remain indoors.  However, Kat devises a plan to go for early morning runs.  Yet, her first experience doesn't go as planned as she's met with the disapproving glares from the older fisherman.  Then Kat catches sight of Theofilus Zafirakis, a local boy working for his grandfather for the summer and is instantly captivated.  

Theofilus is even more handsome than Mike and Kat quickly sets out to learn everything she can about him, despite facing disapproval from his grandfather.  Although, Kat speaks little Greek and Theofilus speaks little English, they somehow are able to communicate effectively and begin meeting secretly late at night.  Thus, avoiding detection by Kat's mother, grandmother, and Theofilus' grandfather. 

Everything appears to be going well at first, but Kat lands herself in trouble by becoming distracted while watching her brother and cousin at the beach leading them to get trapped at sea, requiring a huge recovery effort.  Kat and Theofilus also get caught and their sneaking around comes to light.  Following some frank conversations, and Theo's grandfather witnessing Kat standing up for her cousin Yeorgia when some local boys were scaring her, the families come to an agreement about letting their relationship continue.  

Children may relate to Kat's desire to fit in with the popular crowd and how participating on the cross-country team helps her to connect with her peers, in navigating relationships with boys and in adapting to high school life.  Kat's trip to the small Greek village led to her confronting a new set of social norms she doesn't understand and a language barrier.  It also is a way for her to understand a new to her culture and how she fits into it.   Kat identifies being Greek as mostly being olive skinned and dark haired like her mother and brother.  She's often wondered about how she fits in with her family.  What characteristics make her Greek?   

I loved that the story included three generations of Greek woman and Kat received insights from each of these women.  Kat's relationship with her grandmother/Yiayia is really sweet.  I love that she learned a few words in Greek so they could communicate together and even became involved in preparing a meal together.  Not only was she learning about Greece, but she was also able to form some wonderful memories.  (I'll never forget making cherry pancakes with my Oma.)  Kat also spent time with her cousin, Yeorgia and even encouraged her to follow her own dreams to be a pilot.  Kat learned that one's ethnicity or nationality isn't about our physical characteristics, as her mom said, it's about our "blood and bone" and that she is both Greek and American. 

Overall, Kat's Greek Summer is a lovely coming of age story about first loves, complex feelings, standing up for yourself, and finding one's cultural identity.  Kat returned from her trip to Greece having developed a deep connection to her Greek heritage, a newfound confidence and an understanding of what it means to own our choices. 

**A huge thank you to Books Forward for the paperback ARC in exchange for an honest review**

                                                         About the Author…

MIMA TIPPER: Half-Greek, half-American, Mima Tipper and her writing reflect her heritage—a little bit old-country, a little bit rock and roll: one foot wandering through the dreamy realms of myths and faerie tales, the other running on the solid ground of fast-paced, contemporary story. She earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and has published YA fiction in Hunger Mountain and Sucker Literary magazine. Her YA short story “A Cut-out Face” received an honorable mention from Hunger Mountain’s Katherine Paterson Prize, her work-in-progress “Chasing a Blue So Wild” was a top ten finalist in Voyage YA’s first chapter contest, and her work-in-progress “Channeling Marilyn” came in second place for Paranormal Romance in the Chesapeake Romance Writer’s annual Rudy contest. “Kat’s Greek Summer” will be her first published novel. Beyond devoting most of her time to writing, Mima volunteers at her local library and is committed to promoting literacy. Mima lives in Vermont with her family. Learn more at: www.mimatipper.com

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Facebook: @mimatipper | Twitter: @meemtip | Instagram: @mimatip