The Firefly Summer

Starred review from March 20, 2023
When a tween accepts an invitation to stay with her estranged maternal grandparents in the Poconos, she finds a large and lively extended family, and a treasure map, in this captivating mystery, a middle grade debut from Matson (Take Me Home Tonight). Eager to hear stories about her mom, who died when she was three, only child Ryanna Stuart nervously agrees when the Van Camps invite her to stay for the summer at their inoperative summer property, Camp Van Camp, which is in danger of being razed by a neighbor. As the mystery-loving 11-year-old settles into the summer’s rhythms, she grows closer to her newfound family, teaming up with cousins her age to follow marginalia once scribbled by her mother in a mystery book and to locate a treasure map that they hope will save the camp. Matson’s vibrant setting, peopled with an easygoing extended family that encourages free play, is irresistibly rendered, while Ryanna’s quest to learn more about her mother, as well as her father’s falling out with the family, imbues the carefully plotted central mystery with emotional resonance. Ryanna and her dad are white; intersectional diversity is present in the extended family. Ages 8–12. Agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Jr./Folio Literary.

Starred review from March 1, 2023
An only child discovers her boisterous extended family--and a real-life treasure hunt. Eleven-year-old Ryanna and her dad have been on their own since Ryanna's mom died 8 years ago. So when her estranged maternal grandparents, the Van Camps, invite her to spend the summer with them, she's surprised--and her curiosity is piqued by the opportunity to learn more about her mother. It's no quiet summer alone with her grandparents, though; Camp Van Camp, the site of a former summer camp, is also bustling with cousins, aunts, uncles, a potential treasure, and a real crisis. A noteworthy addition to a long line of rambunctious literary families, the Van Camp clan reflects the makeup of many contemporary families; they're primarily White but also include Korean American, Black, South Asian, mixed race, and gay members. Matson, the author of multiple young adult books, sets a quick and compelling pace in her debut middle-grade novel. The mysteries that Ryanna hopes to solve, from what happened between her dad and her grandparents to the secret of a decades-old map, propel the story, while the intergenerational rapport and humor among the family members give it warmth and weight. Each of the characters, even the least sympathetic ones, is lovingly drawn, and their shared experiences of disappointment, loss, and joy ring true. Like a great summer camp, this tale evokes the best of the past while setting the stage for something new. (family tree) (Fiction. 8-12)

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Starred review from May 15, 2023
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* Eleven-year-old Ryanna doesn't remember her mother, who died eight years ago, but she's curious about her. So, when her mother's parents invite her to spend the summer at their home on a Pennsylvania lake, she agrees to go. They used to run a children's camp there. Now their children and grandchildren return every summer, living in cabins and gathering for shared meals, campfires, and adventures. Ryanna quickly warms to her grandparents and the unusual degree of freedom and camaraderie that she and her cousins enjoy. It's a heady experience for an only child. Learning that a ruthless developer claims to own her grandparents' property, Ryanna attempts to save their home by following a trail of mysterious clues left by her mother. Matson, whose previous books were written for young adults, makes her middle-grade debut with this endearing book for tweens. The characters, young and old, have their quirks and differences of opinion, but the lakeside camp has a mellowing effect on nearly everyone. Ryanna's first-person narrative offers a balanced record of events and reflections while bringing the characters to life as people with different needs, moods, and motivations. The mystery and a related treasure hunt bring additional drama, which mounts until the novel reaches its satisfying conclusion.

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