THE FIREFLY SUMMER

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.