Controlled Burn by Erin Soderberg Downing

Controlled Burn by Erin Soderberg Downing
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Maia's character, her journey both within and out (going to the forest fire tower with her grandfather). After a horrible house fire, which Maia blames herself for, her parents send her to her grandparents for the summer as they deal with her sister, Amelia's, burns and recovery, insurance, and life. But Maia's insecurities threaten to overwhelm her and it is the love of a dog, a new friend, and Maia's determination to become a more brave, carefree person that make this summer one she will never forget. A must read!!!

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The Vanderbeekers Make a Wish (The Vanderbeekers, #5) by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers Make A Wish by Karina Yan Glaser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Vanderbeekers are getting ready to surprise their Dad for his birthday when he is called away to a funeral. A big surprise is their mother's parents arriving on their steps! Their grandmother is mean, nasty and constantly criticizing everyone, so the kids stay away from home and try to unravel a mystery letter from their deceased grandfather to his son about his graduation gift. The kids decide to remake this gift for their father but first they have much research to do. Heartwarming, funny, and the best family hijinks continue!

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In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such an achingly beautiful, sorrowful book with two protagonists, who are each other’s best friends and support group and their first year at a prep school. Jeff Zentner’s writing is always so full of soul, deep yearning, and powerful messages. Through Cash, the beauty of Sawyer, Tennessee is found in the water, the land, Papaw and Mamaw. With parents addicted to drugs, Delaney and Cash met each other at a meeting and a forever friendship begins and is cemented over the years. Cash despairs as his beloved Papaw is struggling with emphysema, and he must decide if he will attend Middleton Academy with Delaney. Cash is such a good, good person and his love for his grandparents, Delaney, and his Middleton friends is deep, devoted, and courageous. Readers will love Cash’s sincerity, fear of failure, despair, grief, and his whole persona as he looks back on his life with a drug addicted mother, his deep insecurities, his profound love of Mamaw and Papaw, and struggles daily in his new life at Middleton Prep with his crush, his friendship with Alex Pak, taking up crew and writing poetry, and always worrying about Delaney. This is a must read and the mentions that harken back to each of Zentner’s other books made my heart pound with so much love. Highly recommended!

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