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Table of Contents
About The Book
A young girl aims to revitalize her lake town’s annual festival to reunite her family and honor her mom’s memory in this “sensitively told…thought-provoking” (Kirkus Reviews) middle grade novel for fans of The Summer of June and Violets Are Blue.
Brooke’s mom always used to tell her, “It’s just a game.” But now that mom’s gone, Brooke is finding it hard to keep softball as just a game when so much of her mom’s memory is woven into her favorite sport. And it doesn’t help that her older sister, Calla, has started avoiding the field, and Dad doesn’t have as much time to toss the ball in their backyard or go to all her games.
Then Brooke and her best friend, Derek, come across an album full of photos from when their town celebrated its annual Lakefest, a summer picnic that brought the whole community together at Brooke’s parents’ lake houses. When she brings up the idea to revive the event, Dad and Calla shut her down, but Brooke is certain that Lakefest can bring joy back to everyone in her town.
And maybe if her team of Derek and an unexpected classmate can pull off the picnic, her family can learn to heal and grow and create new memories, and Brooke can discover that she’s capable of more than she ever imagined.
Brooke’s mom always used to tell her, “It’s just a game.” But now that mom’s gone, Brooke is finding it hard to keep softball as just a game when so much of her mom’s memory is woven into her favorite sport. And it doesn’t help that her older sister, Calla, has started avoiding the field, and Dad doesn’t have as much time to toss the ball in their backyard or go to all her games.
Then Brooke and her best friend, Derek, come across an album full of photos from when their town celebrated its annual Lakefest, a summer picnic that brought the whole community together at Brooke’s parents’ lake houses. When she brings up the idea to revive the event, Dad and Calla shut her down, but Brooke is certain that Lakefest can bring joy back to everyone in her town.
And maybe if her team of Derek and an unexpected classmate can pull off the picnic, her family can learn to heal and grow and create new memories, and Brooke can discover that she’s capable of more than she ever imagined.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (May 30, 2023)
- Length: 224 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534476776
- Grades: 3 - 7
- Ages: 8 - 12
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- Children's Fiction > Social Themes > Adolescence & Coming of Age
- Children's Fiction > Social Situations > Friendship
- Children's Fiction > Social Situations > Adolescence
- Children's Fiction > Social Situations > New Experience
Raves and Reviews
"What makes this book stand out is its skillful highlighting of tween girls’ confusion around changing expectations and emotions. These are real experiences told honestly, with empathy and insight...a sensitively told story with thought-provoking social commentary."
– Kirkus
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): This Close to Home eBook 9781534476776
- Author Photo (jpg): Beth Turley Photograph by Janelle Medeiros(0.1 MB)
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