The reality in families is that not everything is always going to be perfect. Life threatening illnesses, best friends moving away, and financial struggles are the key elements in HALF MOON SUMMER, an engaging contemporary story.

Twelve-year-old Drew narrates his chapters. He’s not looking forward to spending the summer in Half Moon Bay, CA without his best friend who moved to another city. They always hid a time capsule together and were inseparable. The next few months for Drew will be filled with caring for his younger sister and running at 6 am with his dad, a dad who is suffering from the beginnings of ALS.

Mia’s chapters are narrated in verse. She has moved back to Half Moon Bay with mom and younger twin brothers to live with her grandmother. Dad is a builder and they were getting close to having their own house in Sacramento. That was until Mia’s Dad headed to Alaska to take care of his sick mother. There’s also a problem with the financing for the new house and they may lose it to a shady developer.

Mia and Drew have a special connection. They share the same birthday and life for them started out in the same hospital. Now they are together again and helping each other cope with their family’s challenges.

The alternating viewpoints in each chapter shine with emotion. Mia and Drew begin running together to train for an upcoming half marathon. They are not girlfriend/boyfriend in the traditional sense but just friends helping each other. Sad at times, the story is more of a hopeful sad of better things to come. Spend some of your own time this summer with these two kids. You’ll enjoy a memorable read for sure.

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FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT HALF MOON SUMMER by Elaine Vickers

1. Lean on Me and Perseverance are two components often missing in a child’s life. Seeing them portrayed so beautifully here will be an encouragement to young readers.
2. The inclusion of distance running in the plot was a perfect addition. It’s a tough endeavor rarely visited in MG lit.
3. This is one of those rare middle grade stories that even adults will enjoy.
4. I’m not a frequent readers of novels in verse, but balancing this writing technique with the more traditional prose really worked here.
5. It made me want to visit the small coastal town of Half Moon Bay just north of San Francisco. It sounds like a great place to live and raise a family.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: June 6, 2023

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elaine/E.B. Vickers is an award-winning author of picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels that aim to help readers of all ages find connection and belonging. She grew up in a small town in the Utah desert, where she spent her time reading, playing basketball, and exploring. Several years and one PhD later, she found her way back to her hometown, where she now spends her time writing, teaching college chemistry, and exploring with her husband and three kids.

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