I hope you enjoy my review today of LOON COVE SUMMER by Donna Galanti. It’s a two-day event as tomorrow I’ve invited Donna back to ALWAYS in the MIDDLE for an interview about the creation of this story. You will also have the chance to win a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card!
Here’s what to expect from this new novel:
Sarah Richardson is the memorable main character in this contemporary plot. She’s 13 and lives with her dad at the campground he manages in Maine. Sarah helps by cleaning cabins and working in the store. Her passion though is saving the loons and also volunteering at a nearby raptor rehab center.
Despite the perfect setting it’s a challenging summer. Sarah’s mom passed away recently and her best friend is away on a summer family trip. The drama escalates when Maggie and her nephew Theo arrive. Sarah had been emailing the University of Maine for help in saving their loon population and this loon expert is at first a welcome arrival. She loves learning from Maggie and they quickly become friends. That all ends when she suspects Maggie and her dad are dating. Sarah believes this is way too soon, feeling like her mother is being pushed away to always be forgotten.
Added to the grief is the possibility she and her dad might have to move from the place she loves as the campground is not making enough money. Sarah does have Uncle JuJu who always gives her prophetic advice and Theo, who shares in her interest in saving the loons. With motivation from her mother’s Appalachian Trail hiking journal Sarah chooses to undertake a challenging adventure that could end miserably.
The challenges and suffering from each of the characters both past and present, including Dad, Mom, friend Theo, and Maggie add richness to the story. They each provide a different viewpoint and help Sarah in her own thinking,
The 33 chapter first-person narration brings forth the beauty of Maine and the importance of environmental awareness. Sarah’s emotional journey and the healing made possible through the journal passages her mother left make this an engaging read. LOON COVE SUMMER is a perfect one for middle grade readers seeking adventure and compassion in their own lives.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: May 6, 2025 Pages: 286
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: LOON COVE SUMMER by Donna Galanti
- The conversations between Sarah and Theo made me smile. They are kid-like as they poke fun at each other in a open and friendly way.
- Uncle JuJu is the rock of the family. He helps with subtle remarks in the grief shadowing Sarah and her dad. A secondary character but not one just filling space.
- The reality of the necessary emotional support needed for parent and child will help those experiencing similar events in their lives. A different perspective can lead to healing .
- The accurate scenes of hiking a trail. Weather changes fast along with the elevation. Be prepared is the useful message.
- Creating a compelling, emotional story with depth is not easy but here you’ll find the result of a writer who knows her craft.
About Donna Galanti:
Donna Galanti is the author of two middle-grade series of books, Unicorn Island and Joshua and the Lightning Road. She has lived in fun locations including England, her family-owned campground in New Hampshire, and in Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer. Donna is an avid outdoor adventurer and nature lover. She volunteers for the Old-Growth Forest Network and the National Audubon Society. When Donna’s not wandering the woods seeking magic and wonder, you can usually find her biking or kayaking. For more information on her books, school visits, and events, visit her at: www.donnagalanti.com.
COME BACK TOMORROW FOR MY INTERVIEW WITH DONNA AND A GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
COMMENTS ARE WELCOME BELOW! AND BE SURE TO VISIT ALL THE OTHER BLOGGERS ON TODAY’S MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!
Always in the Middle... 
Pingback: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday for 5/5/2025 | Always in the Middle…
I’m glad you enjoyed Donna’s new story. I’m looking forward to reading it, especially because it’s a contemporary story.
Thank you Natalie! Thanks for hosting me today too. Hope you enjoy Loon Cove Summer!
Greg, thank you for reading and reviewing Loon Cove Summer and hosting me this week! I appreciate your thoughtfully written review and so glad it resonated with you.
This sounds a great story, and I love the Unicorn Island books. Thanks for sharing! I’ll be back tomorrow for the interview! 🙂
Thanks so much, Valinora! So glad you liked Unicorn Island 🙂 .
This sounds like a book my twins would enjoy. The setting and characters are especially appealing. Thanks for the preview and for MMGM.
Jill, I hope your twins enjoy it if they read it! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
This sounds like a fantastic story–right up my alley 🙂
So wonderful to hear Rebecca! I hope you connect with it if you read it 🙂
This sounds like an outdoorsy book with compassion. I will add it to my list. Happy MMGM.
Thanks so much! Happy MMGM!
Lovely review. Have a happy MMGM
Thank you and also for having me on your blog today! I appreciate you reading and reviewing Loon Cove Summer 🙂
I love contemporary books that deal with issues that many kids have to deal with such as when a parent begins dating someone else, especially given these circumstances.
It’s a tough one for sure! I was 40 when my mom died and my dad started dating on multiple dating apps within a few months–very hard to deal with even as an adult. This channeled right into Loon Cove Summer.
This sounds like such an incredible book. I love the sound of the campground and escalating drama. I’ll have to circle back for the interview tomorrow! 🙂
I appreciate that Kasey! Hope you enjoy the interview too 🙂
I am glad you enjoyed Donna’s latest book as much as I did! The hiking scene did seem very realistic and a good reminder to everyone to be prepared. I really liked Uncle JuJu- he had a great way of interacting with Sarah. Great review!
Stephanie, thanks for chiming in! Uncle JuJu was one of my favorite characters to write, especially with the Buddhist element and his wise advice. I need an Uncle JuJu!
I read a book earlier this year about a boy hiking the Appalachian Trail. (The Trail) I liked it a lot. This book sounds like another book I would like very much. I’ll look for it. Thanks for the review.
Oh, I would like to know what that book was! I love tales from the AT. Hope you enjoy Loon Cove Summer if you read it. My Great Uncle Elmer was the inspiration behind including the AT in this story, as he thru-hiked all 2,220+ miles by himself at age 67!
Hi Donna, It was The Trail by Meiko Hashimoto. I can’t imagine hiking the whole trail at any age, let alone 67. Wow.
Rosi, that is AMAZING because I have that book on my shelf and it was hidden! I just pulled it out and plan to read. It’s ALSO amazing because Meika was my editor with Epic! for my first two Unicorn Island books in the series and it was so wonderful to work with her on these stories! We were so in sync. Thanks for sharing and bringing me back to Meika’s story that I meant to read a couple of years ago!
I’ve heard of this book!! It sounds like such an amazing book!!! I’m adding this to my very long TBR!! This book sounds exactly like the kind of contemporary book I’m looking for at the moment, actually! It might be a long time before I can get the book (I’m overseas, and new releases take a ridiculously long amount of time to get here!!!! Around 4 months, I think? Alright, well, not THAT long, I suppose. But it sure seems like a long time if I’m waiting for the book!!!!), but when I do, I’m definitely going to read it! The Unicorn Island books also look like books I’d enjoy reading! I was obsessed with unicorns from ages nine to eleven, so it’s always great to see a good unicorn book! Congrats to Donna on this new release! It sounds fantastic, and I wish her the best of luck with it!!!
Isabelle, I love your enthusiasm! I hope you can find time to read these books and hope you love them, too. Thanks for your well wishes too!