The Mending Summer by Ali Standish
Published by HarperCollins on May 25, 2021
ISBN: 0062985655
Pages: 368
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Realistic Fiction
Goodreads

Georgia is having a rough time at home—her mother is super busy with school work, and her father is working nights. The man that comes home at the end of his shifts often doesn’t resemble her father at all, he stumbles, he’s angry, and she refers to him as the Shadow Man. Georgia’s mom sends her to live with her great aunt Marigold in the country. When she gets there, she’s perplexed by how Marigold lives alone and off the land. As she’s exploring the woods around the house, Georgia meets a girl named Angela and the discover a lake in the middle of the forest. The lake turns out to be magical, granting wishes when the girls throw in wishing stones. As the summer goes on and things get more and more difficult for Georgia at home with her parents, the magic seems to both help and confuse her.

This middle grade fiction book tackles alcoholism and addiction in a very accessible and graceful way. It is a story of friendship, finding your voice, and family with a little magic on the side. Recommended for fans of realistic fiction and for readers 4th grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME