The Firefly Summer - by Morgan Matson

About the Book

"For as long as Ryanna Stuart can remember, her summers have been spent with her father and his new wife. Just the three of them, structured, planned, quiet. But this summer is different. This summer, she's received a letter from her grandparents-grandparents neither she nor her dad have spoken to since her mom's death-inviting her to stay with them at an old summer camp in the Poconos. Ryanna accepts. She wants to learn about her mom. She wants to uncover the mystery of why her father hasn't spoken to her grandparents all these years. She's even looking forward to a quiet summer by the lake. But what she finds are relatives... SO MANY MORE RELATIVES than she knew she had. Aunts and Uncles and cousins upon cousins-a motley, rambunctious crew of kids and eccentric, unconventional adults. Lost in the crush of such a tight-knit and boisterous band, Ryanna has never felt more out of place. It's over the course of this utterly astonishing summer that Ryanna will need to learn how to be open to the unexpected, let go of the preconceived, and find where she belongs. And while she's at it, she just may find a way to become part of the Van Camp family camp-for good"--

Book Synopsis

Three starred reviews!
"Heartfelt and hilarious, witty and wise, with indelible characters and laugh-out-loud humor. A fantastic read for any season of the year." --Stuart Gibbs, New York Times bestselling author

In New York Times bestselling author Morgan Matson's middle grade debut "brimming with heart, summer nostalgia, and a bit of mystery" (Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author), a young girl gets to know her mom's side of the family and hunts for hidden treasure over the course of one chaotic summer.

For as long as Ryanna Stuart can remember, her summers have been spent with her father and his new wife. Just the three of them, structured, planned, and quiet. But this summer is different. This summer, she's received a letter from her grandparents--grandparents neither she nor her dad have spoken to since her mom's death--inviting her to stay with them at an old summer camp in the Poconos.

Ryanna accepts. She wants to learn about her mom. She wants to uncover the mystery of why her father hasn't spoken to her grandparents all these years. She's even looking forward to a quiet summer by the lake. But what she finds are relatives...so many relatives! Aunts and uncles and cousins upon cousins--a motley, rambunctious crew of kids and eccentric, unconventional adults. People who have memories of her mom from when she was Ryanna's age, clues to her past like a treasure map. Ryanna even finds an actual, real-life treasure map!

Over the course of one unforgettable summer--filled with s'mores and swimming, adventure and fun, and even a decades-old mystery to solve--Ryanna discovers a whole new side of herself and that, sometimes, the last place you expected to be is the place where you really belong.

Review Quotes

"Matson, whose previous books were written for young adults, makes her middle-grade debut with this endearing book for tweens." --Booklist, STARRED REVIEW "05/15/2023"

"Matson's vibrant setting, peopled with an easygoing extended family that encourages free play, is irresistibly rendered, while Ryanna's quest to learn more about her mother, as well as her father's falling out with the family, imbues the carefully plotted central mystery with emotional resonance."---Publishers Weekly, STARRED "3/20/2023"

"Like a great summer camp, this tale evokes the best of the past while setting the stage for something new."---Kirkus Reviews, STARRED "3/1/23"

"The Firefly Summer is heartfelt and hilarious, witty and wise, with indelible characters and laugh-out-loud humor. A fantastic read for any season of the year."---Stuart Gibbs, New York Times Best Selling author of Spy School

"Morgan Matson's middle grade debut is brimming with heart, summer nostalgia, and a bit of mystery too! This is the kind of book you wish you could live in."---Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times Bestselling author

"A sparkling middle-grade debut."---Sarah Mlynowski, New York Times bestselling author of Whatever After

"Mystery! Humor! Dead lizards? The Firefly Summer has it all - I loved it!"--- Max Brallier, New York Times bestselling author of the The Last Kids On Earth

"The Firefly Summer is a deeply satisfying story - well crafted, evocative and so funny. It's whole hearted and deliciously timeless-capturing the feeling of a truly magical summer."---Adele Griffin, two-time National Book Award nominee and author of The Beckett List

"The Firefly Summer is an ode to warm summer nights, bittersweet memories, and the enduring love of family. I loved every page of this charming, clever story."---Brandy Colbert, award-winning author of The Only Black Girls in Town

"I loved this book - I laughed and cried and immediately craved s'mores."--- Julie Buxbaum, New York Times bestselling author of The Area 51 File

About the Author

Morgan Matson is the New York Times bestselling author of six books for teens, including Since You've Been Gone and Save the Date. She lives in Los Angeles but spends part of every summer in the Pocono Mountains. Visit her at MorganMatson.com.