The Story
"A warm-hearted novel ... balances profound loss with humor and hope." - Kate Allen, author of The Line Tender
Thirteen-year-old Sarah Richardson is determined that her life will finally get unstuck this summer. She just knows it. Her to-do list? Brave the lake again. Save the loons. Stop missing Mom. Her one bright spot: volunteering at the local wild bird rehabilitation center.
The summer looks even brighter when Sarah meets Theo, the boy staying at her family's Maine lakeside campground who cares about protecting the loons just like she does. But when Sarah's family may have to move, she adds a new to-do item: save their home. And when she suspects Dad is dating Theo's aunt, the naturalist helping research environmental dangers to the loons, Sarah is caught in a new world of grief.
With the looming reality of losing her dad, her home, and the loons, Sarah must make a big statement to take control of her life. Capturing inspiration from her late mother's Appalachian Trail hiking journal, she boldly plans a solo wild adventure. But as her challenges mount, she wonders if her courage will earn her the voice she seeks-or if she's made a reckless choice that just might claim her life.
"As sparkling, refreshing, and mysterious as a Maine lake in summertime." - Cathy Carr, author of 365 Days to Alaska
Author: Donna Galanti
Publisher: Wild Trail Press
Published: 05/06/2025
Pages: 286
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.13lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.81d
ISBN: 9781736316276
Audience: Ages 9-12
Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 04/20/2026
About the Author
Galanti, Donna: - Donna Galanti writes books for grownups and kids where heart and hope meet adventure! She is the award-winning author of the Unicorn Island series, Joshua and the Lightning Road series, Loon Cove Summer, and The Secret Winners Club for kids and the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy for adults. 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. When Donna's not wandering the woods seeking magic and wonder, you can usually find her biking or kayaking. Visit her website for information on school visits, online courses, and workshops for writers.
Description
"A warm-hearted novel ... balances profound loss with humor and hope." - Kate Allen, author of The Line Tender
Thirteen-year-old Sarah Richardson is determined that her life will finally get unstuck this summer. She just knows it. Her to-do list? Brave the lake again. Save the loons. Stop missing Mom. Her one bright spot: volunteering at the local wild bird rehabilitation center.
The summer looks even brighter when Sarah meets Theo, the boy staying at her family's Maine lakeside campground who cares about protecting the loons just like she does. But when Sarah's family may have to move, she adds a new to-do item: save their home. And when she suspects Dad is dating Theo's aunt, the naturalist helping research environmental dangers to the loons, Sarah is caught in a new world of grief.
With the looming reality of losing her dad, her home, and the loons, Sarah must make a big statement to take control of her life. Capturing inspiration from her late mother's Appalachian Trail hiking journal, she boldly plans a solo wild adventure. But as her challenges mount, she wonders if her courage will earn her the voice she seeks-or if she's made a reckless choice that just might claim her life.
"As sparkling, refreshing, and mysterious as a Maine lake in summertime." - Cathy Carr, author of 365 Days to Alaska
Author: Donna Galanti
Publisher: Wild Trail Press
Published: 05/06/2025
Pages: 286
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.13lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.81d
ISBN: 9781736316276
Audience: Ages 9-12
Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 04/20/2026
About the Author
Galanti, Donna: - Donna Galanti writes books for grownups and kids where heart and hope meet adventure! She is the award-winning author of the Unicorn Island series, Joshua and the Lightning Road series, Loon Cove Summer, and The Secret Winners Club for kids and the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy for adults. 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. When Donna's not wandering the woods seeking magic and wonder, you can usually find her biking or kayaking. Visit her website for information on school visits, online courses, and workshops for writers.
