★ 2022-03-29
A balmy Florida summer turns unforgettable for two best friends.
Peter and Tommy have been inseparable since meeting a few summers back. Even though they go to different schools—Tommy attends a private school for gifted kids while Peter attends his local public school—the rising sixth graders have bonded over a mutual love for animals and a desire to explore. Leaving the safe familiarity of elementary school behind, Peter is facing a summer of changes and challenges as he prepares to enter middle school. Peter and Tommy’s two-member Discovery Club seeks to find and catalog 100 unique creatures before the summer draws to a close. Discovery No. 95, a manatee, sets a summer of courage and activism in motion. To complicate matters, Peter has also been tasked with being his grandfather’s caretaker while his mom is at work, something made more difficult by Papa’s rapidly progressing Alzheimer’s. Secrets test Tommy and Peter’s friendship, and a devastating accident for the manatee pushes Peter to his breaking point. Now he must find the strength to stand up for the manatees and fight for his friendship and family in the face of difficulties. Traditional masculine stereotypes are defied by a gentle, attentive friendship between two boys who are able to cry in front of each other. Main characters are assumed White.
A lush backdrop and sweet characters facing complicated problems will keep readers hooked. (author's note) (Fiction. 9-13)
"Traditional masculine stereotypes are defied by a gentle, attentive friendship between two boys. A lush backdrop and sweet characters facing complicated problems will keep readers hooked." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A poignant and reflective debut novel perfect for budding conservationists...Hand this charming ecological tale—a terrific pick for libraries—to readers who appreciate having their heartstrings tugged by books like Carl Hiaasen’s Hoot (2002)." — Booklist (starred review)
"By turns heartbreaking and heart-healing, Manatee Summer is an empowering story about facing change with bravery, humor, and hope. Don’t miss this unforgettable middle grade debut by an exciting new voice." — Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The One and Only Ivan
“With humor and real emotion in satisfying balance, Griffith tells the story of a boy dealing with a lot of change—in his family, his friendships, and in himself. The mysterious power of the natural world and Peter’s relationship with it through Tommy and Papa brings additional dimension and beauty to this affecting novel.” — Sara Zarr, author of National Book Award finalist Story of a Girl
“Transporting readers right to the Florida shore, Evan Griffith's gorgeous debut makes you appreciate how simultaneously beautiful and tumultuous caretaking for a family member can be, and how loving and caring for those you love knows no depths.” — Nicole Melleby, author of How to Become a Planet
"Manatee Summer is an engaging debut novel about remaining compassionate in the face of adversity, standing strong when all is lost, and connecting to loved ones who seem to be an ocean away. I loved Peter’s connection to Zoe, and cheered for him to find his voice to speak up for himself and those who needed him most." — Lynne Kelly, author of Song For a Whale
"Manatee Summer is an album of love stories: between a boy and his grandpa, between two kids and all creatures, between two best friends, and between a boy and his gentle giant, Zoe, a manatee. Peter is a kid who loves hard and yet loves effortlessly, and all readers will be touched by his earnestness and passion." — Caela Carter, author of Charlotte Huck Honor Book Forever, or a Long, Long Time
"Destined to become a classic—this book has a heart that will beat for the ages." — Martha Brockenbrough, author of Into the Bloodred Woods
"Peter’s attempts to save Zoe (his name for the manatee) become the heart of the novel, and debut author Griffith adroitly weaves in the other threads of the tale around it. Peter's story is full of sadness, adventure, and beautiful scenes on the Indigo River. Any writer who can make readers cry about “a gray, rubbery island” of a manatee has done his job well." — Horn Book Magazine
