Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun, engrossing summer mystery touches upon parent's death.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE FIREFLY SUMMER, veteran YA author, Morgan Matson (Take Me Home Tonight), tees up a mystery that unfolds at the Van Camp family's property -- a former summer camp -- in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania. Ryanna, a 12-year-old girl, who lost her mom when she was 3, lives with her dad and stepmom in Los Angeles. One day, she receives a letter from her mom's parents asking her dad if she could spend the summer with them "while she still can." Her dad, a film director, plans to be in Budapest shooting his latest film, so he agrees to send Ryanna to stay with her relatives in the Poconos for the summer. Can they help her find answers about her mysterious late mother? Will this summer be the start of a new tradition? Or the end of a much older one?
Is It Any Good?
A page-turner awash in fun summer traditions of a family of likable characters, this novel invites readers to hop in a canoe and go with the flow. The Firefly Summer deals with a parent's loss topically, not allowing the acid of grief to eat away at the family humor. There are tears, there is sadness, but it's fleeting and manageable. In other words, the lessons the characters learn tend to bring them together, rather than ripping them apart.
A refreshing read in the age of information, this book invites kids to unplug, play kickball with the family, make melty s'mores, and look at the stars. This light summer mystery for middle graders is a charmer.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about gratitude in The Firefly Summer. How do books like this teach us about being grateful for family and the memories made together?
When she first arrives in the Poconos, the main character feels lost and adrift. How does she connect by communicating her feelings with her cousins? How does she receive communication from her late mother?
Summer at the Van Camp Camp means no devices for the majority of the people there. What did the members of the family do to pass the time without their devices? Were they bored?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Gratitude , Integrity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster
- Publication date : May 2, 2023
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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