Author: Chris Negron
Genre: realistic fiction
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The Summer of June by Jamie Sumner
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Mortimer Bray is not okay.
It seems like everything in his life is changing for the worse. After his own much-loved dog dies, he can’t bring himself to carry on with his dog-walking business; there’s a strange new girl who’s moved into the house next door; and suddenly there’s a buzzing feeling of anxiety in his head and heart when he’s faced with something new.
His neighborhood, Townsend Heights, used to feel like the most comfortable place in the world. But lately, it seems like everyone is arguing, and there’s uncertainty around every corner.
The neighborhood's only vacant lot is somehow behind it all, Mortimer is sure of that much. If he can unearth the lot's secret history, he just might stop the Heights from unraveling completely.
Mortimer can’t save Townsend Heights on his own. But when it comes to community, you’re never truly on your own—not as long as you’re willing to learn from the past, in order to do better in the future.
My opinion: As we would expect from a middle grade novel, changing friendships is a central issue. We also take on gentrification, racism, and mental illness. That could easily be too much for any novel much less one for this age group but Negron handles it well. It helps that the characters are strong. They read like real kids, their relationships with their peers and with adults realistic and genuine. While the details aren't especially relatable (not a lot of kids have an interest in public policy) the overall thrust of the plot is engaging.
More information: Underdog City releases October 31
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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