The Great Good Summer

Ivy Green's mother has left their Texas town to join a religious movement in Georgia, led by a preacher who promises miracles. With her father struggling to cope and summer stretching ahead, thirteen-year-old Ivy becomes determined to track down her mother and bring her back home. Along with her science-loving friend Paul, Ivy hatches a plan to travel to Georgia. The duo's journey takes them across multiple states as they navigate buses, strangers, and their own fears about what they might discover. The story follows Ivy as she grapples with questions about faith versus science, the complexity of family relationships, and the transition from childhood certainty to more nuanced understanding. Through their summer adventure, both Ivy and Paul confront truths about themselves, their families, and what they believe.

Readers describe this middle-grade novel as a heartfelt story about faith, family, and friendship. Many appreciate how it handles complex themes of religion and parent-child relationships without being preachy. Readers highlight: - Realistic portrayal of a 13-year-old's perspective - Balance between serious topics and humor - Authentic Texas setting and details - Strong character development for Ivy Green - Natural dialogue between characters Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some find the space camp subplot disconnected - Religious elements too prominent for some readers - Resolution feels rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (456 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (32 ratings) One reader noted: "The voice is pitch-perfect for middle school." Another mentioned: "The friendship between Ivy and Paul feels genuine and sweet." Some teachers report success using it as a classroom read-aloud, citing good discussions about family dynamics and belief systems.

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✦ Author Liz Garton Scanlon drew inspiration from her own Texas childhood to create the book's setting, including details about the oppressive summer heat and small-town dynamics. ✧ The book explores themes of faith and science side by side, addressing how people can reconcile religious beliefs with scientific understanding through its young protagonist's journey. ✦ The Space Center Houston, where key scenes in the book take place, receives more than 1 million visitors annually and houses the world's largest collection of moon rocks and lunar samples. ✧ Ivy Green's mother's involvement with a religious cult reflects real-world incidents of people joining spiritual movements in search of meaning, a phenomenon that affects thousands of American families each year. ✦ The novel's journey to find a missing parent mirrors classic children's literature like "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler," creating a modern take on the running-away story.