While camping in the mountains, we swung by a bookstore in downtown Brevard, NC. My mom suggested it and I wasn’t sure at first, but she bought it for me (because I love reading in the truck and in the camper at nights). But once I started the first chapter I couldn’t put it down.

Ready for the Firefly Summer book review? Read on!

The main character is Ryanna Stuart, an 11-year-old girl in Los Angeles, California.

The book takes place at the start of summer break. Ryanna gets a letter from her grandparents inviting her to spend the summer with them in Pennsylvania. She finds out she has a big, kind of crazy family with lots of cousins, aunts, and uncles — and discovers memories and secrets about her mom, who passed away when she was young. There’s also an actual treasure map and hunt, plus all the best summer things — s’mores, swimming at the lake, and getting ice cream.

This book has mystery and adventure but also really sweet family moments. Ryanna finds out where she comes from, with funny moments along the way. There’s even a Viking lizard funeral, which was genuinely one of the funniest things I’ve read.

I think this is perfect for kids who liked Front Desk by Kelly Yang (another favorite of mine). It’s great for any kid who enjoys family stories with mystery and adventure mixed in. And it’s set in summer, so it’s great for a summer reading program.

Ryanna’s mom passed away before the story begins, and her memories of her come up throughout the book. It’s handled really gently. Nothing scary or inappropriate — just emotional, in a sweet way.