Summer and July

From the critically acclaimed author of Train I Ride and Echo’s Sister comes a moving story of friendship between two girls looking for some happiness in a world that can be a little cruel. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead, Ali Standish, and Erin Entrada Kelly.

Twelve-year-old Juillet is preparing for the worst summer ever. She and her mom are staying in the seaside neighborhood of Ocean Park, California, for a month, where her mom will be working at the local hospital and Juillet will be on her own, like always.

Her dad is off in Europe with his new girlfriend, and her best friend, Fern . . . well, Juiller isn’t allowed to talk to Fern anymore. Fern took the blame for Juillet’s goth-girl clothes and “not-real” fears, like sharks and rip currents and the number three.

Then Juillet meets Summer, a local surfer girl who knows the coolest people and places around town. With free-spirited and adventurous Summer, Juillet begins to come out of her shell and face the things weighing her down. But when Summer reveals her own painful secret, it’s Juillet’s turn to be the strong and supportive friend.

Named one of Bank Street College of Education's Best Children’s Books of the Year!

What happens when the girl who’s afraid of everything becomes the one who has to be brave for someone else?

• Coming of Age Story: For Juillet, one summer in a new town means facing her fears of sharks, rip currents, and the number three—and discovering a strength she never knew she had.
• Summer Beach Read: Set against the backdrop of Ocean Park, California, this novel is filled with sun, sand, and the challenges of learning to ride the waves, both in the ocean and in life.
• Opposites Attract Friendship: Juillet is a goth girl who prefers the indoors; Summer is a local surfer who lives for the sun. Together, they form a bond that helps them both heal from their secret heartaches.
• Heartfelt and Emotional: A touching story that explores the pain of family secrets and absent parents, and the incredible power of a friend who truly understands.

“Hilarious, tender and wise, Summer and July is a story about facing our fears and learning to embrace the world. Do not miss this luminous gem of a novel.” - Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal Winning author of The One and Only Ivan

“This novel is as much a love letter to California as it is a fish-out-of-water, new-friendship-or-budding-romance tale. For readers longing for escapade and sunshine, as well as those struggling with their own demons, Juillet and Summer are sure to bring companionship, understanding, and the urge to catch a few waves. “  - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Capturing the urgency and intensity of middle-school friendships, what he gets right is important: the thin, confusing line between best buddy and queer crush; the simultaneous need for independence and parental presence; and the ways that adolescent identity is a dance between frustration and buoyancy that can reveal itself in friendship.”  - Publishers Weekly

“Engaging first-person narrative has emotional openness, wry reflection, and vividly drawn settings. There’s something real and haunting about these vulnerable characters and their journey together. A beach book with some complexity as well as a happy ending.” - Booklist