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Summer of Lost and Found

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Summer of Lost and Found
By Rebecca Behrens
Aladdin, 2016. Fiction, p. 278

“Summer of Lost and Found” is a sweet, historical mystery that deals with family, friendship, and our connections to the past. Nell Dare finds herself visiting Roanoke with her botanist mother who is researching a huge grapevine that is rumored to have been around since before the first English settlers landed. Unfortunately, Nell’s dad isn’t along for the ride and is mysteriously on a business trip for the whole summer. While Nell juggles her disappointments with her family, being away from her friends, and losing her summer plans, she meets a few locals who pique her interest in the mystery of Roanoke, setting off her summer of adventure.

Behrens creates a sweet and intriguing story that centers around Nell’s obsession with Roanoke, her new friends, and her questions for her dad. Readers who have never heard of Roanoke will enjoy the introduction, while anybody who picks it up will understand Nell’s precarious footing and how deeply she longs to know her place and find some answers.

“Summer of Lost and Found” is a fun way to introduce the story and mystery of the lost colony of Roanoke to younger readers who haven’t heard of it, while also being a strong story about the importance of family and friendship.

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