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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