Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Annelie Geissler
Categories
Children’s, Teenage & Educational

MANATEE SUMMER

Evan Griffith

Peter and his best friend, Tommy, have a goal for their last summer before middle school: Finish their Discovery Journal, a catalogue of all the amazing animal species they can find around their Florida town.

When Peter meets a manatee (Discovery #95), he knows he's found something special - especially because his grandpa has been telling him enchanting stories about manatees for years. But Peter quickly learns this summer won't go exactly as planned. For one thing, his grandpa's dementia is getting worse and Peter is on Official Caregiver Duty for the season. Then the manatee he discovered gets injured and an unwelcome surprise puts his friendship with Tommy at risk. Soon Peter is adrift, navigating a summer of shifting tides and realizing he has as much to discover about himself as he does about the world around him. In this moving middle-grade debut, author Evan Griffith beautifully captures all of the heart and the uncertainty that come with caring deeply for family, friends, and the natural world - and the courage it takes to face the changes that turn your world upside down. Evan Griffith is a writer based in Austin, Texas. He studied creative writing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. His debut picture book, Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist, received a starred review from School Library Journal and was a Junior Library Guild Selection. Prior to relocating to Austin, he worked for five years as an editor at Workman Publishing in NYC where he specialized in non-fiction for children and adults, and he continues to edit books on a freelance basis. Through his role as the youth programming specialist at The Writing Barn, an Austin-based creative writing education center, he also teaches online writing classes for kids. Perhaps most importantly, he has a tuxedo cat named Kylie.

Available products
Book Published 2022-06-28 by Quill Tree Books / HarperCollins

Comments

Traditional masculine stereotypes are defied by a gentle, attentive friendship between two boys who are able to cry in front of each other... A lush backdrop and sweet characters facing complicated problems will keep readers hooked.

Transporting readers right to the Florida shore, Evan Griffith's gorgeous debut makes you appreciate how simultaneously beautiful and tumultuous caretaking for a family member can be, and how loving and caring for those you love knows no depths.

A boy balances weighty responsibilities and complicated emotions in a poignant and reflective debut novel perfect for budding conservationists... Hand this charming ecological tale - a terrific pick for libraries - to readers who appreciate having their heartstrings tugged by books like Carl Hiaasen's Hoot (2002)."

Destined to become a classic - this book has a heart that will beat for the ages.

MANATEE SUMMER is an engaging debut novel about remaining compassionate in the face of adversity, standing strong when all is lost, and connecting to loved ones who seem to be an ocean away. I loved Peter's connection to Zoe, and cheered for him to find his voice to speak up for himself and those who needed him most.

With humor and real emotion in satisfying balance, Griffith tells the story of a boy dealing with a lot of change - in his family, his friendships, and in himself. The mysterious power of the natural world and Peter's relationship with it through Tommy and Papa brings additional dimension and beauty to this affecting novel.

By turns heartbreaking and heart-healing, MANATEE SUMMER is an empowering story about facing change with bravery, humor, and hope. Don't miss this unforgettable middle grade debut by an exciting new voice.

Manatee Summer is an album of love stories: between a boy and his grandpa, between two kids and all creatures, between two best friends, and between a boy and his gentle giant, Zoe, a manatee. Peter is a kid who loves hard and yet loves effortlessly, and all readers will be touched by his earnestness and passion.