THE SUMMER SCRAPBOOK

Three African American girls who are headed into high school wonder if their friendship will remain strong after being separated for the first time over the summer.

Ava, Cat, and Becca are lifelong best friends from Chattanooga, Tennessee, who usually spend as much time as possible together during the summer. Their usual plans implode now that Ava will be going to London, where her professor father will be teaching, and Becca will be off at a phone-free sleepaway camp, leaving Cat home alone. The trio decide to create a scrapbook to commemorate their last summer before ninth grade—and, hopefully, make their separation bearable. Over the coming months, the three friends face challenges that make them reflect on their own identities and their roles in their friend group. Ava’s social media consumption and complaints about being in London cause friction with her parents, but she meets a cute neighbor boy. Becca is nervous about making friends at camp, but she’s invited to join a secret capture the flag group and emerges from her shell. Janayda, who’s “kind of a friend,” invites Cat to go to the movies with some other kids, which leads Cat to a new friendship. The girls’ character arcs reflect true growth and offer a nuanced look at middle school friendships. The story’s strong pacing keeps readers engaged and allows them to connect with the characters separately.

An engaging novel about friendship, self-confidence, and trust.