(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ji-Hyuk Kim. Tucked into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Elkmont, Tennessee, where remarkable fireflies “Blink! Shine! Twinkle! Pop! Flash! Spark!” for six seconds and then go dark for six more -- all at the same time. As Paeff tells it, an uncommonly observant girl named Lynn grows up summering there, reveling in the joys of the season, especially the fireflies. As an adult, Faust is astonished to find that nobody in the scientific community seems to know about the Elkmont fireflies. She makes it her business to tell them, an uphill battle for a self-taught naturalist. Kim’s watercolor and digital illustrations create a lush, light-dappled forest wonderland. His verdant nightscapes dazzle with the fireflies’ phosphorescent glow. Paeff writes with a countrified twang: “Lynn knows” that the scientific consensus that synchronous fireflies are not commonly found in North America “is just plumb wrong.” Aspects of the story are complicated, involving the National Park Service’s discontinuation of leases in Elkmont, and the present-tense narration does not help readers unsure of when it takes place to find their footing (Paeff’s author’s note and the 2017 publication date of what the bibliography describes as “Lynn’s book about fireflies” attest to the recency of the story). But Faust’s sense of awe glows as bright as Photinus carolinus, and that’s what readers will remember. Back matter includes firefly-friendly tips for those who want to follow in Faust’s footsteps.

Reviewer: Vicky Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ji-Hyuk Kim. Back for a third summer with their aunt on Cape Cod (The Brightest Stars of Summer; The Forget-Me-Not Summer), sisters Marigold, Zinnia, and Lily immerse themselves in preparations for the town's tricentennial. Their activity-filled days have the girls exploring their own talents, dealing with budding romantic relationships, and struggling to get along and support one another. A welcome addition to this family-focused series.

Reviewer: Nancy Sheridan

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ji-Hyuk Kim. Sisters Marigold, Zinnia, and Lily (The Forget-Me-Not Summer) head to Cape Cod again to stay with their aunt. After being cut from a Hollywood blockbuster, Marigold has vowed to become ordinary; aspiring writer Zinnie, in need of material, reads Marigold's diary and writes about the transformation. The ensuing fight threatens to ruin their idyllic summer. An easy recommendation for fans of family stories.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Ji-Hyuk Kim. Californian sisters Marigold (twelve), Zinnia (eleven), and Lily (five) spend three weeks on Cape Cod with their great-aunt while their parents travel for work. They worry that a summer with no TV or cell signal will be awful but instead find their own fun, grow closer, and each discover who they are. A sunny choice for fans of The Penderwicks and other family stories.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor