Scanlon Liz Garton: The Great Good Summer

Ivy and Paul hatch a secret plan to find Ivy’s missing mom and say good-bye to the space shuttle in this evocative, heartfelt novel reminiscent of Each Little Bird that Sings and Because of Winn-Dixie.

Ivy Green’s mama has gone off with a charismatic preacher called Hallelujah Dave to The Great Good Bible Church of Panhandle Florida. At least that’s where Ivy and her dad think Mama is. But since the church has no website or phone number and Mama left no forwarding address, Ivy’s not entirely sure. She does know she’s missing Mama. And she’s starting to get just a little worried about her, too.

Paul Dobbs, one of Ivy’s schoolmates, is also having a crummy summer. Paul has always wanted to be an astronaut, and now that NASA’s space shuttle program has been scrapped, it looks like his dream will never get off the ground.

Although Ivy and Paul are an unlikely pair, it turns out they are the perfect allies for a runaway road trip to Florida—to look for Mama, to kiss the Space Shuttle good-bye, and maybe, just maybe, regain their faith in the things in life that are most important.It’sa rare book that can discuss faith without verging into the preachy and contemplating the nature of God while acknowledging some people’s lack of belief—all in the voice of an earnest, honest twelve-year old girl. Scanlon manages it in this story of Ivy Green, whose world has turned upside down following her mother’s sudden departure with a holy rolling preacher, elegantly and non-judgmentally addresses belief and non-belief while keeping its focus squarely on the power and mystery of human relationships. When narrator Ivy andher classmate, the science-minded Paul, concoct a plan to leave their small Texas town and track down Ivy’s mother in the Florida panhandle, Ivy struggles to confront the complicated emotions that arise within the intricate bonds of family and friendship. She also learns about herself and her own strength ofcharacter, and the sympathetic and engaging portrayal of Ivy avoids advancing a moral and instead celebrates her personal revelations. Heartfelt in content and authentic in tone, this will resonate with kids questioning their parents, God,or both.